September 12 – 30, 2005
It is estimated that there are currently 600 million people in the world that lack access to basic financial services to, among other things, save in a secure place and take out loans or insurance for their business and household needs. It is also estimated that less than 30 million currently have access. Beyond the issue of access, there is still much learning to be done in microfinance in the areas of governance, social intermediation, self-reliance, leadership and the combination of financial services with social programs such as health or education.
Community-based microfinance, the focus of this innovative certificate program, places these issues at the core. Building on the Coady International Institute's strong history with cooperatives and the Antigonish Movement, the certificate supports the premise that community development is an endogenous process, which has at its core "assembling collective will." Policies which encourage community-based models have significant potential, not only for broad outreach, but for improved capacity and self-reliance with an emphasis on equity rather than debt.
The program is designed for mid to senior level managers of microfinance organizations or multi-purpose organizations that operate microfinance initiatives. It aims to enhance participants' skills and strategies in the leadership and management of sustainable microfinance organizations or initiatives.
Drawing on the participants' own experiences, the program examines the potential issues and problems involved in establishing sustainable community-based microfinance organizations or initiatives. It also encourages the practical application of the content to the individual's own work environment.
CONTENT
The program begins by situating the community-based microfinance strategy within the larger context of microfinance and development. The experience of the Antigonish Movement's promotion of credit unions and cooperatives will be part of a broader approach to community-based and other microfinance models currently employed in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Then participants will examine national contexts in terms of policy, regulatory and supervisory issues.
The program will then examine various aspects of effective microfinance management and leadership including: governance, client monitoring, product development, financial management and staff development. There will be a more detailed treatment of product development and financial management including practical skills in strategic business planning and projections.
The program will critically examine the capacity of programs to have significant impact on their clients/members, depth (ability to reach the poor), reach large numbers of clients (i.e. scale) and achieve financial and operational sustainability. Alternative approaches and methodologies of delivering financial services will be identified through detailed analysis of innovative case-studies worldwide.
Each year co-facilitators from leading microfinance initiatives join the Coady teaching team to provide in-depth case-study on a particular region and organization. The case-study allows an in-depth application of the issues and strategies covered in the course. Previous co-facilitators have included Jeffrey Ashe, Senior Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Development, Brandeis University; Jayshree Vyas, Managing Director, SEWA Bank; and Vijayalaxshmi Das, Chief Executive, Friends of Women's World Banking.
OBJECTIVES
As a result of this program, participants will be able to:
RESOURCES
The Coady Institute is able to offer its participants access to:
WHERE IS THE PROGRAM OFFERED?
The Coady's Certificate Program in Community-Based Microfinance is offered at the Institute's facilities on the historic campus of St. Francis Xavier University. The campus is nestled in the heart of Eastern Canada's scenic coastal town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. With a population of almost 6000, Antigonish boasts a diverse heritage, rich in Scottish, Aboriginal, French and African-Canadian ancestry.
FEES
All program costs are quoted in Canadian dollars and subject to revision. Partial bursaries for tuition are available through the Coady Institute and are awarded on the basis of need. Candidates are fully responsible for covering the cost of their own travel and living expenses.
| Tuition: $ 2,000 | Room & Board: $ 1,000 | Total: $ 3,000 |
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
APPLY
Applications should be received six months prior to the beginning of the program to allow sufficient time for processing.
For further information please contact:
The Admissions Officer
Coady International Institute
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, NS
Nova Scotia
Canada
B2G 2W5
| Phone: | (902) 867-3953 | |
| Fax: | (902) 867-3907 | |
| E-mail: | coadyreg@stfx.ca | |
| www.stfx.ca/institutes/coady/ | ||
Application Form (MS Word)
COADY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
Education, Innovation and Action
The Coady International Institute of St. Francis Xavier University has been promoting community self-reliance since it opened its doors over 40 years ago to educate community leaders from around the world. Established in 1959, the Coady Institute is world-renowned as a centre of excellence in community-based development.
The Institute was named in honour of Rev. Dr. Moses Coady, a prominent founder of the Antigonish Movement - a people's movement for economic and social justice which began in Nova Scotia during the 1920s.
Over the past four decades, the global reach of the Institute has grown immensely. More than 4,000 development organization leaders from over 130 countries have taken part in the Institute's campus-based programs.
The Coady is able to remain at the forefront of innovation within the field of community-based development by adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of development practitioners. The Institute is a learning organization - dedicated to identifying, developing and disseminating knowledge on effective development practice. As a leader in the study and practice of community-based development, we provide relevant programs that help others make a positive difference in their own communities.