In pursuit of its human resource development agenda for the microfinance sector, the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) and PinoyME Foundation (PMEF) with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation/Germany (HSF), conducted a one-week workshop last August 15-19, 2011 to develop the Training Regulations (TR) for Microfinance Technology National Certificate (NC) III.  Key senior staff and faculty members from six (6) microfinance institutions (MFIs) and four (4) schools participated in the workshop. Senior staff from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) together with a Dual Training System (DTS) consultant provided the technical expertise in crafting the TR for Team Leaders/Supervisors (TL/S) of microfinance institutions (MFI).

The output of the workshop, which is the draft Microfinance Technology TR, will undergo further review and refinement before it is presented to TESDA for promulgation. The promulgated TR will serve as the blueprint for the schools and training institutions in implementing the training course.  Among others, the TR focuses on the following Core Competences of a TL/S: 1) Supervise MFI Loan Officers, 2) Oversee Implementation of Microfinance Products and Services, 3) Monitor Progress of Workplan Implementation, and 4) Evaluate and Support Staff Performance.  It will also develop the following Common Competencies of the student-trainees: 1) Lead in workplace communication, 2) Lead small teams, 3) Develop and practice negotiation skills, 4) Solve problems related to work activities, 5) Use mathematical concepts and techniques and 6) Use relevant technologies.

The development of the Microfinance Technology TR NC III for TL/S is the second part of the TESDA-track under the Dual Training System Competency-Based Education (DTS CBE) of the Microfinance Capacity Building Program.  The TESDA-track provides a short-term training option for existing MFI loan officers and student-trainees who wish to gain additional competencies as a TL/S, and comply with the requirements for employment, promotion or to further upgrade their academic credentials.  Earlier in 2010, TESDA Board promulgated the TR for Microfinance Technology NC II designed for student-trainees who wished to gain the competencies of a Loan Officer.

The workshop was attended by the following MFIs and partner schools: Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI), Alay Buhay (AB), Center for Community Transformation (CCT), Enterprise Bank, Inc. (EBI), Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI), Kasagana-Ka Development Center, Inc. (KDCI), Bicol University (BU), Araullo University-PHINMA (AU), College of Immaculate Concepcion (CIC) and Brokenshire College (BC).