MFMI REPORTER EMAIL EDITION
March 28, 2008
NETWORK NEWS
MFMI Network Awarded a Grant for Participation in the MasterCard Foundation Scholars' Program
to channel scholarship support to microfinance practitioners in order to attend courses offered by training institutes and universities. Funds are available for MFMI network members to apply to bring microfinance institution practitioners into ongoing professional trainings during the 2008 calendar year. The MFMI thanks the 33 network members which applied and will benefit from their efforts. More information is soon forthcoming on how MFMI members may access the scholarship program. See: http://www.themfmi.org/support/scholarships.php
Asian Regional MFMI Network Conference in the Philippines, Jan/Feb 08,
was well attended and had active participation from 50 participants from ten countries. The first week of the Conference brought together new members of the MFMI Network from Asia, Russia and Poland to discuss the opportunities and challenges to training and education in their markets. Many attendees stayed for an additional week to participate in one of two skills' development tracks: case research and writing and using structured learning experiences in adult learning. The MFMI welcomes reflections and comments from those attending about their experiences and the usefulness of the agenda topics and activities. A selection of photos from the Conference are posted at http://www.themfmi.org/about/gallery_06.php
The MFMI Solicits Partner Inputs for Activities in 2008
from MFMI members about activities and events that would be useful to build the contacts, exchange and skills of MFMI members. MFMI seeks feedback from its members regarding interests to attend Training of Trainers on any of six of the CGAP Skills for Microfinance Managers Courses (Accounting for MFIs, Financial Management, Delinquency Control and Interest Rate Setting, Operational Risk Management, Product Development and Management Information Systems). Additionally, the MFMI has also been asked by GTZ to assess member interest on TOTs for Islamic Banking and Human Resource Development, and also by Womens' World Banking for interest in versions of its Financial Risk Management Course. Please send any ideas and comments to Natasa at NGoronja@theMFMI.org
New Shorebank Publication "Mobilizing Savings from the Urban Poor in Pakistan: An Initial Inquiry"
looks at savings mobilization and life cycle events among urban poor in Pakistan, can be downloaded from:
http://www.microfinancegateway.org/files/47283_file MASTER_FILE_SHOREBANK_SAVINGS_09.pdf
MicroSave announced Applied Microfinance Institute (AMI) training in Jaipur, India
This coming July 14 25, http://www.amiindia.org
GENERAL NEWS
Space Available CGAP/MFMI Course for Microfinance Funders, in Ethiopia April 7 - 11
See: http://themfmi.org/dev/course/index.php for more details.
New Two-Day Training for Funders at the World Bank,
Co-organized with the World Bank and CGAP, for those in the Washington, D.C. donor and policy maker communities, May 6-7, 2008. See: http://themfmi.org/dev/news/workshop_05-2008.php
Global Survey of Microfinance Industry Finds Management As Biggest Weakness
A recent industry survey, conducted by the London-based Center for the Study of Financial Innovation, sponsored by CGAP and Citi Foundation was published. The results show that the survey respondents emphasized the importance of MFI management, governance, cost control, staffing, credit risk and how MFIs manage new technologies as top issues in the industry. "The greatest risk facing microfinance is the uneven quality of management at MFIs, at a time of rapid change." Also, "several respondents felt that MFIs were not investing enough in MF management skills because the philanthropic culture of the industry emphasized dedication rather than professionalism." And, "In all the regions in which they operate, MFIs are being stretched by hectic rates of growth, by the growing complexity of their business and by pressures to become more commercially motivated." A listing of the top risks in the industry is posted at: http://www.cgap.org/portal/site/CGAP/MF_BananaSkins. The full report can be downloaded from:
http://www.cgap.org/portal/binary/ com.epicentric.contentmanagement.servlet. ContentDeliveryServlet/Documents/MF_BananaSkins2008.pdf