Maida Babcock’s last position was a Business Finance Lending Associate with 6 years of experience working in the field of international development in Bosnia. She began with the Business Finance team in October, 1996, and was responsible for the start-up and management of the project’s Tuzla office. In her last position, she managed relationships between the USAID-BF Team, the Agent Banks and the borrowers in the Tuzla region. This work included the screening of applications for completeness and compliance with the program criteria; verifying the quality of the content for the economic viability of the proposed loan and for the creditworthiness of the borrower; working in conjunction with BF Lending Officers in processing the loans for recommendation, and finally preparing and making her own loan recommendations. Once she became able to do it independently, she had to present and answer numerous and very often tricky and complicated questions on the project feasibility, in order to prove the worthiness of lending to a chosen company. After a loan received USAID approval, she prepared the loan documentation and managed the assigned loan portfolio. In addition to this she monitored the assigned loan disbursals and loan repayments, reviewed the quarterly monitoring reports to ensure timely receipt of required borrower information, and provided a compliance evaluation report to the BF project Credit Manager. Besides, she helped the local Banks understanding and meeting USAID lending criteria. She was also responsible, in October 1997, for the start-up of the first Business Finance project office in Banja Luka (Republika Srpska). Ms. Babcock was instrumental in the reconciliation between BiH and the Republika Srpska by reestablishing the relationship between the Federation and RS Agent Banks through the meetings and rebuilding of the financial relationships. Her sensitivity towards difficult and very distinctive political and economic environments in the two entities, as well as extremely helpful knowledge of the local milieu and people were of tremendous help to the USAID Program and staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She also represented the BF project by delivering informational presentations about the programs in emerging lending areas. In addition to this, together with a few other staff she held the training sessions on BF Program and educated potential borrowers on compiling their business information into their company’s business plan and loan application.
Prior to her work with the Business Finance project, Ms. Babcock spent her career in support of humanitarian organizations working in Bosnia during the war. She worked as a Field Assistant for the International Crisis Group, and as an Office Manager and Field Officer with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was responsible for the relationship between the International Red Cross and the local branch offices. Primary task of her former companies was development of local community and institutions and helping the reconciliation between peoples. She coordinated all activities in these offices, provided materials, took care of the accounting, monitored activities such as blood donations, and the pensioners program. Prior to this, she served the World Bank as a translator and interpreter on projects involving income generation for small and micro enterprises in Bosnia. Several times she provided translating and interpreting services to the International Political Events contributing to the cessation of the war hostilities. Ms. Babcock began her career as an English teacher for a High School in Tuzla in 1991. She speaks fluent English.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Bosnia Reconstruction Finance Facility Project, Development Alternatives, Inc., USAID, Bosnia
Lending Associate (October 1996 - May 1999, when she left for her maternity leave)
Responsible for managing the relationship between USAID-BRFF and the Agent Banks and borrowers. This includes screening of applications for completeness and compliance with the program criteria; processing loans for recommendation, her own and once a loan receives USAID approval, prepare loan documentation and manage the assigned loan portfolio. Translating was an integral part of this position. Was responsible for the start up of the Tuzla Office (1996), the Banja Luka and the Brcko Offices (1997). She worked primarily with Komercialna Banka Tuzla, and was instrumental in the recommendation of over 60 loans.
Field Assistant, International Crisis Group, Tuzla, (August - October 1996)
For this US and UK political organization, contacted opposition parties in both Bosnia and the Republika Srpska shortly after the war in an attempt to reconciliation and for the return of refugees to their homes. Organizing the meetings with cantonal and municipal officials in order to accomplish the mentioned goals.
Office Manager and Field Officer, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Tuzla, (February - August, 1996)
Responsible for the relationship between the International Red Cross and the local Bosnian offices, as well as establishing contacts between the International Red Cross Movement and local authorities. Helped the development of the Local Red Cross and the reconciliation between the war-divided National Red Cross Society in the country. Coordinated all activities in these offices, provided materials, monitored activities such as blood donations, as well as the pensioners program. Handled all of the administration for the personnel and policies in this office.
Independent Translator/Interpreter (1995-1996)
Provided translation and interpretation for the Forum of Tuzla Citizens on different political and social topics, as well as for the World Bank on projects involving income generation for small and micro enterprises. Interpreted the ceremony awarding the European Peace Award to the Major of Tuzla, and the BiH elections in 1996.
Chancellor, ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross, Tuzla, (April 1995 - January 1996)
Assisted the head of the delegation in Tuzla. Prepared situation reports of ICRC activities in the region, drafted the correspondence with civil and military officials, maintained personal security and other files of her superior, coordinated the work between the ICRC and the other relief agencies, provided translation and interpretation to the Head of the Delegation. During this period, handled the translation for the IV General Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, a forum of some 600 persons who came from different part of ex-Yugoslavia while the war was still flaming throughout the country, concerning the reconciliation of the former Yugoslav entities again.
Translator and Administrator, Children in Crisis International, Tuzla (October 1994 - April 1995)
Prepared translations, collected data and maintaining files on missing children (during the war).
English Teacher, Tuzla Grammar School, Tuzla, Bosnia (September - November 1991)
Taught English to high school students.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Lotus 123, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Microsoft Excel, Internet Explorer, Microsoft PowerPoint
In Croatian --- In Bosnian