Market Access and Design Fellowship

Organization:

If you want to play a central role in transforming the lives of artisan women entrepreneurs in marginalized communities, consider applying to be a Indego Africa Fellow. A 501c3 nonprofit organization, Indego Africa launched in 2007 with a mission to transform the lives of marginalized women, their families and communities through social enterprise and deep education and support programs. For 18 years, Indego Africa has created positive change for its partners, well beyond similar organizations.

Here’s how:

• The women we serve are some of the most in need and hardest to reach.
• We help artisans earn the income needed to support their families and become entrepreneurs and business owners. We carefully craft an experience for these producers that is as smooth, and impactful for them as possible.
• We provide unparalleled support so our partners may lead their businesses and communities.

Learn more about our work here.

Indego Africa’s Market Access & Design Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to work directly with our artisan partners in Ghana and Rwanda, our in-country teams and reporting to our design director based in NYC. As the Market Access & Design Fellow you will facilitate effective communication and promote better understanding between our in-country artisan partners and stakeholders in the export market.

This year long fellowship begins with a two/three week introduction that takes place in our NYC office, before relocation to Ghana (4 months) and Rwanda (8 months). As the Market Access Fellow, you will be responsible for several aspects within the overall production process of our fashion and home accessories:

• Communication: You will facilitate clear communication between the in-country production team and design director in NYC, ensuring that all notes from the design director are being interpreted and executed accurately. You will work with in-country teams on the quality control of all projects, including approving all dye lots, samples, first samples in production runs, and development.
• Documentation: In line with QC, you will be responsible for documenting all products as they are sampled and finally produced, as well as capturing the artisans  images and videos must be clearly labeled, organized, and uploaded into Dropbox.
• Training: You will identify areas in production where improvements can be made, namely in terms of training workshops for our artisan partners. As an NGO, Indego Africa organizes various workshops throughout the year to teach new techniques and improve the technical skills and quality of our craftsmen partners. As a fellow, you will be responsible for identifying areas where we can support our artisans to improve the outcome of their work.
  
  Based on your qualifications, you may be asked to lead some of the training sessions.

The fellow must understand our export market client’s expectations for quality and timely deliveries, have a sensibility for color and design, and a curiosity to live abroad and work across cultural differences. The fellow must be comfortable speaking up, navigating artisan work environments, and living carefully and independently in a foreign environment. Interest in, previous teaching, and/or knowledge of basketry, dying, weaving and embroidery are assets.

• Must be a US Citizen with a valid Passport.
• Previous experience that relates to working outside the US and/or study or practice of design outside the US.

• Travel, Accommodation & Insurance covered by Indego Africa
• $25,000 annual stipend.

ASAP