A partners' forum, one of the series of activities that aims to nurture and strengthen partnerships between school and microfinance institutions for effective program delivery

In pursuit of HSF’s commitment to help contribute to poverty reduction in the country, HSF embarked on a pioneering program in 2008 to provide support to the microfinance sector in the Philippines. In partnership with the PinoyME Consortium (PinoyME) and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), and with the support of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI), the “Microfinance Capacity Building Program” was jointly initiated. The purpose of the Program is to develop the capacity of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to enhance access of marginal sectors to innovative products, markets and services. The program has 4 components: i) curriculum development and standardization for MFI personnel; ii) organization of a training faculty for microfinance courses; iii) research and development for new microfinance loan products and services; and iv) organization/ networking of training institutions/service providers for micro-enterprise development.

The Program implementers, together with microfinance industry (MFI) partners and the academe, focus their efforts in completing the requirements for the full implementation of the Dual Training System (DTS) Competency-based Curriculum (CBC) for the Microfinance Sector. The Program has two offerings namely, one-year training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and a 4-year ladderized degree program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Both, the short-one-year training and the 4-year ladderized degree program, adopt the Dual Training System (DTS) through a standardized competency-focused learning process. The Program addresses the lack of entry-level loan officers (frontline staff) needed by the MFIs for their expansion. It provides an option for those who are interested to build their career in the microfinance sector, as well as for those currently employed, to continue their studies and earn a degree while working with an MFI. The DTS-CBC for Microfinance will follow the career path of the loan officer to higher positions. The pilot program is being offered by three schools (located in the provinces), which will run the initial 2-year Associate Course (certificate) in Microfinance for loan officers (in-school), and the MFIs based in these areas will provide the on-the-job training (in-plant). Those interested on further studies can proceed to the 3-year Diploma Course in Microfinance up to the 4-year Bachelor of Science in Microfinance, in close cooperation with MFIs.

Research studies, specifically on Agricultural Microfinance, on Business Development Services and on the State of the Art of Microfinance and Microenterprise Development in the Philippines have been completed to assess the current situation in these fields of interest and explore opportunities to expand access, not only to credit, but also to innovative products and services to microfinance clients.

Advocates for Microenterprise Development (Ad4ME) composedd of public officials, representatives from the donor community, and civil society leaders.

Three years after its inception in 2008, the Program is now gaining momentum. It makes possible for the first time the development and adoption of the Dual Training System Competency-Based Education in the microfinance sector.  The milestones include, among others, the pilot implementation of the program by Bicol University and the approval by TESDA of the Training Regulations (TR) for Microfinance Technology National Certificate II (Loan Officer). The TR contain the materials developed under the Program, including the Competency Standards (CS), Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and Assessment Instruments. Additionally, ninety (90) self-contained competency-based modules for Loan Officers have also been developed and copyrighted under the Program. Further, the Program undertook the formulation of the CS and the design of the CBC for Team Leaders/Supervisors and Branch Managers, while the TR and the self-contained modules for these job positions will be developed and implemented during the next phase of the program, from 2011 to 2013. It also developed and made available the Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) System, a set of tools which will serve as guide for the implementers in steering the program to achieve its goals and objectives.