Client Assessment Intern

Location: Washington, DC

Job Code: 1136

# of openings: 1

Description

INTRODUCTION Since 2002 FINCA utilized several versions of the FINCA Client Assessment Tool (FCAT) to measure and report on client living standards and poverty levels.  Since its introduction questions were added to the tool until the question count grew to over 120.  The survey by this time was too long to be practically implemented on an ongoing basis in all FINCA operating countries.  In 2008 a new tool (the Standard of Living Tool or SLT) was created including 16 of the most important questions from the longer survey instrument.  In 2012 FINCA International’s Board of Directors established a Social Performance Audit Committee (SPAC) as a permanent standing committee.  The SPAC is tasked to evaluate and help manage FINCA's compliance with its mission statement and ensuring that poverty outreach continues to be a focus of the organization.  As a result, an initiative was completed in 2012 to enhance the 16 question Standard of Living Tool to capture a more complete and detailed view of client expenditures and thus more accurately determine client poverty levels.  The revised tool was titled FCAT 2.0 to differentiate it from past editions of the survey instrument and indicate that it represents a significantly enhanced version.  Subsequent to creating FCAT 2.0, feedback was solicited on the instrument from field survey managers, subsidiary management, as well as commentary from a member of the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Survey team.  Rigorous data cleaning and analysis also provided insights into the questions that were yielding relatively higher and lower quality data.  The feedback demonstrated the need to further refine and enhance the survey instrument and its application in order to obtain more reliable and accurate client data.  FINCA requires a survey approach that satisfies the need to have reliable, accurate and timely customer poverty level data for use by management and governance bodies.  The data collection approach must take into consideration resource limitations at the subsidiary and FINCA International levels.  The sampling approach, survey methodology and tools should be constructed to balance speed, efficiency and quality of the data collection process while requiring a reasonable and sustainable level of resources.  POSITION DESCRIPTION Based in Washington, D.C. with potential for working remotely The FINCA Client Assessment Tool (FCAT) Intern position is housed within the Research Group of the New Business Development department and reports primarily to the Senior Manager for Customer Research. The FCAT Intern will take an active role in the following initiatives: Support the revision of the FCAT instrument by researching best practice in household expenditure survey techniques Create and maintain data requirements documentation including data validation rules Prepare a documentation workbook to record all relevant research process information Support creation and maintenance of electronic data collection forms and templates Prepare sample data sets and examples for use in training activities Create training materials for in-person and remote training events *Note that this is an unpaid internship with a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for 10 weeks or more.* Ideal profile: MBA/MA candidate in statistics, finance, international development, or relevant field Experienced BA candidates in appropriate fields Coursework in: microfinance, development, statistics, quantitative and qualitative research methods, data management & validation, as well as project management would provide a solid background for this position. Interest in and knowledge of microfinance, finance, and development issues; Desired Skills: Research experience with well documented research projects; Consulting and field experience in developing countries is beneficial; Excellent communication skills; Experience with database management a plus; Quantitative analysis skills; Experience with statistical analysis and software, particularly SPSS; Self-motivated, able to successfully complete tasks with minimal supervision; English required, second language skill - Spanish, French or Russian desirable. FINCA International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Click here for further details and application