Dear Colleagues,
The Greenwich University Business School (in the wonderful Royal Naval College buildings by the Thames, dead on the Greenwich Meridian !) is introducing a Master's course on microfinance and financial inclusion.
The basic details are as follows:
Ten two hour evening sessions, 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 16th October until 18th November 2013.
Objectives and session outline as below, and including two assignments; a small group 'field' exercise to examine, analyse and report on a local micro-enterprise, and a desk-based study of a topic chosen by the participant.
Faculty: Dr Ana Marr, head of the microfinance group at Greenwich, and associate professor in development economics, Sadrudin Akbarali, formerly senior programme manager for the Aga Khan Microfinance Agency and founder of MFIs in Tajikistan and nine other countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, myself, Chair of M-Cril, lately of Basix in India,and various other things.
Fee, £850, reduced to £680 for 'early-bird' applications until 15th August.
Course Objective:
To enable participants to be effective investors, supporters, donors, legal advisors, board members and commentators on microfinance, financial inclusion and on the institutions which provide these services.
Course Content:
1. Understanding Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. This introductory session takes a historical perspective and examines the various approaches taken by commercial banks, non-governmental organisations, credit unions, governments and microfinance institutions. It will define the concept of microfinance and financial inclusion, the paradigm shift and the evolution to sustainable entities and social enterprises.
2. Importance of Financial Statements. Micro-enterprises and microfinance institutions deal with specific financial statements. In non-accounting and simple language, this session will enhance understanding of profit/loss accounts and balance sheets, and explore the notion of savings club and micro-entrepreneurship.
3. Building blocks for starting microfinance programmes. From the initial stages of research, this session will provide insights into starting microfinance programmes: mission setting, planning and designing, implementation and evaluation.
4. Measuring Performance. Touching on the financial structures and outreach indicators, this session will teach you how to evaluate and measure the overall financial performance of microfinance programmes for financial inclusion. It draws on key concepts of revenue, expenditure, efficiency, productivity, risk and liquidity – and challenges you to delve into the technical aspects of microfinance.
5. Savings, micro-insurance and other financial products. To achieve greater financial inclusion, microfinance institutions need to go beyond micro-credit. Here, we will discuss the evolution to fully-fledged financial institutions providing savings, micro-insurance, remittances and other financial products.
6. Case studies around the world. Microfinance and financial inclusion manifest themselves in different ways in different contexts, be they in Asia, Africa, Latin America, USA or UK . In this session, we will investigate a case study from varying countries, taking into account the different environments, cultures and socio-economic background. The richness of these experiences will provide the basis for your course assessments too.
7. Sustainability and Profitability. Should the aim (of microfinance and financial inclusion) be purely poverty alleviation or should they be sustainable and profitable? This session deals with the issue of how to fund these institutions and engages you in a discussion of the real challenges that microfinance institutions face.
8. Social Performance and Impact. How can microfinance institutions achieve social goals that go beyond financial inclusion? The session will discuss the need for entwined processes required to attain social aims and possible ways to measure impact.
9. Regulation and Supervision. Can microfinance institutions remain unregulated and unsupervised? How does this affect their clients and their ability to achieve greater financial inclusion? The session will present the case for an appropriate regulatory and supervisory system for microfinance and financial inclusion.
10. The Way Forward. In the past 40 years, microfinance institutions have evolved significantly. What are the key challenges for them to achieve greater financial inclusion? What are the opportunities and possible ways forward? Key experts will debate and discuss the most plausible scenarios for a better future.
Register your place:
To register, please email businessevents@gre.ac.uk with your name, contact details and payment method.
Telephone contact +44(0) 208 331 9083. www.gre.ac.uk/business-events Posted by Malcom Harper via MFP on YahooGroups.
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