Newsletter – info

Training on digital finance in Ethiopia

The Digital finance training programme was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 27 to 31, 2017, organized in collaboration with the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI). The training took place at the Ethiopian Inclusive Finance Training and Research Institute (EIFTRI) which is established by the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI). The objective of the training was to provide participants with an in-depth view of the opportunities that digital financial services may bring to the MFI. Twenty (20) participants from 17 microfinance institutions in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda attended this training session.
The specific objective of the training course was to enable participants to understand the concepts, tools of Digital Finance and its implementation in microfinance institutions.
This training program was an interactive session using case study examples, group exercises, and discussions. The closing session was made by the Executive Director of the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) who also handed over the certificate of participation to the participants.

Workshop on «how digital finance can contribute to the viability and sustainability
of Microfinance Institution (MFI) »

The training workshop on “how digital finance can contribute to the viability and sustainability of MFI” was held in Lomé (Novela Star Hotel), Togo from April 24-28th, 2017. The training session was facilitated by Amarante Consulting. It brought together 28 participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea and Togo.
The training objectives were to educate participants on the importance and usefulness of the digital finance while highlighting how this digital finance could contribute to the practicality and sustainability of MFI. The opening of the workshop was made by the Director of the Professional Association of MFI of Togo who, in his speech, highlighted the role of the digital finance in the services offered by microfinance institutions.
Several case studies have been addressed during the training in order to make it more clearly to participants that the future of microfinance lies in digitization. The exchanges between trainers and participants were very rich. Participants have vowed to reorganize the same training in their respective countries in a near future considering the complexity, importance and the great interest shown by the MFIs to this theme. Trainers demonstrated the various possible models for transforming to digitalization to participants.
The closing session was made by the Executive Director of MAIN, who encouraged participants to make good use of the achievements of the training as well as all the resources at their disposal to launch digital finance in their respective institutions. Digital finance is an excellent tool for financial inclusion of our people especially who are in rural areas.

Training on rural finance and risk management related to rural finance

MAIN has organized a training programme on «rural finance and risk management related to rural finance» in collaboration with GAMF (Group of actors of Microfinance in Kivu) in Bukavu, DRC from May 15-19, 2017. The opening session was made by the regional Minister of the province of Kivu.
The training took place at the Centre spirituel Amani and brought together 28 participants from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi. It was intended to sensitize staff of the MFIs on the importance of rural finance and how to manage the risks associated with this type of financing. The training was facilitated by Mr. Azokli, an expert in the field and who made the participants motivated by providing integrative lecture during the training. The exchanges were very rich and participants benefited from the experience sharing from the trainer.
At the end of the training, an outstanding participant was awarded a trophy which was handed over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MAIN. The Chairman of MAIN in his closing remarks, thanked the organizers (MAIN & GAMF) for this joint initiative, urged the participants to make good use of the achievements of the training and wished participants a safe journey back to their respective countries.

Testimony of the best participant of the Training on rural finance and risk management related to rural finance

Her name is Marie – Salomé SHABANI KYAKUMEZA development officer of «PAIDEK, SA» in DRC. She has 16 years of experience in the sector and worked as a Manager for 13 years.
She participated in the training workshop organized by MAIN in collaboration with the Group of actors of Microfinance in Kivu (GAMF), which dealt with «rural finance and risk management related to rural finance ». The training was very rich in content and experiences.
At the end of the training, the workshop organizers planned to award a trophy for an outstanding participant during the session. Ms. Marie Salomé was nominated as a best participant among five nominees. She strongly thanked the organizers (MAIN and GAMF) of the training, the trainer and participants for the trust they had on her. She is very much motivated to continue her dedication to work with the poor for the improvement of their livelihood. She highly recommended to MAIN to increase training opportunities in the DRC for the benefit of the actors and the sector which is still prone to significant challenges.

Exchanges visits by Members of MAIN

Following the submission of application for an exchange visit in February 2017, two institutions participated in the exchange visit organized by MAIN. WAGES visited Microcred in Ivory Coast and Rural Credit in Guinea (CRG) visited the RCPB in Burkina Faso. Each delegation consisted of 4 people. Both visits took place in April and lasted for 5 days each.
Each visit had a specific objective. For WAGES, it was the process of implementation of digital finance in a microfinance institution. However for CRG the objective was how to be inspired by real cases of reorganization of network in order to put Road map of the reformation of CRG for a sound and efficient management.
During the visit, WAGES was able to obtain the necessary information expected from the mission and has set up an action plan to follow after their return from mission.
According to the members of the CRG team who participated in the visit, the mission was conclusive which proved the various experiences during their stay with the host institution.

MAIN Webinar

MAIN webinar is now available at MAIN network level. It can be accessed at the following link: http://webinar.mainnetwork.org/
Members can access this link for different resources. Please approach the secretariat if you have not obtained your code that will enable you to navigate on the webinar of MAIN.

MAIN Board of Directors Meeting

MAIN held its 34th board of directors meeting in Congo Brazzaville on the 20th June, 2017. During this meeting the board approved the admission of 4 institutions to the MAIN network. These include the Cooperative Chétienne d’Epargne et de Crédit (COCEC-Togo), MUSONI DTL Ltd in Kenya, the Mutuelle Femme Epargne et Crédit (MUFEC-Togo) and FINADEV in Guinea. MAIN welcomes the new institutions to its network. The Board also approved the reports (activities and audit report) for 2016, decided on the status of members, the monitoring of activities and budget.
During this meeting, MAIN delegation was privileged to participate in the inauguration of the headquarters of CAPPED, the host institution in Brazzaville. CAPPED has been a very active member of MAIN since 2006.

CAPPED, Member of MAIN inaugurated its headquarters

On June 21st, 2017, the Caisse de Participation à la Promotion des Entreprises et de Développement (CAPPED), has inaugurated a new headquarters (R + 2), after twenty-six years of existence in the Republic of Congo.
The presence of various civil authorities, local and international partners (MAIN and AMT) and members of the institution, added color to the ceremony. In addition Orchestra of singer Casimir ZAO (veteran) made the program more entertaining.
Several speeches were delivered during the ceremony. Among the speeches were,

  1. welcoming remarks by Mr. Administrator 1 Makélékélé, Borough Mayor, Maurice Maurel KIWOUZOU;
  2. technical presentation of building by Mr. César MINIKORO, head of the construction firm;
  3. The speech, Mr. Paul KAMPAKOL in his dual post as a President of the Board of Directors of CAPPED and General Secretary of FJEC
  4. The testimony of Mr. Dominique LESAFFRE (General Director of SIDI in France and Treasurer of MAIN network), on his long collaboration with FJEC and CAPPED;
  5. The word of father Christian of the BRETESCHE dwelt on the history of creation of CAPPED.

At the end of the programs, certificate of honor and fidelity were handed out to two (2) staffs of the institution plus a gift to a sample of five (5) members of the CAPPED, for their long standing service and interventions.
The General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Brazzaville, representing by Monsignor Anatole MILANDOU, blessed the new premises after the symbolic ribbon was cut by Mr. Emmanuel MPAN AKOUALA, Director of Cabinet representing the Minister of Finance, Budget and Public Portfolio.
This was followed by a visit to the premises and a cocktail was organized to more than 300 people.