April 30, 2014: Application for Women’s Agribusiness Leadership Network (WALN), Ethiopia. [WALN@acdivocaeth.org]

APPLICATION FORM

Women's Agribusiness Leadership Network (WALN)

 

        I.            Invitation to Join Women's Agribusiness Leadership Network (WALN)

USAID Agriculture Growth Program-Agribusiness Market Development (AGP-AMDe) invites female leaders, business women,and entrepreneurs in the private sector - including exporters and associations, representatives of farmers' cooperative unions and related agribusiness groups in the Amhara, Oromia, Tigray and SNNPR regions to join the Women's Agribusiness Leadership Network (WALN).

 

Participation will build your business expertise, leadership capability, and offer increased market linkages and networksamong women agribusiness and business service provider leaders. The benefits of joining WALN are:

·         Develop and enhance your leadership capability that will enable you to grow and manage your business more profitably;

·         Build your skills in leadership, business management, marketing and negotiation with agribusinesses in the value chain and end market buyers;

·         Expand your professional networksand communication skills with other women leaders and entrepreneurs in agribusiness

·         Serve as role model and mentor to aspiring business women in your network or community

 

WALN Components:

There are three main components to joining WALN. This includes;

 

1.   Leadership training: You will receive intensive workshops from qualified business specialists and leaders; both within WALN members and external experts. The sessions will be interactive and training methods will include adult learning methodologies such as presentations, case studies, facilitated discussions and group work.

 

2.   Mentorship: As a member of WALN you will be encouraged to mentor three to five women entrepreneurs and business women for a six-month period. The leadership training workshops provided by WALN will qualify you to become mentors to others. Mentoring is a professional relationship in which an experienced person (the mentor) assists another (the mentee) to develop specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the mentee's professional and personal growth. Participants will gain a number of benefits from mentoring, which include:

·         Gain insights from the mentee's background and history that further professional and personal development

·         Gain satisfaction in sharing expertise with othersand gaining allies

·         Learn more about other agribusinesses and best practices or opportunities

·         Develop a new cadre of female Ethiopian and international agribusiness professionals

 

3.   Networking: You will develop long-term business relationships for mutual gain and you will create a lasting impression with people so that they think of you when new opportunities arise. Successful business managers use networking to develop new business, learn about opportunities, solve problems and increase visibility. WALN will bring together women from the agribusiness sector to empower them to work together, invite female role models to speak publicly and share their stories and advice, and build the confidence of those who feel intimidated by attending male dominated events.

 

Don't miss this opportunity to join a group of dedicated and talented women!

 

 

      II.            Application Process

Thank you for your interest in WALN. Please read through the application instructions before completing the application. Applicant must submit thecompleted form, up to eight mentee recommendation forms and at least one letter of recommendation by April 30, 2014either online (WALN@acdivocaeth.org) or at one of our offices.

 

Selection and Notification Process

There is limited space for the initial group of participants. We expect to identify 25 women leaders per region. Applicants will be selected according to the following criteria:

·        Owning and/or managing a registered business or association (having managerial experience preferable)

·        Active in one of the targeted value chains (chickpeas, coffee, honey, maize, sesame, wheat, livestock and dairy). This can be any partof the value chain, such as production, processing, trading, transport, agricultural finance or other.

·        Holding a bank account (individual or association/business) and email address

·        Interest in taking part in training sessions to develop your financial planning, management,marketing, negotiation,public speaking as well as meeting deliverables that demonstrate a willingness and dedication to put in the effort to change behaviors and learn new ways to operate.

·        Willingness to mentor 3 to 5 aspiring businesswomen in targeted regions through monthly group sessions as well as one-on-one follow up

·        Recognized leader in the industry and/or community

·        Willing to agree and sign commitment form annexed below (Annex 1)

 

Applicants will be reviewed by a committee panel and finalists will be notified by beginningof May2014. Training will begin in end of May, 2014. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on WALN@acdivocaeth.orgor +251 -91-2122947 

 

 

 

Application Form

Contact Information

Name
Title
Business/Association Name
Business Location (city, kebele, woreda, region)
Brief description of business
Year established/registered
Number of male employees
Number of female employees
Telephone  contact (Mobile & Fixed)
Email Address

 

Please answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs.

 

 

Letters of Recommendation

 

Applicants all must submit at least one letter of recommendation from organization/association/Board familiar with you professionally. The letter should include information about:

 

·        Your leadership skills

·        Your ability to work with others

·        How you respond to challenges

·        Yourtype of business and your reputation

 

  III.            Mentee Recommendation Forms

After participating in the Leadership Training, your mentorship program will start around August 2014 and will last about six months. Mentors will host monthly small group sessions with their mentees on specific business topics, and will also brainstorm and problem solve on specific issues. All WALN participants will attend an annual conference for additional learning and networking, and they will also have access to AGP-AMDe and AGP-LMD resources. Upon graduating from the program, mentees will have the opportunity to become new mentors and take on their own set of mentees. WALN project staff will provide oversight to ensure participant needs are being met.

 

Please submit five to eight mentee recommendation forms of aspiring business women leaders that you believe would benefit from close mentoring.

 

Mentees will enjoy many benefits, including:

·        Gain from the mentor's professional expertise

·        Receive critical feedback in key areas, such as business planning, communications, interpersonal relationships, technical abilities, change management and leadership skills

·        Develop a sharper focus on what is needed to grow professionally

·        Learn specific skills and knowledge that are relevant to personal goals

·        Build a network ofinfluential business leaders

·        Gain knowledge about the organization's culture and unspoken rules that can be critical for success

·        Have a friendly ear with which to share frustrations as well as successes

 

Mentee selection criteria include:

·        Mentor is familiar with mentee and believes they have the ability to learn and contribute positively to their sector and to WALN

·        Mentee owns, manages and/or has a senior position in a registered business or association

·        Active in one of the targeted value chains (chickpeas, coffee, honey, maize, sesame, wheat, livestock and dairy). This could be any part along the value chain, such as production, processing, trading, transport, agriculture finance or other services

·        Geographically close enough to the mentor to participate in monthly meetings

·        Willing and able to attend mentoring sessions over a six month period

·        Will make an effort to change behaviors and learn new ways to operate business

·        Willing, in future, to become a new mentor for aspiring businesswomen in targeted regions

 

Please fill out one form for each proposed mentee, and get the mentee's signature to confirm their interest. The signature denotes mentee interest in participating in the program, but we understand that circumstances may change. Prior to the start of the mentorship program, we will reconfirm mentee availability.

 

 

 

 

 

Mentee application form

Information about proposed mentee (if not relevant please leave blank)

Name
Title
Business/Association Name
Business Location (city/town, kebele, woreda, region)
Brief description of business
Year established/registered
Number of male employees
Number of female employees
Telephone contact (Mobile & Land line)
Email Address

 

 

 

Mentor Criteria	Yes	No(please explain)
Mentor is familiar with mentee and believes they have the ability to learn and contribute positively to their sector and to WALN
Mentee owns, manages and/or has a senior position in a registered business or association
Mentee is active in one of the targeted value chains (chickpeas, coffee, honey, maize, sesame, wheat, livestock and dairy). This could be anywhere along the value chain, such as production, processing, trading, transport, agriculture finance and other services, etc.
Mentee is geographically close enough to the mentor to make monthly meetings convenient
Mentee is interested in taking part in mentoring sessions over a six month period that will build business capacity and provide support on specific professional challenges.
Mentee is willing and dedicated to putting in the effort to change behaviors and learn new ways to operate.
Mentee is willing to mentor aspiring businesswomen in targeted regions through monthly groups sessions as well as one-on-one follow up

 

 

Please answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs.

 

 

Mentor name & signature: __________________          Date: _____________

 

 

Mentee name & signature: __________________         Date: _____________

 

 

 

 

For submitting application forms, please give these to the following addresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex

 

Commitment to Full Participation

 

We understand that you already have a lot of responsibility, and asking you to commit to this program will add to an already busy schedule. We believe the personal and professional benefits gained from participating will be significant, and that you will value the experience. We ask you to agree to commit to the full participation by signing the text below. We understand that emergencies may occur. Our intention in asking for your signature below is to ensure that we both understand the professional relationship we are engaging in.

 

 

I, ________________, even if I have other responsibilities and a busy schedule, commit myself to:

 

·        Prepare for and attend monthly two-day training over an eight-month period;

·        Act on lessons learned during training sessions to demonstrate progress;

·        Facilitate monthly one-day group mentoring sessions with my mentees during  six-month period (using material provided by WALN) as well as any one-on-one follow up meetings necessary;

·        Actively engage in opportunities to expand my business networks and experiences, including attending and speaking at networking events identified by WALN.

 

I am willing to be monitored on my participation and progress, and in the case of being notified by project implementers to take positive action on any issue that requires action.

 

 

Applicant signature: __________________________ 

           

 

Date:                                       __________________________