Micro-finance Capacity Building Program in Africa
Project / Program Summary

1. Objectives
   Sustainable increase in local private sector capacity to deliver appropriate, high quality products and services to the micro-finance sector.
2. Activities / contents
   Identify, select and contract training providers in four regional poles for course delivery; provide training of trainers based on CGAP/DFID developed materials; assist and supervise marketing efforts; monitor and maintain course quality (pre-, during and post-event); continuous market research identifying Micro-finance Institution (MFI) capacity needs; develop new courses and materials in collaboration with CGAP and DFID; facilitate linkages both intra- and extra- sector to directly support capacity-building in MFI sector; identify and assess capacity of local service providers on on-going basis; assess training needs of local providers and identify training opportunities; select local service providers based on potential and market demand; train local providers in use of CGAP/DFID materials and tools; arrange international training and visits for selected individuals; support development of marketing services by local providers to MFI sector; deliver technical assistance using local providers supported by international specialists; facilitate linkages both intra- and extra- sector to directly support local technical assistance provision; collect data and prepare standard reports using Integrated Micro-finance planning and analysis application system for DFID/CGAP partner institutions; identify and select local service providers in four regional poles; train local providers in use of CGAP/DFIC tools for institutional and financial analysis and monitoring; contract local providers to deliver quarterly monitoring reports on DFID/CGAP MFI partners via project office, support marketing of services by local providers to donors and other investors; compile database of all local existing and potential MFI support service providers in key areas; monitor good practice around the World; derive and collate learning points from examples encountered in the programme; facilitate the dissemination of good practice and programme experience.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   Local private sector training resources developed; local private sector technical assistance capacity developed; local private sector capacity to monitor MFIs and provide other analysis services developed; information on sector and good practice with lessons from programme experience and disbursed.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   Helps strengthen the private sector capacity of African countries.

Jean Forrest, DFID, London.