This course is taught in English with simultaneous translation. Enhancing productivity and efficiency are key requirements for ensuring the sustainability of small scale retail operations.
They are also important from an equity point of view: Efficiency gains help to lower interest rates and make access to finance more affordable for poor people. This course takes a look at the main drivers of efficiency and productivity and offers toolkits for microfinance managers who are interested in improving their organizational performance. We will study, among others, the role of standardization, staff incentives, and the role of delivery technologies and information systems.
Participants
The course is geared towards practitioners, consultants, and donors with an interest in the operational performance of MFIs. There will be several in-class exercises, and extensive use will be made of case studies.
Unit 1:
Course Overview, definitions, performance measurement
Unit 2:
Standardization (products, procedures), automation
Unit 3:
Staff incentives
Unit 4:
New delivery technologies, costing, control systems
Unit 5:
Summary, case studies
