Information Evening

1. Information Evening

2. Manna Project International Chillos Valley - Ecuador Designing an optimal Microfinance Programme

3. Manna Project International • Small American NGO withoffices in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Ecuador • Volunteeringbased • MPIE: communitycentre, variouseducationalprogrammes, smallbusinessdevelopment. • Ourtask: Howtoexpandintomicrofinance?

4. Project Structure Project Proposal Secondary Research Field Work Research Report Research Design

5. Project Proposal • Definepreciselywhattheyexpectfromyouandwhatyouexpectfromthem:  Project outline: Howtoexpandsmallbusinessdevelopment, start a microfinanceprogramme  Time frames: deadlinesofprojectstages, organisationoffieldwork

6. Project Structure Project Proposal Secondary Research Field Work Research Report Research Design

7. Secondary Research • Learnaboutmicrofinanceandconsulting • Familiariseyourselfwithpartnerinstitution, theregion, the legal framework,… • Makeinformedassumptions • Formulatehypotheses  thinkabouthowtotestthem, whatdatayouneed, andhowtogetit

8. Project Structure Project Proposal Secondary Research Field Work Research Report Research Design

9. Research Design • Hypotheses • Howtotestthem • Whatdata? • Howtogetit?  organisefieldwork

10. Project Structure Project Proposal Secondary Research Field Work Research Report Research Design

11. Field Work • Getfirst-handknowlegeofyourpartnerinstitution • Gatherdata:  marketsurveytoestimatedemand

14. Field Work • Collaborationwithlocalstudents, contactto real communities • Getfirst-hand knowlegeofyourpartnerinstitution • Gatherdata:  marketsurveytoestimatedemand  interview governments, MFIs and international organisations

15. Project Structure Project Proposal Secondary Research Field Work Research Report Research Design

16. Research Report • Analyse andprocessthedatagathered  collectmissingpiecesofinformation • Form, discuss, andreviseconclusions • Write report • Discussconclusionsandrecommendationswithpartnerinstitution

17. Conclusions • Project was verysuccessful:  microfinancefeasible, implementation in twosteps,  focus on capacity-building  overcomingMPIE‘sinstitutionalconstraints • 2 months after finishingthereport, MPIE hasalreadyobtainednecessaryfunding • Follow-upprojectwith OMI planned

18. My experience: Cresol, Brazil

19. Nature of the project • The aim was to develop an expansion strategy for Minas Gerais. • This included both a takeover and a new greenfield project. • Client is a Brazilian cooperative bank. • Fieldwork was interesting and essential. • Even being a fairly sophisticated MFI, there are many ways to improve their operations.

21. Michaelmas 2012 Projects

22. Forjadores de Negocios, Mexico • The MFI has 35 branches in Mexico and offers loans to rural women in groups. • The aim of the project is to establish a way of measuring branch profitability. • They are also considering diversification. • They also need a web platform. • Spanish and/or IT skills are helpful. • The project includes fieldwork in Mexico.

23. Kubaru, London and Philippines • Kubaru is an organisation that links individuals in the UK with individuals looking for microloans in developing countries over the Internet. • They are looking for a team to develop an impact methodology that is easy to implement and look at Kubaru’s impact so far. • There may be fieldwork in the Philippines (TBC)

24. Wonder Years Centre of Excellence, the Gambia • TO BE CONFIRMED • This is a sustainable development project working with one village of 5000 inhabitants. • The aim is to find a way to give microcredits. • An enterprise selling honey and tiles which employs local villagers will also be advised.

25. South Pacific Business Development, Bougainville • SPBD Vision: Creation of a network of MFIs in the Sough Pacific and neighbouring regions • Situation Analysis: SPBD is already working in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, and will launch operations in the Solomon Islands this year

26. South Pacific Business Development, Bougainville Project outline • Feasibility study for expansion into PNG and a business plan with a financial model detailing how SPBD can start and scale a Greenfield Microfinance Institution in the Bougainville region • Analysis ofthesocio-economic, cultural, geographic, financialand legal environmentformicrofinanceexpansioninto a newmarket

27. Projects • Crystal, Georgia • Evaluating Social Performance Indicators • Kamurj, Armenia • Creation of value-chain services • Transcapital, Mongolia • Design a 5 year expansion plan

28. Crystal Georgia – Evaluating SPIs Crystal’s Background: • 5th largest MFI in Georgia by loan portfolio • Total portfolio of US$13m • Clients: more than 13,000 (46% rural) • 16 regional offices • Focus on regional development • Market leader in SP reporting and CSR

29. Crystal Georgia – Evaluating SPIs Project Objectives • Crystal wants to improve its social performance and CSR • OMI project team will examine SPIs Crystal currently uses, evaluate them against leading SPIs such as Grameen PPI, FINCA FCAT, others recommended by Social Performance Task Force • It will then design and field test a new set of SPIs for Crystal

30. Crystal Georgia – Evaluating SPIs Fieldwork • To take place over Easter holidays • Crystal has committed to providing US$3500, translation support and logistical support • OMI will commit to training and preparing the team in field research techniques if necessary.

31. Crystal Georgia – Evaluating SPIs Competencies (not required) • Survey techniques • Statistics • Past development experience • Knowledge of Georgian • Ability to commit 2-4 hrs/week and manage time No prior knowledge required, as long as you are enthusiastic and willing to learn

32. Kamurj Armenia – Creating Ecosystems Kamurj’s Background: • 6th largest MFI in Armenia by loan portfolio • Total portfolio of US$13.5m • Clients: more than 15,000 (majority rural) • 4 branches, 8 offices • “Kamurj” means “Bridge” in Armenian • For-profit MFI wholly owned by non-profit foundation

33. Kamurj Armenia – Creating Ecosystems Project Objectives • Kamurjhopes to initiate value-chain services to better serve low-income rural farmers, by developing a coordinated network of different service providers (technical assistance, input suppliers, food processors, distributors, etc), that when combined with microfinance services, will help the farmers increase their productivity and credit-worthiness in a sustainable manner.

34. Kamurj Armenia – Creating Ecosystems Project Objectives • OMI project team will conduct a literature review and case studies of agricultural microfinance value chains around the world, and produce a project report for Kamurjsummarising the group’s findings and recommendations • There will be an option to extend the project from one term to two terms in order to customise the report to the Armenian context, and propose “value chain” partnerships for Kamurj that meet the needs of its clients. This step, if taken, will involve close cooperation between the project team and Kamurj, including fieldwork.

35. Kamurj Armenia – Creating Ecosystems Fieldwork • To take place over Easter holidays • Kamurj is willing to host a fieldwork team. It has agreed to support the team in terms of accommodation, local transportation and translation. • OMI will sponsor part of the costs of travelling. • OMI will commit to training and preparing the team in field research techniques if necessary.

36. Transcapital Mongolia - Expansion Plan Transcapital’s Background: • 4th largest MFI in Mongolia • Total portfolio of US$2m • Clients: more than 14,000 (semi-urban) • 10 branches • Mongolia grew 17% in GDP last year • Transcapital has just acquired new funding

37. Transcapital Mongolia - Expansion Plan Project Objectives • Transcapital has received outside funding from several sources, and it is looking to expand its client base, but competition from banks and other NBFIs is increasing. • It is concerned with keeping average loan size small while increasing client numbers. This is a challenge because the mining boom in Mongolia has resulted in inflation and salaries increasing, causing people to request larger loans

38. Transcapital Mongolia - Expansion Plan Project Objectives • OMI project team will conduct market research on microfinance in Mongolia, in the form of (a) broad economic trends and (b) competitor analysis. • It will then develop a five-year expansion plan that will evaluate possible channels for expansion, such as the following: • Gaining new clients in existing branches • Expansion to new branches in other “ger” districts of Ulaanbaatar • Expansion to other cities in Mongolia • Offering new microloan products to existing clients

39. Transcapital Mongolia - Expansion Plan Fieldwork • May be necessary • Transcapital is committed to providing translation support and logistical support • Funding remains to be negotiated • OMI will sponsor part of the costs of travelling • OMI will commit to training and preparing the team in field research techniques if necessary

40. Transcapital Mongolia - Expansion Plan Competencies (not required) • Economics/Business background • Past development experience/knowledge • Knowledge of Mongolian • Ability to commit 2-4 hrs/week and manage time No prior knowledge required, as long as you are enthusiastic and willing to learn

41. Recruitment • www.oxfordmicrofinance.org • Project Application Form • Deadline Sunday, 21st October • Researchers – Written application • Project Leaders - Interviews

42. Training • Regular Meetings between Regional Coordinators and Project Leaders • General Consultancy Skills – 8th November • Leadership and Effective Teaming – 31st October OMI provides you with all the skills and support you need for a successful project!