Funder Training Course

Building Inclusive Financial Systems: How Funders Can Make a Difference

Course schedule for 2008:

• Training in Dubrovnik, Croatia, September 8-12, 2008 - in English
  download brochure and enrolment form.
• Training in Kigali, Rwanda, November 10-14, 2008 - in French
  10-14 novembre 2008 - en français
  téléchargez la brochure et le formulaire d'inscription .

Download the complete 2008 funder training brochure

Microfinance has become shorthand for providing a broad range of financial services to a wide variety of poor and low-income clients. The expanded definition means opening up the financial systems to ensure that poor people have permanent access to financial services. It also means providing poor people with options.

Who should attend the course?

CGAP offers a series of hands-on training courses on building financial systems for the poor. The course is specifically designed for staff from public and private funding agencies and policymakers who will benefit from a deeper understanding of microfinance to conduct their work more effectively. Specifically, participants from the following are welcome:

• international development agencies (e.g., the UN, multilateral, bilateral, international financial institutions);

• socially responsible investors, including microfinance investment vehicles;

• foundations and international non-government organizations (NGOs);

• central banks and other relevant government agencies.

The course targets funding agency staff and government officials who are not necessarily finance specialists, but rather focus on areas such as pro-poor policies, poverty reduction, economic development, private sector and business development, livelihoods, employment promotion, and gender. It is equally useful for specialists in crisis prevention and recovery, environment, and health who seek a better understanding of how financial services are related to their spheres of work.

What Will You Learn?

• An overview of contemporary microfinance

• State-of-the-art principles and practical recommendations for how donors, investors and policymakers can effectively help build financial systems that serve poor people

• Criteria for appraising microfinance projects and investments

• Techniques and tools for performance-based management of projects and investments

• Recommendations for fostering policy frameworks that promote financial services for poor people

• How to develop agency-specific strategies and action plans for microfinance projects and investments

Feedback from Previous Participants

Over 300 participants attended the courses organized in the last four years. This is what some of them said:

"The training was excellent -- and the field visit was the highlight of my trip. Bringing the training to the field was a plus factor because it highlighted how dynamic and varied the microfinance field is."

"I have really enjoyed this training; I have just been assigned a new microfinance portfolio therefore the timing is just right."

"I would like to thank you again for providing us with such a wonderful five-day workshop. I think we learned a lot about internationally recognized practices and methods."

"Very impressive preparation and course, excellent selection of participants, very rich and diversified course content."

Course methodology

The methodology and learning tools that are used throughout the course reflect the state-of-the-art in active, participatory-based, adult education. Course sessions will focus on applying learning to real-world situations and include presentations, case studies and interactive group work. The course is highly practical and participants will apply the techniques learned step-by-step to analyze, decide about and design microfinance interventions. Course participants will also have the opportunity to visit good practice financial institutions in the country where the workshop is being held, unless otherwise noted.

For more information about the training course, please contact Natasa Goronja.