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PRESS RELEASE FOR CAPE TOWN FORUM
CAPE MICRO-LENDERS GIVE INPUT INTO TRAINING PROJECT
August 7, 2003
Micro-lenders from as far afield as Mossel Bay, Stellenbosch and Robertson attended the Micro-Finance Skills Project (MFSP) consultative forum in Cape Town yesterday (WEDNESDAY) to get feedback and give input into an innovative training and development program that aims to instill professionalism into the sector.
The MFSP was set up in 2002 to provide appropriate training for Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) and borrowers in the micro-finance sector. The three-year project is funded through the National Skills Fund.
It has three delivery phases: pilot training for 200 MFI staff and owners in three provinces in Phase 1; training for MFIs, their borrower SMME clients and individual clients in five provinces in Phase 2 and roll-out of all training countrywide in Phase 3. Project review and development of the training material is ongoing. It is on track to exceed its Phase 1 targets and is now preparing to roll out training to 400 more MFIs, 500 of their SMME clients and 1200 individual clients in five provinces in phase 2.
“The most important thing that emerged from the forum is that the training is responding to their needs and that MFIs are particularly pleased about the consumer service component,” said BANKSETA general secretary Richard Plant.
“The value of the consultative forums was proved through the fruitful discussions. The MFI representatives who attended were people with experience who were able to discuss their concerns and give input on ways of improving delivery,” said Plant.
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Plant said several proposals were put forward – including the possibility of training trainers from MFIs in remote towns where the institutions had difficulties in taking advantage of the training. All these proposals would be investigated fully and appropriate changes made.
Service providers for the forum also gave their feedback on the project that is preparing for Phase 2.
“From our research we found that there were lenders that lent to individuals and there were lenders who lent to small businesses,” said Dr Lucy Voss-Price an associate at Gray Training.
“We have designed 10 core modules for Phase 2. We will be looking at the gaps in the training during the first phase and will identify the areas of critical need that will be put into place in the second phase,” said Voss-Price.
Pure Innovation director Kim Kemp facilitated a discussion group on the selection process for the next phase.
“It went really well. We noticed that several MFIs from outlying areas also sent representatives and we received good information from the micro-finance institutions with useful feedback on what the project has achieved and where we can improve. It is clear that the value of the project is beginning to come through,” said Kemp.
Kemp said MFIs reported that the impact of the training in the workplace was significant with improved job satisfaction, attitude and staff morale as well as an increase in knowledge and skills being noted.
“One aspect that MFIs felt we needed to promote more was that happy staff, plus happy clients equaled a more profitable business.”
Kemp, whose organization specializes in capacity building, said the forums remained a beneficial platform for interaction around the project with a high level of responsiveness from those attending.
Forums will also be held on August 13 at the Elangeni Holiday Inn in Durban and August 19 at the Randburg Towers Hotel in Johannesburg. All the forums start at 8.30am. For more information, contact (012) 665-2816 or email
Ends/
Issued by: Paula Fray
Operations director: BlackRock Communication
Cell: 082-446-1073 Email:
Tel: +27 11 642 8200 Fax: +27 11 484 2111
On behalf of: BANKSETA
Frank Groenewald
CEO: BANKSETA
Tel: (011) 805-9661 Email:
Contacts: BANKSETA
Richard Plant
General Secretary: BANKSETA
Tel: (011) 805-9661 Email: