Emerging Issues for National Microfinance Associations

This document presents the roles that national microfinance associations are playing in individual countries and the future scope for these associations. The document discusses the following:

• National microfinance associations;
• Various activities pursued by these associations;
• General issues and core characteristics shared by these associations across the countries;
• Members associated with these associations;
• Difference between member controlled associations and an association governed by a central body.

The document elucidates the new roles of these associations such as:

• Advocates: by taking a more responsible role in dealing with various financial sector bodies ranging from financial institutions to government bodies of the associated countries;
• Standard setters: by adopting and promoting the best management practices of the sector and the codes of conducts, which results in higher financial transparency;
• Service providers: by actually providing a range of fee based services to its own members as well as to non members - the services can range from training to providing different kinds information. This can act as a capacity building measure for the respective institution;
• Funding agencies: by performing the role of financial intermediation in channeling the funds from government or a large financial institution to member or non member MFI.