Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) - International Internships 2011-2014

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2014) include: coordinating 33 internships in seven countries (Ethiopia Peru Morocco Nicaragua Tanzania Ghana and Ukraine). The interns worked on private sector development initiatives to increase the impact of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates’ (MEDA) value chain development work by researching testing and analyzing new opportunities to expand MEDA's work. The interns also worked on rural microfinance initiatives focused on researching microfinance products which helped to promote environmental technologies and identify new opportunities for MEDA to expand its efforts in this area. Finally the interns helped to document best practices by studying and documenting the impact of MEDA's work through case studies and client stories in order to create a body of knowledge to share across MEDA's programming and with its partners donors and other networks. The interns acquired new skills and abilities through a one-week orientation at MEDA’s head office including a session focused on work skills and attitudes in a cross-cultural setting the continuous interactions with project management staff and the practical experience gained in-country throughout their work assignments.