Governance, Founding and Strategic Planning for Country Level Microfinance Networks

This paper presents the discussions held at a training workshop on governance, fundraising and strategic planning for microfinance networks, organized by the Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN). It tracks the discussions of the workshop on each day as follows:

Day one:

• The role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and networks in fighting poverty and consolidating the microfinance industry.
• The following objectives of the workshop:
  • To discuss areas of challenge in governing "country level networks" (CLNs);
  • To provide training sessions to develop strategies to address the challenges;
  • To focus on the topics of governance, members' satisfaction, principles of "Effective Board Governance", etc.

• The contribution of CLNs in rationalizing and harmonizing the activities of MFIs.

Day two:

• The concept of "governance" in the microfinance context;
• The role of members in the governance of microfinance associations (MFAs);
• Strategies for assessing members' needs and satisfaction;
• The constitution of the "board".

Day three:

• Board responsibilities;
• Delegation of authority by the board to the executive;
• The profile of board members;
• Strategic planning for MFAs.

Day four:

• The strategic planning process and various models that were suggested as templates;
• Strategies for MFA fund-raising;
• Attributes common to most successful networks.

The workshop concluded by examining its role in the development of good governance of networks and increasing the visibility of their roles in development.