Request for Applications (RFA)

Recruiting Training and Academic Organizationsto Develop Financial Systems for the Poor

Issued by

The Microfinance Management Institute

Washington, DC

www.theMFMI.org

Microfinance Management InstituteRecruiting Training and Academic Organizationsto Develop Financial Systems for the Poor

Content:

Overview ……………………………………………………… 3 Application Criteria …………………………………………. 4 Application Instructions and Form ………………………… 5 Annex 1: Countries of Primary Interest …………………… 19 Annex 2: History and Current Scope of the MFMI ……….. 20

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Overview

The MFMI is recruiting training and academic organizations to expand its global community of capacity building professionals working on the development of financial institutions and financial systems for the poor. MFMI supports the professional interests of academics and trainers who provide competitive training, teaching and technical services to microfinance managers, students and other microfinance professionals.

Training and academic organizations affiliated with the MFMI will join efforts with a current international cadre of over 40 professionals from management and MBA faculty, trainers and network professionals in more than 25 developing countries. These faculty and trainers reside and work across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe.

The benefits gained by the MFMI affiliates include:

Global and regional connections to professors, trainers, students and their organizations Exchange of experience and best practice in global microfinance, Skills to develop tools and materials for training and academic programs (such as

research methods, course design, development, and delivery) Access to funding to support the development of training and academics materials Expanding network linkages among trainers, academics and practice. Marketing of your training organization or university’s information on the MFMI Web

site, Inclusion in regional workshops for trainers and academics with significant support of the

MFMI

The MFMI is now accepting additional applications on an ongoing basis from organizations headquartered in any developing and emerging market country. The submission of an application does not guarantee that a particular organization will be selected for support by the MFMI. The MFMI will strictly apply the selection criteria described in the Section “Minimum Application Criteria”. In addition, the MFMI prioritizes its selection based on the strength of the qualifications and experience (Section “Qualifications and Experience”) of each applicant and as MFMI funding permits. Applicant organizations should note that they must support the cost of their own international air travel to attend MFMI events. Countries of primary interest for recruitment are noted in Annex 1.

The MFMI thanks, in advance, all organizations that participate in the application process. In consideration of the time and effort involved, the MFMI will feature on its Web site each applicant organization, including its contact information, products and services (excluding any financial information provided in Part IV of this application).

For more information on the history and scope of the MFMI, please see Annex 2.

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Application Criteria

Affiliates supported by the MFMI will become a part of one of four already functioning smaller regional groups organized by the MFMI. These include groups for Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. The MFMI periodically hosts meetings and workshops for each of these four regions and supports the attendance of affiliates at the appropriate regional forum. At such events, the MFMI usually covers the costs of delivery of the workshop, accommodations and meals for all participants and the partner organizations participate in cost-sharing by paying for the remainder of their travel costs.

Minimum Requirements

The MFMI screens applications with the following minimum requirements in mind:

Training Organizations

• Legal firm, microfinance network or association supporting the microfinance sector with training activities

• Has provided technical assistance or training assignments for the microfinance sector within the past 2 years

Academic Institutions

• Currently offer academic programming for microfinance management and financial inclusion that may range from research, to course electives, curriculum development, faculty development programs, executive education, workshops or conferences

• Have a minimum of 2 full-time faculty working on microfinance in academia

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Application Instructions and Form

1. Candidates should complete Parts I – VI of the application: Part I: Organization Contact Information Part II: Strategic Positioning and Activity Plans Part III: Qualifications and Experience Part IV: Financial Performance (For Training Organizations only)Part V: Needs AssessmentPart VI: Statement of Support and Commitment

2. Application Submission and Deadline

At this stage, the application submissions are based on an open enrollment and ongoing. Please submit all information related to questions and the application by e-mail to: info@themfmi.org or by postal mail to:

Natasa GoronjaMicrofinance Management Institutec/o The Open Society Institute1120 19th Street, NW, 3rd Floor, Suite 322Washington, DC 20036

If you submit an application or question by e-mail, please submit only ONE e-mail and indicate “MFMI Global Network” in the subject heading.

3. Application Checklist Item Check if completed Part I: Organization Contact InformationPart II: Strategic Positioning and Activity Plans Part III. Qualifications and ExperiencePart IV: Financial Performance (For Training Organizations only – if your organization is an academic institution, please skip to Part V) Part V: Needs AssessmentPart VI: Institutional Statement of Support and CommitmentCVs of the key members of the Board of Directors and key senior management, plus CVs of primary professors or facilitators of your institution or organization who work directly with microfinance activities.

