Microfinance training courses, technology and investment to improve Microfinance performancee

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FAQs

Q: What impact could I make by being on the MWB team?

A: Investors are ready to help the MF sector grow. Microfinance Institutions or 'Banks for the Poor' need technical assistance to be 'investment fit'. Here's where you or someone you sponsor as a MWB coach can make a difference.

Q: What will I be doing?

A: After MWB training and selection for field work you or the people you sponsor will be on the MWB team that

Coaches in our partner Microfinance Institutions
Tracks their performance towards becoming 'investment fit'
Assists in improving their technology
Takes part in a dynamic MWB network

Q: What are the benefits for me and sponsoring organisations?

A: Here are some of the benefits:

Making an impact on poverty by developing sustainable financial infrastructures
Being part of 'leading edge' technology innovation at the grassroots
Combining theoretical and practical knowledge in emerging markets
Leaning first hand about the challenges for the 2 billion people in the world who want to improve their lives
Transforming perspectives on how to do 'social business'
Gaining needed skills while making a difference

Course structure, placements in MFIs and fees

Q: What are your courses, who are they for, why should I take them and how much do they cost?

A: Look at MWB Programme

Individuals or corporate sponsorship

Q: My firm is interested in being a corporate sponsor. What should we do about this?

A: Some international corporates are already sponsoring and we have a set of guidelines for interested corporates from the insurance, banking, accountancy and financial legal sectors.
Please contact MWB by emailing Phyllis SantaMaria at .

Q: I do not have a firm to sponsor me. Could I take part anyway?

A: Yes, we have many individuals who are paying for their courses and field experience themselves.
Please contact MWB by emailing Phyllis SantaMaria at , or fill out the application form and send it along with your fee to the address on the form.

Training courses

Q: Why is the training course necessary if I am already a financial or marketing professional?

A: Participants will be challenged culturally as well as for their practical skills on MWB placements. Culturally they will be living and working in a new environment in a developing country, quite different from backpacking in a gap year. Practically they will be operating with MFIs that are small or medium sized enterprises and have different working practices and accounting procedures than in Europe. There will be other elements in the course in addition to finance and Management Information Systems, such as marketing and product development, needs analysis for training for MFIs.

We will be using case studies to portray some of the common problems and solutions for MFIs and using a communication element based on MF experts who work full-time with MFIs in problem solving and benchmarking for investing in MFIs.

Q: Who is developing and delivering the training course?

A: Courses and their developers are:

The foundation course, Practical Microfinance,is developed by Professor Malcolm Harper, author of leading books and on-line materials on MF, for 10 years Chairman of BASIX, a leading MFI in India, and currently Chairman of M-CRIL, the world's largest MF rating agency. He and Dr SantaMaria are delivering the course.
Accounting for MF is developed by Mosleh Ahmed, a Chartered Accountant with 18 years' experience in MF (accounting, marketing, microinsurance, remittances)
Course development, needs analysis, field work and liaison with other organisations are done by the Directors of MWB

Q: How will this training course fit in with my work schedule?

A: MWB has developed a course with these components to suit busy professionals:

Preparation by using Prof Harper's on-line materials, developed for the UN's FAO, www.ruralfinance.org,

Seven evening tutorials of two hours each, highly interactive, lively with cross-fertilisation by participants from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

Practical assignments that involve participants in finding out what it's like to be financially excluded, how to get hard to access data and use of case studies

Preparation for field work

Q: How can I have access to materials after the course?

A: Participants will have Prof Harper's 'Practical Microfinance' as a handy reference in the field.

Q: I'm on the road a lot for my work. What if I have to miss a session?

A: MWB will be producing DVDs and an internet-based version of the course so you can catch up with missed classroom activities. You will also be able to refer to the on-line course and Professor Harper's books.

Q: What is the assessment system?

A: You do practical assignments, report to your peers, and later develop a project in the field.

Q: Will this training material or course be available for MFIs in developing countries or the UK?

A: Yes, we are creating learning packages out of Prof Harper's materials that can be re-purposed for use in the field with MFIs.

Placement

Q: Why Tanzania?

A: MWB staff will work together with MFIs in Tanzania to assess their needs and select the most suited ones to take part in the MWB programme. We are working together with the City of London Corporation to strengthen the financial sector there.

Q: What about after the placement? What debriefing is offered? How could I keep in touch with my MFI to see about their progress?

A: There will be an individual and group debriefing after the field placements. MWB volunteers' experience will be invaluable in improving the services provided to MFIs, future participants and to developing a curriculum of courses for MFIs. To ensure the ongoing progress of the MFIs involved with MWB, we will set up a network for reporting on their progress and a system of mentoring.

Q: What countries will MWB use for placements? Could I choose my own MFI?

A: The first placements will be in Tanzania, and we will be able to draw upon our network and expertise from our contacts there. Participants from our most recent course are working in India, Nigeria, East Africa and some of them have set up their own placements.

Q: How will the MFIs be selected?

A: MWB is working with working with organisations in East Africa to select the best partners for our initial two-year programme. Together we will work with the MFIs to set and agree on goals and measurement of their performance.