Development of a Microfinance Management Certificate Course in the Lao PDR

Project Overview

The microfinance sector in Lao PDR is relatively young and capacity building support services for the sector is limited. The Bank of Laos (BoL) will soon require new microfinance institutions (MFIs) to obtain a certificate through the Microfinance Management Certificate Course (MFMCC), anchored within the Lao Microfinance Association (Lao MFA).

The Project aims to strengthen the capacities of managers in licensed MFIs in Lao PDR as well as increase the pool of trained and competent microfinance sector professionals. Thus, the Project supports Lao MFA to establish a comprehensive education and certification system for MFI Managers through a tailor-made training programme. In addition, the Project includes the design of a comprehensive certification system to build a pool of local trainers for Lao MFA.

Frankfurt School experts developed a continuous and long-term training programme for Managers of Lao MFIs. The training programme consists of 8 training modules and lasts 28 training days, and includes the following modules:

1. Basics of microfinance;
2. Business and strategic planning;
3. Human resource management and leadership skills;
4. Credit and delinquency management;
5. Management of an MFI and governance;
6. Financial and social performance management, accounting, MIS;
7. Product development; and,
8. Compliance with regulatory requirements and internal control.