Microfinance leadership workshop

The first offering of the new global Women's World Banking (WWB) Centre for Microfinance Leadership began today in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with SEEDS Chairman Dayananda Muthukumarana providing opening remarks. SEEDS - the economic arm of Sarvodaya is a longtime member of WWB, a thirty-year old network of leading microfinance institutions and banks dedicated to the economic empowerment of women. The offering, Management Development Training of Trainers, runs from November 16 to 21 and is part of WWB's overarching commitment to developing the leadership and management capacity of the microfinance industry worldwide.

The MasterCard Foundation and WWB established the global Centre for Microfinance Leadership in response to critical changes in microfinance-increased commercialization, decreased presence of women staff at all levels of microfinance institutions, and rapid growth-that demand skilled, trained leaders and managers. The Centre will work with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Creative Metier Limited to design and deliver executive education programs focused on cultivating principled, visionary leaders in microfinance. Management Development Training of Trainers is designed specifically to help middle managers clarify their roles and responsibilities, broaden their perspectives and improve their strategic thinking through real-life exercises that build on their technical skills in finance, credit and human resource management.

"There is no doubt that the rapid evolution of the microfinance industry demands that the capacity of its human resources develop with equal speed," said Elizabeth Lynch, Manager of the Centre for Microfinance Leadership, WWB. "Strong leaders and managers mean more efficient, sustainable institutions that can better and more broadly serve the needs of the poor. We are excited to be hosting this workshop in Sri Lanka, a country where microfinance reaches so many poor households but where there is still a critical need to invest in capacity building of microfinance institutions."

"As a member of WWB's global network, we share a commitment to the cultivation and development of strong microfinance leaders who will help to shape the industry's future," said SEEDS Chairman Dayananda Muthukumarana. "Developing highly qualified leaders is a challenge for every organization, and the Centre's highly selective workshops like the one offered first here in Sri Lanka help to address that challenge, leading to a healthier, more robust industry capable of serving the hundreds of millions of people who still lack access to microfinance."

The Women's Development Federation (WDF) Advisory Board Chairman W. G. Mithraratne said, "One of the greatest challenges we MFIs face is locating qualified leaders and managers who are dependable, trustworthy, and able to set good examples for future leaders just entering the sector. Through this kind of development workshop, existing leaders will be able to deepen their leadership experience and learn more about the skills they need to lead well and successfully prepare for challenges ahead."

Additional leadership programs organized by the Centre include 'Women in Leadership,' aimed at women CEOs and senior managers; 'Advanced Leadership,' aimed at men and women leaders of the top 200 microfinance institutions; and one-on-one coaching for a small cadre of leaders with the greatest potential to effect change. The first 'Women in Leadership' workshop is planned for January 2010 in Bangalore, India.

The global efforts of the Centre are part of WWB's long-term strategic initiatives of improving organizational effectiveness and promoting leadership development, particularly of women, throughout the microfinance industry.