I- Green financing could help Africa mitigate climate change effects

African countries should explore innovative green financing mechanisms to promote a green transition to mitigate the effects of climate change, experts attending the annual UN Economic Commission for Africa’s Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM2024) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, said last week.

Veronica Jakarasi, Chief Director, Climate and Meteorological Services of Zimbabwe stressed the need to support environment friendly investments like climate smart agriculture to mitigate climate change.
“To attract green financing, Africa needs to have policy and regulatory frameworks with set targets in line with ambitious development,” said Ms. Jakarasi.

Read more: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/march-2024/green-financing-could-help-africa-mitigate-climate-change-effects

II- New members

The board of directors which met on May 30, 2024 in ordinary session admitted 4 new institutions as members of the MAIN network. These are: COOPEC TOGO PORT in Togo, WAKILI SA in Guinea Conakry, Caisse Baitoul Maal (CBM) in Burkina Faso and the Solidarity Fund for Education Workers (FSTE) in Burundi. The MAIN board of directors as well as the Executive Management welcome the new members to the pan-African network and hope to continue with them capacity building actions for responsible, social and ethical inclusive finance.

III- Exam Results for the Professional Diploma in Microfinance: Customer Relationship Manager & Branch Manager

Following the launch of this first wave of training with three professional associations (APSFD Senegal, ANIMF & APROCEC of the DRC), the participants sit for exams on December 6 & 7, 2023. In total ninety-four (94) participants wrote for the professional branch manager while thirty-seven (37) participants wrote for the professional customer relationship manager course.

The Delivery Jury took place on February 27, 2024 and the results were announced to the professional associations on February 29, 2024. For the professional branch manager program, out of 94 registered, 70 were declared admitted, i.e. a success rate of 74.46%. Regarding the professional customer relationship program, out of 37 registered, 31 were declared admitted, representing a success rate of 83.78%. Overall, we note that the results are very satisfactory. The beginning of the training for the 2024 session is planned for July.

IV- Signature of the MAIN & INES Rugengeri agreement and launch of the new master’s program

On May 9, 2024, the chairman of MAIN and the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Ines Ruhengeri signed the memorandum of understanding between the two institutions. This signing ceremony took place within the university in front of the teaching staff and administrative staff of the university. This collaboration aims to set up a master’s program in microfinance for English-speaking members of MAIN. For the VC of the university, everything will be done for the success of this program. As for the chairman of MAIN, he was delighted with the welcome and the arrangements made for the effectiveness of this signing of the convention. He urged the English-speaking members to benefit massively from this program and recommended that the university should take this program very seriously for its the notoriety even beyond Rwandan borders. It is in the quest for excellence and diversification of technical partners that this program was created.

This master’s degree in Microfinance is designed to develop and strengthen the skills of financial inclusion stakeholders for more efficient and healthy management of their institution. This two-year hybrid program (face-to-face and online program) will allow MFI executives to equip themselves with innovative tools for good management of a microfinance institution. Registrations for the first class have started and the beginning of the academic year is scheduled for August 2024.

V- Call for applications to host SAM 2025

In partnership with the Luxembourgish Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade (MFA) and the MAIN network (Microfinance African Institutions Network) based in Togo, ADA (Appui au développement autonome) is launching a call for applications for host countries for the next edition of the African Inclusive Finance Week (SAM) in October 2025.

For more info click on the folowing link : https://www.ada-microfinance.org/en/sam/call-applications-host-sam-2025

VI- 5th Edition of the Microfinance Graduation Ceremony

In partnership with Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN) and the Ecole Supérieure de la Banque (Esbanque), the Professional Association of Microfinance of Senegal organized two professional certificate training sessions in “Customer Relationship Manager” and “Branch Manager” in year 2023.

Thus, following the training and the announcement of the exam results for obtaining the certificate of “Customer Relationship Manager” and “Branch Manager,” the professional association of microfinance institutions of Senegal organized the 5th edition of the graduation ceremony for the 68 recipients from the two 2023 cohorts. Indeed, this event constitutes a significant moment of symbiosis and sharing between authorities, professionals of the industry and their families to pay tribute to the pioneers (both men and women) who embody the values of the Microfinance sector in Senegal.

In this regard, the Board of Directors of APSFD-Senegal, through this activity, sought to honor the efforts and commitments of two pioneers in the sector, namely Mr. Boubacar BA and Mrs. Ndeye Sophie DIAW, for their contribution to the promotion of Microfinance in Senegal and the influence of the professional association. This edition, which also honors the 8th Customer Relationship Manager cohort and the 5th Branch Manager cohort of 2023, was sponsored by the National Microfinance Fund and presided over by the Minister of Microfinance and the Social and Solidarity Economy.

