National Microfinance Study of Sri Lanka: Survey of Practices and ...

4. Facilitators
a) National Level Facilitators
The Microfinance Network
The Microfinance Network (MFN) is presently facilitated by the UNDP and
supported by its Programme of Catalytic Initiatives for Social and Economic
Empowerment of the Poor. The MFN is a national level forum for microfinance
practitioners with a broad representation from the government sector, NGOs,
INGOs and the private sector. The network evolved from the Network of Small
Scale Savings & Credit Practitioners (NSSSC) that was started on the initiative of
practitioners in 1994.
The NSSSC organised a series of seminars on issues pertaining to donor
intervention in rural savings and credit. A workshop on this topic was organized
in January 1994 that was attended by over fifty representatives of NGOs and
government. The participants expressed interest in continuing the dialogue and
organising meetings to discuss specific issues that emerged from the workshop.
In response to this, UNDP, Swiss Interco-operation and the Canadian
Cooperative Association jointly organized a series of monthly seminars at the UNDP.
A total of six seminars were held during 1994. The network has, at times, set up various
sub-committees to study issues of key interest to the microfinance sector and has
organised presentations by key actors in the microfinance sector in Sri Lanka on issues of
current interest.
The Network meets bi-monthly to discuss current issues, exchange experiences
and build partnerships. Guest speakers are invited regularly to the meetings, and
the MFN also organises workshops and other events of special interest to its
members.
The current debate on microfinance puts issues of skills and business
development training needs, access to technology and markets, as well as funds,
on the agenda. It looks not only at the needs of the clients, but also at the capacity
of the providers and intermediaries of microfinance, such as Bank Societies,
NGOs and CBOs. The debate is extended to the whole macro-economic and
legislative environment within which microfinance provision takes place.
A major initiative of the Network was the assessment of the Microfinance sector
in Sri Lanka (Nayar & Gunatilaka, 1999). A key recommendation in the report
was the need for a strong networking body to play a key role in setting industry
standards and promoting best practices, advocating for policy reform, and also
play a co-ordinating role in capacity building and technological assistance within
the sector.
During 2000/2001 the MFN facilitated the following events:
A one-day seminar on the Micro-credit Summit Campaign, presented by the
visiting Regional Organiser for Asia, Dr. D. Rao.
“Kadapola 2001”, a three day Trade Fair facilitating the establishment of
market linkages between micro, small and medium enterprises.