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Part I: Organization Contact Information

Do not fill in this column Fill in this column onlyWhere choices are given, please select your answer by underlining it.

Organization NameType of Organization □ University

□ Higher Education Institution □ Network Association □ Training Service Provider□ Consulting Firm□ Financial Services Provider□ Other, please specify: _ _____________________________

Legal Status □ Non-profit □ For-profit □ Other, please specify: ________________________________

Organization Street Address (Main Office / Headquarters)

CityPost CodeCountry Main Office Telephone NumberE-mail AddressFax NumberList of countries where work is generally carried outPrimary Contact Person for MFMI

First NameLast Name(s) Title Please select: □ Dr. □ Mrs. □ Ms. □ Mr. Position within your organizationE-mail AddressFax NumberCell Number

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Part II: Strategic Positioning and Activity Plans (this is for both Academic Institutions and Training Organizations)

If you already have a document that addresses the same questions as asked below, you are welcome to simply attach that document to your application and make a reference to it in your answer.

1. What are the mission, goals and objectives of your institution or organization?

2. In what year was your institution or organization established?

3. In what year did your organization first begin working in support of microfinance/development of financial systems for the poor?

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4. Please tell us about the target market for your products and services. We have grouped potential target markets in two ways: a) the employees of financial institutions and b) others in the financial services environment including donors, students, policy makers, etc.

a) Instructions: For each of the employee positions listed in the left-hand column that represent your target market, please place an “X” in the columns to the right that represent the type of financial institution (Unregulated MFI, Regulated MFI, etc.) that employs the people in that particular position. It is possible you will mark multiple columns in each row. Target Market (Employees of Financial Institutions)

Unregulated Microfinance Institutions

RegulatedMicrofinance Institutions

Commercial Banks

Cooperatives Credit Unions Other, please specify

CEOExecutive DirectorGeneral ManagerChief Financial OfficerChief Operations OfficerHead of CreditDirector of Information TechnologyDirector of Human ResourcesBranch ManagerHeadquarters Supervisory StaffLoan/Credit/Account OfficersBranch AccountantsCashiersAdministrative StaffOther, please describe:

b) Instructions: Please indicate (by underlining your answer) the categories of others working in support of the sector to whom your organization offers products and services. It is possible you will mark none or all of the choices. Management MBA Students Information Systems Providers Economic Students Raters Policy Students Regulators and Supervisors Public Donors Microfinance clients (example: financial literacy for micro-entrepreneurs) Private Donors Other, please describe. Auditors

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5. What do you perceive to be the capacity building needs of highest priority in your country or market for the development of the microfinance sector?

6. Have you documented any needs assessments within the microfinance sector of your country or region within the past 2 years? If yes, please attach a summary of your findings or the actual document itself.

7. Whom do you see as the key stakeholders for the development of microfinance in your country and in what ways do you currently engage with any of these stakeholders?

8. If different from those listed in question 8, who, if any, are the key partners or collaborators for your organization’s work on microfinance?

9. Who (if any) is the competition to your organization in the local market?

10. Please describe what characteristics give your organization a competitive advantage over the competition described in the previous question.

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Part III. Qualifications and Experience

1. Please tell us more about your institution or organization’s experience in microfinance the last three years. Please fill in the seven columns of the following matrix, as shown in the example provided, adding as many rows as you need.

Name of the Product or Service Offered

(please indicate with an “*” if your organization delivers the product or service using distance learning technologies)

Number of Participants (Ps) per year

Countries of Origin of the Participants or Clients

Country in which the product or service was delivered

Length of the Course (actual hours of instruction)

Names of the Facilitator(s) or Provider(s)

Fee of the Product or Service per Participant or Client (in US$) excluding indirect costs such as meals, transport and lodging

Example: “Strategic Management” training course

Example: 2004: 30 Ps 2005: 50 Ps2006: 100 Ps

Example: ColombiaPeruEcuadorVenezuela

Example: Colombia

Example: 20 hours /course

Example: Juan Perez

Example: US $150 / P

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2. Please indicate the level of evaluation information that you collect on the products and services that you offer. Please select by underlining the option that best represents your answer:

Reaction – how the participants or students judge/ react to the training or course (generally done immediately after the training or course)

Learning – how much the participants learn from the training or course (generally measured by comparing the results of a pre-test and post-test)

Behavior – how the participants change their on-the-job performance due to the training or course (can be measured by reviewing a sample of their work done before the course and another sample done after the course)

Impact – the Return on Investment (ROI) to the participant’s institution as a result of the training or course (should be quantifiably measured, such as delinquency rate, number of savings accounts, etc.)

None of the above: we don’t do evaluations Other, please describe.

