Summary | Awareness Raising | Training | Technical Assistance
Technical assistance
PlaNet Finance's technical support centers in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East provide various forms of support designed to build the capacity of individual microfinance institutions or strengthen the sector.
Capacity building for individual MFIs
PlaNet Finance provides technical assistance to support the consolidation and development of individual MFIs and facilitate their transformation into formal financial institutions.
Consulting services provided to the broad range of MFIs (NGO-type MFIs, cooperatives, savings & loan institutions, regulated MFIs and commercial banks) include:
- Diagnostics - evaluation of strengths and weaknesses
- Design and development of new products and services
- Implementation of scoring methodologies
- Design of market research strategies
- Impact studies & market research
- Business planning
- MIS audit, evaluation and improvement
Microfinance sector strengthening
PlaNet Finance supports the development of the microfinance sector through technical assistance to other players in the field of microfinance.
For regional microfinance networks, PlaNet Finance technical assistance enables the networks to increase their visibility and transparency, diversify the services they offer their members, and help them define a regional strategy for the sector:
- Training programs and training of trainers
- Resource centers
- Impact studies & market research
- IT support
- Credit bureaus
- Web portals
For banks and financial institutions, PlaNet Finance technical assistance enables them to play a larger role in the microfinance sector:
- Impact studies & market research
- Downscaling to provide microfinance services
- Training of credit officers
- Identification of microfinance partners
- Refinancing of MFIs
For governments and central banks, PlaNet Finance technical assistance helps implement appropriate policies to foster the growth of the microfinance sector:
- Impact studies & market research
- Defining a national microfinance strategy
- Implementation of appropriate regulations
- Improved supervision of microfinance institutions
For APEX institutions and development banks, PlaNet Finance technical assistance helps them support individual MFIs:
- Impact studies & market research
- Identification of MFIs
- Monitoring of microfinance portfolios
- Training to enable staff to evaluate MFIs