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Description:
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Vietnam Microfinance Working Group is an informal national network of Vietnamese MFIs nationwide.
Background
Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) was founded to create a forum for microfinance practitioners to share experiences with each other, come together to debate relevant issues, and speak to policy makers with a unified voice. The goal of the MFWG is “to enhance the impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation by promoting quality and sustainability of microfinance in Vietnam both in the practice of institutions and in an improved enabling environment.”
The group’s objectives are:
i. To encourage policy dialogue across relevant stakeholder organizations in order to facilitate the development of a favorable enabling environment and;
ii. To promote sustainable microfinance among practitioners through disseminating information, sharing lessons learned and achieving consensus on best practices for microfinance in Vietnam.
Founded in 2004 as an informal organization under the VUFO-NGO Resource Center, according to the Working Group Guidelines approved by the Resource Centre Steering Committee in April 2003, the MFWG is open to all individuals and organizations interested in microfinance in Vietnam. Through the MFWG, participating organizations have held regular meetings to learn from one another about approaches to microfinance, and have collaborated to prepare the semi-annual Vietnam Microfinance Bulletin , consolidate a database of microfinance programs, produce a list of qualified trainers and consultants, raise awareness about microfinance by advocating for press coverage, maintain an email discussion and announcement list, and facilitate dialogue with the State Bank of Vietnam on the legislation to license and regulate microfinance in Vietnam. Through these achievements, the network has become a social asset both for sector stakeholder institutions and for the millions of poor people served by microfinance programs across the country.
Currently the network includes more than 100 participants coming from approximately 60 organizations including NGOs, INGOs, international organizations, donors, individuals and government agencies. Up to 30 organizations regularly attend meetings. At present, the MFWG communicates with participant via an email list serve. The MFWG is coordinated and operated by a Core Group of 7 local and international organizations who are elected annually by MFWG participants. The Core Group meets frequently to discuss on all issues of common concern and is responsible for implementing working group strategies, activities and administration.
The overall GOAL of the MFWG is to enhance the impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation by promoting quality and sustainability of microfinance in Vietnam both in practice of institutions and in an improved enabling environment.
The MFWG is coordinated by a voluntary Core Group of currently 10 local NGOs, International Organizations, NGO Resource Center (some organizations have 2 representatives in the Core Group) and individuals who were elected by the Working Group participants in February 2007. Each year a Secretariat and Co-Chair is chosen from amongst these organizations to lead the MFWG. The role of Co-Chair is currently being filled jointly by Save the Children US and TYM Fund. The role of secretariat is filled by M&D Center (Microfinance and Development Center). The group is currently working with SEEP Network and Ford Foundation under their grants. M&D Center is responsible for financial management of the grants with the letter of commitment from the two Co-chairs to the donors. M&D is also engaged in the management process of these mentioned above projects.
Our services:
• Capacity Building
• Trainings, Workshops, Conferences
• Information Dissemination
• Advocacy
• Performance Monitoring/Benchmarking
• Bi-annual Bulletin
Our donors: SEEP Network, Ford Foundation, Save the Children/US, IFAD.
Contact Information:
Address: 3rd Floor, 88/64 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Telephone/ Fax: (84-4) 5131853
Email: tranngocthinh@gmail.com (The Coordinator)
Website: http://www.ngocentre.org.vn/default.asp?page=forum_and_working_groups/microfinance
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