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2012 Annual Conference and the 1st African SPM Conference
from 24/09/2012 to 29/09/2012
Kampala (Uganda)
The Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN) will organize its 11th Annual Conference
and the 1st African SPM Conference in Kampala, Uganda, from September 24th to 29th, 2012
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MAMN-Malawi
NETWORK DETAILS :
Location : Malawi
Adress : P.O Box 1804, Lilongwe, Malawi
Email : mamn@africa-online.net
Tel/Fax : 00 265 1 750 668 / 00 265 1 750 668
Capital : Lilongwe
Year of inception : 2000
DESCRIPTION :
Malawi Microfinance Network (MAMN) is grouping of MFIs, whose powers are derived from the trust deed, which provides services to its members through the following objectives:
• To develop, promote, and regulate MFIs’ activities, instilling good corporate
governance to ensure sustainability
• To facilitate exchange of experiences, ideas, technologies, and information to
strengthen operations of the MFIs
• To enhance capacity building efforts of the secretariat and the members
• To enhance resource mobilization for its sustainability
VISION AND MISSION :
MAMN’s Vision is to become a vibrant Network that effectively supports the MF Industry in Malawi.
MAMN’s Mission is to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for the development of a sustainable Microfinance Industry in Malawi through the participation of all stakeholders.
NUMBER OF MFIs : 21
LIST OF MFIs :
• Bunda College of Agriculture
• Comitato Internazionele per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (CISP)
• Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP)
• Concern Universal Microfinance Operations (CUMO)
• Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE)
• Development of Malawian Enterprises Trust (DEMAT)
• Ecumenical Church Loan Foundation (ECLOF)
• Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) Malawi
• Finance Trust for the Self Employed (FITSE)
• Malawi Rural Development Fund (MARDEF)
• Malawi Rural Finance Company Limited (MRFC)
• Malawi Savings Bank (MSB)
• Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (MUSCCO)
• Microloan Foundation
• National Association of Business Women (NABW)
• Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM)
• Participatory Rural Development Programme (PRDO)
• Promotion of Rural Initiatives and Development Enterprises (PRIDE) Malawi
• Small Enterprise Development Organisation of Malawi (SEDOM)
• The Hunger Project
• Touching Lives Fund (TLF)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS :
Mr. Joseph Mononga, Chairman
Network services :
In order to fulfill and realize its vision, MAMN provides the following services to its members:
1. INFORMATION DISEMINATION
MAMN acts as a resource centre for MFIs and other stakeholders to access a wide rang-----e of information on Microfinance within and outside Malawi. In this regard, MAMN has established a specialized library that provides the latest information and technologies in the Microfinance industry.
2. CAPACITY BUILDING
In keeping with MAMN’s objective to strengthen Microfinance operations among members’ institutions and build capacity within the sector as a whole, MAMN facilitates and coordinates training programs, targeting MFI’s staff at various levels and Board members.
3. BENCHMARKING AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING
MAMN has also designed for use by its members a performance-monitoring tool, which allows member institutions to compare amongst themselves in terms of efficiency, scale of operations, outreach levels and range of products and services.
4. ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
MAMN lobbies government, at various levels, to influence it in the development of an enabling environment such as formulation of appropriate legal and regulatory framework, Microfinance development policy and national capacity building programmes.
5. RESOURCE MOBILISATION
In collaboration with government, MAMN acts as a conduit for mobilization of resources to help member institutions on the levels of loanable funds, for implementation of human resources development programs, infrastructure support and other programs intended to enhance the capacity of these institutions in service delivery and to achieve sustainability.
Active Borrowers :
1 166 547
Outstanding portfolio :
USD 24 681 610
Savers :
411 407
Previous or current donors :
MAMN is proud to work in close collaboration with the following national and international bodies/agencies:
• Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (HIVOS)
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• The Malawi Government through Ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance
• Southern Africa Microfinance Capacity Enhancement Facility (SAMCAF)
• African Microfinance Network (AFMIN)
OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRY :
Microfinance in Malawi still remains largely under- developed. Unlike many countries in East and West Africa, there are very few institutions providing financial services on sustainable basis and following the recommended best practices. The majority of Malawians in both rural and periurban areas remain completely cut off from the limited banking services and access to financial resources. Numerous studies have been undertaken and a number of National Forums held, but a National Strategy on the way forward remains elusive. The problems are known. So too are the solutions. But there is no coordinated effort, to move together towards the prescribed goals.
The most recent National Forum on Microfinance held at the Malawi Institute of Management echoed and summed up the status of the industry. There is need for coordination at the Government , donor and practitioners level. The National Taskforce on Microfinance has tried to provide leadership and managed to move the sector , but it has lacked the overall mandate to remove the barriers obstructing the development of the sector. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is yet to be recognised by other government institutions as the overall focal point. The lack of participation and involvement of other key Ministries involved in the sector like Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance is quite noticeable. During the most recent National Forum , another major meeting was taking place at the same time in Blantyre on the recommendations of a major study to review the Financial sector sponsored by the World Bank and led by the Reserve Bank.
The review made recommendations on crucial aspects of the legal and regulatory framework, which was an agenda item at the National Forum.
New initiatives have been undertaken by different donors without any consultation. The excuse is that government should not be involved in microfinance, hence donors are going directly to microfinance Institutions of their choice. Although, the World bank and UNDP chaired Aid Coordination group recommended that a donors committee on microfinance should be constituted, the meetings have been lukewarm with ad hoc participation. The practitioners and Microfinance institutions have not made much progress because of internal differences: some are government subsidised institutions whilst others are trying to survive on commercial basis. The two groups cannot have the same spring board.
The repayment discipline has not taken root among most borrowers in Malawi. This, un fortunately has been compounded by political interference in the sector and lack of enforcement.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Fund was regarded as a handout and set the tone for default. There is need for socialisation and change of the mindset towards financial discipline and repayment obligation. Equally, having rules without enforcement, does not help matters. To what extent should the Government rely on two to three Sheriffs politically appointed by the President to chase defaulters and threaten them with property confistication.
