The Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL) completed yet another successful programme, Training of Trainers (ToT) in Microfinance for participants from the North and East.
The course was conducted in February 2010 for 10 days, at the College of Banking and Finance (COBAF), the training arm of the IBSL.
The 10-day comprehensive training programme was attended by 25 participants comprising Senior University lecturers from the University of Jaffna, Bank Managers and Microfinance Practitioners from the North and East.
 This internationally reputed ToT programme has been developed in collaboration with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (FSFM), one of the leading private business schools in Germany, with the support of GTZ - ProMiS, Colombo.
The Promotion of the Microfinance Sector (ProMiS) is a comprehensive programme implemented by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance and Planning in partnership with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The ToT programme was an outcome of the continuous dedication of both IBSL and GTZ - ProMiS to impart knowledge and best practices of Microfinance in Sri Lanka, particularly in the North and East of the country.
In the light of this, GTZ - ProMiS requested IBSL to conduct and disseminate the subject material developed by the Frankfurt School and currently taught in the Diploma in Microfinance, to the participants from the North and East. GTZ - ProMiS played a major role in this endeavour by negotiating and making contact with IBSL and the University of Jaffna to agree to such a joint endeavour.
As a result, 10 participants from the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, of the University of Jaffna participated in this training under the sponsorship of GTZ - ProMiS.
The programme consisted of 15 modules covering vital training aspects of Microfinance. The training was delivered by 8 highly specialized and reputed Microfinance experts who were trained by the FSFM.
The course concluded with a one-day exposure visit to Berendina Microfinance Institute (Guarantee) Ltd., Dehiowita branch. This gave immense value addition to the course since it facilitated the participants to obtain practical exposure of the various operational activities of a real microfinance institute.
At the end of the programme IBSL evaluated the performance of the participants and awarded certificates to those who successfully completed the ToT.
Due to its success the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of the University of Jaffna intends to launch a similar programme by June 2010 for the benefit of Microfinance practitioners and interested stakeholders, subject to formal approval from the University Council and the Senate. |
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