3. Briefly, what are your plans to increase the staff capacity of your institution or organization in the next year or two? Again, if you already have a document (possibly staff performance goals) that details this information, please attach it to your application and refer to it by name in your answer.

4. Please attach the CVs of the key members of the Board of Directors and key senior management. The MFMI would also like to review the CVs of professors or facilitators currently involved in microfinance work at your institution and organization.

5. Please provide the contact information for two references whom we may contact about your products and services. Please provide name, email address and phone number (including the country and city code).

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Part IV: Financial Performance (For Training Organizations only – if your organization is an academic institution, please skip to Part V)

1. What was your institution or organization’s gross revenue in 2004, 2005 and 2006? Please state in US $. We are looking exclusively for earned income derived from the sale of your products, services and programmatic activities. Please do not include any income derived from grants, in-kind contribution or other income (such as rent, etc.)

2. What were your institution or organization’s total expenses in 2004, 2005 and 2006? Please state in US $.

We are looking for the total costs of all direct and indirect expenses incurred, regardless if they are fixed, variable, administrative or programmatic.

3. If the costs stated in question number 2 exceeded the revenue stated in question number 1, please describe how your institution or organization funded the deficit?

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Part V: Needs Assessment

To help the MFMI understand how it can provide the most relevant and beneficial products and services to its training and academic community, please answer the following needs assessment.

1. Indicate the ten topics you perceive are of most interest and need for knowledge by your clients. Please place an “X” in the cell to the left of only your top 10 choices. There is no right or wrong answer.

“X” Topic “X”Accounting Legal StructuresAppraising / Evaluating Microfinance Institutions

Marketing/Demand

Business Models Managing GrowthBusiness Planning Microfinance in Post-Conflict

EnvironmentsCapacity Building Operations ManagementCapital Funding and Structuring Organizational DevelopmentChange Management Organizational Design/ RestructuringClient Segments PolicyCompetition ProductsCredit Delivery Regulation and SupervisionFinancial Inclusion Risk ManagementFinancial Management Rural/Agricultural FinanceFinancial Performance SavingsGovernance and Leadership Scaling-up / rapid growth programsHistory/Evolution/Trends Scenario Planning for CrisesHuman Resource Management Social EnterpriseInnovations Social PerformanceInstitutional Appraisal/Evaluation Strategic and Business PlanningInterest Rates/Pricing Strategies for funders investing in

microfinanceLearning /Knowledge Management TechnologyOther, please describe.

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2. The MFMI would like to better understand the products and services that your organization: a) uses now and b) those in which it would like to gain more skills, to either enhance your competitiveness in your current offer, or as products and services your organization would like to offer in the near future. Instructions: For each of the products and services listed to the left, please place an “X” in the middle column if your organization currently and frequently offers this product or service and/ or place an “X” in the right-hand column if your organization would like additional skills in offering this product or service. There is no right or wrong answer.

Products and Services Using Now Would like more skills

Single courses(for example, one course on Strategic Management of MFIs)

Comprehensive curriculum / complete programs (for example, full MBA specializations or a suite of courses on human resources)

Training of Trainers – training trainers to design, develop and deliver a course.

Master Training of Trainers - training trainers to deliver “Training of Trainers” to others

Technical assistance (Consulting)

Conferences, seminars

Exposure / Exchange programs

Facilitation and mentoring of student projects and internships

Knowledge management and information dissemination

Research of microfinance operations (please describe research areas)

Other, please describe:

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3. Please tell us about your plans to develop new products and services in the next two years and for whom you will develop them. Instructions: For each of the products and services listed to the left, please put an “X” in the column to the right if your organization plans to develop it -in the next two years- for top management (CEO, Executive Director, General Manager, CFO, COO, Head of Credit, Director of Information Technology, Director of Human Resources) middle management (Branch Managers, Home Office supervisory staff) or technical staff (loan officers, branch accountants, cashiers, etc.). There is no right or wrong answer.

Products and Services that you plan to develop in the next two years Top Management

Middle Management

Technical Staff

Single courses(for example, one course on Strategic Management of MFIs)

Comprehensive curriculum / complete programs (for example, full MBA specializations or a suite of courses on human resources)

Training of Trainers – training trainers to design, develop and deliver a course.

