Roger Merrill, a computer expert from New Brighton, Minnesota, braved subzero weather to help Netcard Co., Ltd. transform itself into Mongolia's first online banking enterprise. Merrill was a first-time volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps, a major nonprofit business advisory organization that assists small and medium sized businesses in developing countries. IESC was started by David Rockefeller, president of Chase Manhattan Bank, who believed it was important to transfer expertise from industrialized countries to less developed countries in order to promote and expand free enterprise.

Today, IESC has a presence in 49 countries in Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Over 23,000 projects have been completed since 1964. IESC works with small and medium sized businesses, as well as with non-governmental and public sector organizations that support business development. IESC also works with entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses. "We like to think of ourselves as a private sector Peace Corps," notes Kathleen Failla, director of communications and public affairs for IESC.

IESC Volunteers

IESC maintains a database of over 12,000 business professionals, all with relevant educational backgrounds and several years of professional experience. Many volunteers are retired business executives, though professionals in information technology tend to be younger, according to Failla. "Our volunteers are highly educated people with industry specific skills," she says.

Volunteers have a broad base of expertise, including but not limited to: marketing, manufacturing, information technology, travel and tourism, export and trade development, environmental services and joint ventures.

The length of a volunteer assignment varies, depending on the scope of the project. On average, however, a volunteer spends approximately three months overseas. Sometimes, volunteers work on several projects with IESC. Other times, however, a volunteer may only work on one project and then move on. Whether or not someone volunteers again with IESC depends on several factors, according to Failla, including the volunteer's interest, specific skill set and the needs of countries and projects. IESC pays for volunteers' airfare and provides a small per diem.

According to Laurie Treleven, IESC's program development director, there is currently a need for individuals who have experience with chambers of commerce or specific professional associations. "We'd really like to identify volunteers who have worked with or managed business support organizations or associations," she says. "Prospective volunteer experts in this area should have seven to 10 years experience as an association executive with skills in strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, board development and developing new services…for their members."

The Global Technology Network

IESC works with the United States Agency for International Development (AID) as a principle administrator of the Global Technology Network (GTN). The GTN is a global network that assists American small and mid sized companies in penetrating the overseas marketplace. They do this by working to match a small company's needs with a US supplier who could provide appropriate technological solutions. IESC provides additional technical advisory services through its database of volunteer experts. A recent GTN project entailed a reverse trade mission that brought six Senegalese businesses involved in solar and other renewable energies to the United States to meet with similar American companies, laying groundwork for multiple strategic partnerships.

IESC Acquires Geekcorps

This past August, IESC announced that it has acquired Geekcorps, another NGO that works in a similar fashion but with a focus on information technology. Geekcorps sends professionals skilled in high tech to volunteer with small and medium sized enterprises in the developing world.

Get Involved

If you have significant business or technical skills and are interested in experiences like Merrill's in Mongolia, visit IESC's Web site. Get more information on GTN here.

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