Under its Action Research Programme, MicroSave learns and disseminates lessons relating to market-led microfinance. This note documents lessons learned during 2004. It analyses the progress made using MicroSave tools like – process mapping, risk management, customer service, branch based costing, pricing, pilot testing, and institutionalising toolkits. The note also looks at other related aspects like- system usage and capacity, electronic banking and the institutional aspects.
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Serving Depositors: Managing Transactions
A key challenge for many financial institutions is to provide high quality services at a low unit cost. This note examines managing branch operations for efficient transactions. Relevant issues addressed in the note include – teller management, managing peak activity levels, banking system and technology, ensuring continuity of services and critical support functions. The note also examines the common process bottlenecks and suggests that through careful analysis and systematic process mapping the bottlenecks can be removed.
Serving Depositors: Branch Infrastructure
A key challenge for financial institutions serving the low-income market is how to optimise branch networks to serve high volumes of depositors – to provide high quality financial services at a low unit cost. This note examines branch infrastructure for serving depositors. Key issues such as importance of branch and its location, delivery strategy adopted for different locations, regulatory environment, operating space, facilitating branch based sales are discussed.
Catalysing Capacity Development: Micro-Finance in India – Training Needs Assessment
With the exponential growth of the microfinance sector in India, there is an increasing realisation of the need to address the aspect of (lack of) sufficient capacity building and assistance in order to manage this growth.This study focuses on the training and capacity building requirements among low income financial services providers in India. It also examines and assesses the potential capacity development institutions, training courses/toolkits and other resources available in India.The study categorises MFIs on the basis of their age and institution type and prioritises the training focus areas accordingly. It recommends the users in careful selection of priority training areas; selecting synergetic training courses; adopting adult learning best practices; developing comprehensive and easy to use training packages; and working with stakeholders to develop a national curriculum for microfinance in India besides regional centres of training.
Catalysing capacity development: Microfinance in India – Training needs assessment
With the exponential growth of the microfinance sector in India, there is increasing realisation of the need to address the aspect of (lack of) sufficient capacity building and assistance in order to manage this growth.This study focuses on the training and capacity building requirements among low income financial services providers in India. It also examines and assesses the potential capacity development institutions, training courses/toolkits and other resources available in India.The study categorises MFIs on the basis of their age and institution type and prioritises the training focus areas accordingly. It recommends the users in careful selection of priority training areas; selecting synergetic training courses; adopting adult learning best practices; developing comprehensive and easy to use training packages; and working with stakeholders to develop a national curriculum for microfinance in India besides regional centres of training.
“Market Research for MicroFinance” – 7 Cautions and a Recommendation
The origins of the MicroSave “Market Research for MicroFinance” (MR4MF) approach to product development lies in the belief that a market-led financial institution must assess its clients’ needs. The MR4MF approach requires careful planning and technical skills. This note outlines the complexities and challenges associated with market research and lists seven cautions, which should be kept in mind while undertaking a research. MR4MF is used for a wide variety of application, which is discussed in the note. In order to get the best of the MR4MF approach, training is essential. An overview of the MR4MF training given by MicroSave is also outlined in the note.