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Capacity-Building for Microfinance Institutions
Technical support through capacity building remains the core activity of GHAMFIN. The network creates the opportunities to deliver capacity-building programmes on demand-based services such as training courses, exposure visits and workshops. The capacity building aims at improving MFIs performance and efficiency in promoting inclusive finance.
Capacity-building provided over the years, includes training (areas financial management, information, communication and technology (ICT) development, digital financing and product & service development) coaching, mentoring and technical assistance for institutional strengthening.
Sourcing & Dissemination
Information Sourcing and Dissemination is one of the fulcrum activities of GHAMFIN. The Network focus is to develop a knowledge base of microfinance practice in Ghana amongst members. The Network acts as a platform for mutual learning and sharing of information, knowledge and experience. It creates a pool of resources – both human resources and resource materials – in order to facilitate the growth of the microfinance sector.
Research
Due to the general lack of information and knowledge about the microfinance landscape in the Ghana, the research agenda of the Network is to systematically examine the status quo, efficiency, effectiveness and challenges of the given microfinance design in Ghana. By testing and evaluating existing and potential future microfinance schemes, the Network’s research collects information about development policies, best practice methods, inadequacies and improvements.
Promoting Transparency & Accountability
In order to emphasis the strong demand for sustainable microfinance institutions, the Network puts high importance on promoting transparency and accountability of microfinance stakeholder in the Sector.
Transparency helps the public (e.g. target groups, donors, financiers) to understand the microfinance-related policies by collecting reliable operational data on the performance of partners, and adds tremendous value to the industry. It provides the general and the markets with all relevant information on its strategy, products, assessments and policy decisions in an open, clear and timely manner. Public disclosure of partner performance can be an effective way to hold partners accountability for meeting standards.
To promote transparent and accountable microfinance institutions in Ghana, the network promotes good standards for the microfinance industry and encourages microfinance institutions to comply with all the Bank of Ghana, national and associations’ rules and regulations.
Other Initiatives can include:
- Conduct an Inventory of country level microfinance policies and regulations;
- Collect and disseminate information;
- Promote the use of industry Code of Conduct;
- Promotion of Consumer Protection Principles and Financial Literacy;
- Encourage members to become regulated and sustainable financial institutions;
- Performance Monitoring and Benchmarking; and
- Social Performance management
Advocacy
GHAMFIN, a network of mostly microfinance associations (MFAs) and their member microfinance providers is very active in playing an advocacy role and lobbying on issues of concern to the sector. The network provides a common platform for MFAs and MFIs to speak with one voice. The need for an advocacy mechanism is also related to the development of a microfinance code of best practice important for the long-term sustainability of the microfinance sector.