INVITATION BH. DIASPORAS FOR ACHIEVING BUSINESS PRACTICE IN THE HOMELAND

Call description

The USAID project “Diaspora Invest” and the BiH Diaspora Business Center (DBC) are announcing a public call for young members of the BiH diaspora to participate in the program of organizing business internships at companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The call includes students in their final years of undergraduate and postgraduate studies, or young people who have completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies and want to experience business internships in one of the companies in their homeland, which matches their profession, orientation, interests and needs, up to 30 years of age, and who are members of the BiH diaspora (have spent at least 3 years in the last 5 years abroad with proof of origin from BiH – through parents or directly without the obligation to possess BiH citizenship).

The BiH Diaspora Business Center (DBC) is an office for supporting investments of the BiH diaspora, which was created as a result of cooperation and implementation of the USAID project “Diaspora Invest” and the association “Naša perspektiva”. DBC provides support to registered companies, companies that are in the early stages of development, companies that are still going through the registration process, individuals from the BiH diaspora interested in investing, local government units and civil society organizations interested in supporting the economic development of BiH through investment and inclusion of the diaspora.

Since April 2017, the USAID Diaspora Invest project and the BiH Diaspora Business Center have supported over 140 companies with diaspora participation. This Public Call is the result of efforts to demonstrate through concrete activities that, in addition to investors from the BiH diaspora, our diaspora has great strength and potential in new generations who want and can help domestic companies from BiH to enter international markets and contribute with their education, skills, and experience of living abroad to faster progress and economic development in the homeland.

Which young members of the BiH diaspora are included in this call?

This call includes members of the BiH diaspora (people originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina who have lived abroad for at least 3 years continuously in the last 5 years) who are under 30 years of age, and who are: students in their final years of undergraduate and postgraduate studies, or have completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies and want to experience business practice in one of the companies in their homeland, which matches their profession, orientation, interests and needs. Persons must be members of the BiH diaspora (have spent at least 3 years in the last 5 years abroad and have proof of origin from BiH – through parents or directly without the obligation to hold BiH citizenship).

What is expected of participants in the business internship program?

Participants of the business practice program are expected to:

Participation in preliminary communication with the USAID project “Diaspora Invest” and the companies proposed by the Project for connection and implementation of the internship
Participation in the development of a business practice model that would include four 10-hour work weeks (with a program that would propose online implementation, and live implementation – alternatively, depending on the needs and development of the Covid-19 pandemic situation)
Participation in online trainings with selected participants of the DiaWorks Internship Program as part of preparatory activities with practical exercises, professional assistance and support
Implementation of a business internship plan that would last 4 working weeks
Signing a business internship agreement that will establish the rights and obligations of the company and the intern
He participates in conversations – promo video and successful stories about the implementation of the practice

Where will the BH Business Center diaspora help?

Organize at least four online training sessions with selected participants of the DiaWorks Internship Program as part of preparatory activities with practical exercises, professional assistance and support (30 days – July/August)
Develop a model for implementing direct business practice through 40 hours of work in 4 weeks (30 days – August/September)
Prepare a work placement agreement that will establish the rights and obligations of the company and the intern
Implement the process of selection and mapping of potential practitioners
Provide support in the logistical implementation of the internship (in agreement between the intern, the company and the Business Center)
Facilitates the implementation of the internship and communication between the intern and the company
Prepare a promo video about the companies participating in the program and present the experiences of the interns through their work in the program (September)
Write a success story and ensure visibility of program participants (September)
Organize panel discussions and provide an opportunity for program participants to present good practices (September-December)
Prepare certificates on completed internships for the company and the intern
The participant will become part of the DiaWorks Internship Program network, which will be a recognizable address for connecting young talents from the Bosnian diaspora.

The USAID project “Diaspora Invest” and the Business Center of the BiH Diaspora will, within the framework of their activities, implement additional activities that include local government units.

The planned time frame for the implementation of the activities

Technical support activities will be implemented in the period from July 2021 to December 2021, following the selection of the companies applying and the selection of candidates for internships, and the conclusion of an agreement for the implementation of the internship. The implementation of the preparatory training programs would be carried out online in July, and the internship itself in July/August/September – which will be further specified in individual plans for each program participant.

Application content and contact information

Application is made by filling out the form: http://bit.ly/diasporainternship2021 .

The application should include: