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

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Proposals are accepted in the English language <strong>and</strong> it is estimated that the dem<strong>and</strong><br />

is growing with WVL in <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> making approximately US$ 1,000,000<br />

available for micr<strong>of</strong>inance in the financial year 2003. There are four schemes that<br />

have been in operation for over three years at present but with the development <strong>of</strong><br />

the MFI several other areas where WVL is working would start micr<strong>of</strong>inance<br />

operations.<br />

Monitoring <strong>and</strong> evaluation is undertaken to st<strong>and</strong>ards set by the World Vision<br />

Partnership <strong>and</strong> also in line with the requirements <strong>of</strong> its <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> based<br />

international donors. There are regular visits <strong>and</strong> impact assessments are<br />

undertaken. Where a partner organisation is found to be in difficulties WVL <strong>of</strong>fer<br />

assistance <strong>and</strong> support. WVL strongly believes in the commercialisation <strong>of</strong><br />

micr<strong>of</strong>inance <strong>and</strong> expects its partners to achieve operational sustainability within<br />

4 years <strong>and</strong> financial sustainability by the completion <strong>of</strong> 7 years <strong>of</strong> operation.<br />

Case <strong>Study</strong>: The Gramashakthi Development Foundation<br />

Introduction<br />

In 1995 a small number <strong>of</strong> rural women got to gather to discuss the problems that<br />

they were under going economically <strong>and</strong> socially <strong>and</strong> saw the need to form a<br />

women’s society to find solutions. The government rural development <strong>of</strong>ficer in<br />

the area assisted them in initiating the Gramashakthi Development Women<br />

Foundation with the goal <strong>of</strong> the organisation is to create a sustainable <strong>and</strong><br />

transformed society by empowering the rural population (especially women)<br />

economically, socially, politically, culturally <strong>and</strong> spiritually.<br />

WVL decided to assist in building the capacity <strong>of</strong> the Gramashakthi Women<br />

foundation <strong>and</strong> during the fiscal year 2001 a planned capacity building<br />

programme utilising training courses, workshops <strong>and</strong> seminars was conducted<br />

making it the strongest women’s organisation in the area. Among the major<br />

activities they are involved in are credit <strong>and</strong> savings programs, conducting<br />

preschools, women <strong>and</strong> family education programs, assisting children’s societies<br />

<strong>and</strong> agriculture development programmes.<br />

Membership<br />

In this organisation the membership is opened for all the women living in the<br />

Secretarial Division <strong>of</strong> Galenbindunuwewa <strong>and</strong> the membership fees are used as a<br />

fund to run the organisation. There are 3197 members <strong>and</strong> the following diagram<br />

shows growth in membership since 1995.<br />

92

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