Upcoming Events

1. Training on emotional intelligence: development factor for MFIs, Cotonou, Benin, July 2024
2. Training on the digitalization of agricultural value chains, Lomé Togo, August 2024
3. Master’s program in microfinance for French speakers, UCAC August 2024
4. Master’s program in microfinance for English speakers, Ines Ruhengeri, August 2024

MAIN publication on “Green Products” (Only in French)

MAIN is pleased to announce the publication of the very first Green Products manual dedicated to MFIs in Africa entitled “Approaches and methodologies for the design and marketing of ecological financial products and services by microfinance institutions”

This manual lays the way for positive change in climate and inclusive finance in Africa. It gives microfinance institutions concrete guidelines to develop green products that actively integrate strengthening the sustainability and resilience of vulnerable communities. This will help address issues such as energy deficit and declining soil yields in the critical situation caused by climate change and loss of biodiversity, which hamper social and economic development and heavily affect poor households and micro-enterprises in urban and rural areas.

This pioneering manual was developed by compiling lessons learned and experiences from over 15 years of developing and piloting green products in Africa and around the world. Designed as part of the Green Index 3.0 of the European Microfinance Platform’s Climate Smart Finance Action Group, this book provides a valuable resource for African financial institutions seeking to develop and grow their portfolio of green products and to support the transition to a more sustainable economy through rural communities.

It’s time to get involved and help reduce climate vulnerability, improve community income stability and foster a healthier relationship with our ecosystems! If you would like to get this this book, please contact main@mainetwork.org

Reopening of the certified course in Microfinance for loan officer and branch manager

As part of the agreement signed between MAIN and Ecole Supérieure de Banque, MAIN has resumed microfinance certified courses. In 2023, three professional associations, namely APSFD of Senegal, APROCEC and ANIMF of the DRC, took part in this first session of training.

Participants in training room

The “Loan officer” training aims to develop their general and specific knowledge for rigorous and professional exercise of their profession. The branch Manager Training dedicated to Managers aims to develop their skills in branch management, organization techniques and also to develop skills in human resources management using methods and tools of communication and management by taking into account the behavioral dimension linked to this profession.

Following delivery of the courses on the different training modules, the exams took place respectively on December 6 and 7, 2023 in the different countries. A total of one hundred and thirty-four (134) participants took part in the exams marking the end of the various training courses. Out of the total participants, thirty-seven (37) applied for the professional certified course on “Loan officer” and ninety-seven (97) for the professional certified course on “branch manager”.

Photo of participants in the examination room

Overall, the courses and exams went very well, as demonstrated by some participants.

For this reopening of the different training courses, MAIN has introduced a transversal course on the Ecological and Social Transition (EST). In a context where the entire world is bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change, financial inclusion players are not remaining on the sidelines of this development. The ecological and social transition is gaining importance and becoming a subject of major concern. The World Bank has stressed that climate disruption could reduce agricultural production, particularly in regions of the world that already suffer from food insecurity.

Many countries have intensified their efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, promote renewable energies and fight climate change. The effects of climate change have become increasingly visible and have prompted governments to undertake mitigation efforts. These developments have led to an acceleration of the ecological and social transition in the world.

The program will continue in 2024 with other professional associations.

Development of a training module on gender and the Ecological and Social Transition (EST)

As part of the project “Inclusive finance in Africa facing the challenges of ecological and social transition: challenges and capacity building of African actors through an innovative and adapted training offer” MAIN has developed a training module on gender and ecological and social transition. Currently, the approach to ecological transition and that of gender with a view to achieving gender equality, can be considered as transversal components, to be taken into account in all policies, programs and projects, as well as the functioning of organizations. These two approaches reinforce each other and can enable developments towards greater social justice, while offering new possibilities for economic activities.

Most development institutions and donors consider taking into account gender and the ecological and climate transition as prerequisites for all projects. It is in this dynamic that this module was born. This “Gender and ecological and social transition” training module aims to explain what the gender perspective consists of (which can also be defined as an “integrated approach to equality between women and men”) and how to apply it to the ecological and social transition, placed in the context of environmental issues and the fight against global warming. This module is intended for all financial inclusion stakeholders who would like to understand the link between EST, gender and microfinance. It is divided into several sequences as follows:

Sequence #1

What is the concept of gender? What is the gender approach?

Sequence #2

Gender analysis and methodological tools

Sequence #3

The gender approach in the field of ecological and social transition

Sequence #4

Gender, microfinance and ecological and social transition

Sequence #5

Stakeholders, debates and news around gender issues & ecological and social transition

Following the development of this training material, MAIN organized between October and November 2023, a series of three webinars. The various sessions saw strong participation from members and non-members. We can conclude from this series of webinars that the theme interests members and that the deployment from 2024 will meet with strong support from them.