Master Training of Trainers - training trainers to deliver “Training of Trainers” to others

Technical assistance (Consulting)

Conferences, seminars

Exposure / Exchange programs

Facilitation and mentoring of student projects and internships

Knowledge management and information dissemination

Research of microfinance operations (please describe research areas)

Other, please describe:

4. The MFMI appreciates that your organization may employ a variety of methods to deliver its products and services in the training and academic environments based on the audience, content, and learning objective. The MFMI would like to better understand the methods your

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organization: a) uses now and those that it b) would like to learn more about. Instructions: For each of the methods listed to the left, please place an “X” in the middle column if your organization currently and frequently employs this method and/ or place an “X” in the right-hand column if your organization would like additional skills in this method. There is no right or wrong answer.

Method Using Now Would like more skills

Lecture: This method is often most commonly associate with secondary education. In this method, communication is primarily one-way: from the instructor to the learner. Discussion: Facilitated group conversations among participants that draw on their personal and professional experience in which clarification and probing by a facilitator enriches the learning. Demonstration: The trainer shows trainees how to do something. The trainer may provide an opportunity for trainees to perform the task being demonstrated. Seminar: Often combine several group methods: lectures, discussions, conferences, demonstrations.

Conference: A group considers a specific problem or issue and it works to reach agreement on statements or solutions. Panel: Provides several points of view on a topic to seek alternatives to a situation. Panel members may have differing views but they must also have objective concerns for the purpose of the training. Often includes outside resource people. Role Playing: Trainees assume roles and act out situations connected to the learning concepts.

Case Studies: A description of a real or imagined situation which contains information that trainees can use to analyze what has occurred and why. The trainees recommend solutions based on the content provided. Simulations: Trainees participate in a reality-based, interactive activity where they imitate actions required on the job. Projects: Require the trainees to do something on the job which improves the business as well as helps them learn about the topic of training. It might involve participation on a team, the creation of a database, or the forming of a new process. Self-discovery: Trainees discover the competencies on their own using such techniques as guided exercises, books, and research. Movies/videos/computer-based training: Content for the training experience comes primarily from a videotape or computer-based program. On-the-job training: The manager or mentor shows the trainee how to do the job.

Mentoring: Helps employees solve problems both through training them in skills and through modeling effective attitudes and behaviors. This system is sometimes known as a “buddy system”.

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5. Please indicate the level of proficiency in the English language of the primary contact person for the MFMI (the person listed in Part I of this application). Instructions: For each of the aspects of the language (such as writing, reading, speaking and understanding, listed in the first column on the left), please place an “X” in the column to the right that represents the level of proficiency (1-5) that the person demonstrates. You should have only one “X” in each row. There is no right or wrong answer.

L evel 1 - Elementary proficiency

Level 2 - Limited working proficiency

Level 3 - Professional working proficiency

Level 4 - Full professional proficiency

Level 5 - Native or bilingual proficiency

Writing in English

Reading in English

Speaking in English

Comprehension in English

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Part VI: Institutional Statement of Support and Commitment

In submitting this application, the senior management of the candidate organization agrees to the participation of its employees in the activities of the MFMI and the related terms and conditions of the programs related to this application. The employees selected to participate in MFMI activities will be agreed by both the candidate organization and the MFMI.

Please read and sign the statement below. For academic institutions, the director of the academic institution and appropriate dean should each sign a statement. For training and related organizations, the President, Executive Director, and Chair of the Board should each sign a statement.

Instruction: Please insert the electronic signatures of every person who signs the statement. If necessary, please scan a signed hard-copy of the statement and send it as an electronic attachment with your application.

Institutional Statement of Support and Commitment

We (name and title) __________________________________, ____________________ _________ _________ and _________________________________________ support the application and participation of (name of organization) ____________________________ to activities related to this application. The employees selected to participate in MFMI programs will be agreed between the candidate organization and the MFMI. I am fully aware of all activities required by the organization, if selected for the MFMI Global Network. Should the institution or organization enter into an agreement with the MFMI for the benefit of the institution or organization, ALL proceeds received from the MFMI will be strictly used for the purpose defined by the said agreement. Further I understand that the MFMI intends to make publicly available information drawn from this application (excluding Part IV: Financial Performance).

_____________________________ ______________ ______________________________Signature Date Institution or Organization

_____________________________ ______________ Signature Date

_____________________________ ______________ Signature Date

Contact Information:

Street Address

Email Address

Telephone Number

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Annex 1: Priority Recruitment Countries for the MFMI

The MFMI has a particular interest to expand its network in the following countries:

32 Core Countries (with a population of 25 Million or more):

Latin America: Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela Africa: Ethiopia, Cote I’voire, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, S. Africa, SudanAsia: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam Central Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union: Poland, Russia, Ukraine, UzbekistanMiddle East: Egypt, Jordan (regional presence), Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey

16 Secondary Countries (population of 10 Million or more):

Latin America: Ecuador, Guatemala Africa: Cameroon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, ZambiaAsia: Cambodia, Sri Lanka Central Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, RomaniaMiddle East and Northern Africa: Yemen

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Annex 2: History and Current Scope of the MFMI

The Microfinance Management Institute (MFMI) began operations in 2003 as a joint entity of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and the Open Society Institute (OSI). The MFMI, a 501 c (3) non-profit organization, works to advance management capacity in the global microfinance industry.

MFMI’s ultimate goals are two-fold: 1) to advance the management capacity of microfinance institutions globally and 2) raise awareness among future talent of the rewarding professional opportunities available in financial systems development for the poor. Many studies show that the growth of the microfinance sector is fueling a demand for skilled human resources. However, those working on the frontlines to support human capacity development, namely trainers and academics, are often insufficiently supported champions in their efforts. Support for local trainers and academics lies at the heart of the activities of the MFMI.

The MFMI strategy and work plan sets forth several key objectives with these goals and the role of trainers and academics in mind:

Hone the skills and competencies of trainers and educators to develop appreciated programs for skills’ advancement of current and future microfinance managers;

Support network exchange among MFMI affiliates to promote ideas exchange on visions, business models, delivery channels and cutting-edge messaging for financial inclusion;

Create meeting opportunities at regional levels in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe to reinforce professional relationships and exchange; and

Establish a public and free Web resource to highlight and package materials for trainers and academics and disseminate information about providers of capacity building services

The Scope of the MFMI

The MFMI is a support organization. It facilitates the creation and management of microfinance knowledge at the global level. Specifically, it spurs the development of up-to-date learning materials and accelerates the uptake of microfinance innovations and best practices via its international network.

Beginning in January 2007, the MFMI organizes all of CGAP’s capacity-building programs under one institutional umbrella and aligns and strategy of all of CGAP’s capacity building programs. This structure results in the formation of a global network of trainers and academics working on financial inclusion. The MFMI complements CGAP’s mission and furthers CGAP’s interest in human resource development for financial inclusion with an organization that offers greater flexibility and focus to the work of capacity building.

MFMI SERVICES

Three core services emerge from the MFMI strategy to serve the current clients of these respective MFMI and CGAP programs: (i) a virtual clearinghouse on training and education for financial inclusion, (ii) services for funding agencies, and (iii) services for trainers and academics.

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I. Financial Inclusion Training and Education Clearinghouse on the Microfinance Gateway

Offered as a public and free resource and integrated with CGAP’s Microfinance Gateway, the Clearinghouse will be a one-stop, Web-based resource center targeted to academics and trainers, financial services providers and students. The Clearinghouse, the first of its kind, fills a public need for trusted and easily accessible information on events and training and academic materials

As a link to the Microfinance Gateway, the Clearinghouse will have the following subcomponents:

Training and Education Marketplace

Will provide information on providers of training and education, their events, and marketing information.

Will highlight and package materials, stemming from publications and tools generated by CGAP and those coming from the other training and education providers.

The Training and Education Marketplace will permit users to provide feedback on the quality and appropriateness of materials and courses to help ensure freshness and distinguish quality. This is in direct response to the feedback provided by training and education providers and the wider industry.

The Marketplace will display events’ calendars, a geographic mapping and contact list of providers working on financial inclusion and MFMI’s quarterly newsletter1. The newsletter will devote space to items of particular interest for the partners and participants of the MFMI MBA and CGAP’s Skills and Donor Courses.

Student Interns and MFI Matchmaking

Will provide a matchmaking space to link student interns offering gratis, or reasonably compensated, technical assistance to MFIs

II. Services for trainers and educators

As an extension of activities initially established by the MFMI, services for trainers and educators seeks to hone their skills to deliver courses effectively and provide space for networking among them. As members of the MFMI network, trainers and educators ideas on topics such as business models, delivery channels and cutting-edge messaging around financial inclusion. At the invitation of MFMI, trainers and educators meet at least once a year to reinforce their relationships. To reflect the above three objectives, services for trainers and educators comprise of skills building to design, develop and deliver microfinance learning programs.

In many markets, recent knowledge generated on financial inclusion fails to be found within the learning environment. The objective is to document the broad international experience of microfinance through case studies, student exercises, research documents and other teaching and training tools.

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III. Services for Funding Agencies

MFMI services a part of CGAP’s overall work on aid effectiveness to deepen funders’ understanding of how to responsibly support training and education on financial inclusion. The aid effectiveness work is accomplished primarily through the delivery of the CGAP Course for Microfinance Funders, the ONLY course that the MFMI will directly deliver in the global training space.

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