Background | Goals and Objectives | Course Description | Course Fee 

Background

Microfinance is recognized as an effective development intervention that enhances access to financial services by low-income individuals. The Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFTOT) Course was initially jointly sponsored by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) and the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in 2005. The interactive microfinance distance learning course (MFDL) developed by UNCDF is the core learning material for study. This course has received high rating from participants and become popular in many countries.

Over the past six years, seven courses were successfully delivered in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. Over 2,000 participants conducted self-study using the interactive e-Learning package, attended videoconference sessions, received online tutoring for 11 assignments and took part in the final exam. Among them, a total of 694 in 51 countries were accredited to become a fully certified trainer of the UNCDF MFDL course. Top 29 graduates who are located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Lao PDR, Malawi, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, PNG, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam were engaged to work as tutors for the courses.

Since 2007, the course materials (workbook and interactive CD-ROM) have been translated from English into several local languages such as Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, Mongolian, and Bahasa Indonesia.

The ADBI and TDLC, joined by a new partner of China Development Bank (CDB) to support participants in African countries, are pleased to announce the eighth delivery of the Microfinance Training of Trainers course (MFTOT8) from December 2011 to April 2012.

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Goals and Objectives

MFTOT8 continues to pursue its goal of strengthening the institutional capacity of microfinance in the Asia-Pacific region and African region by making high-quality microfinance training accessible to more decision-makers, professionals and practitioners in the field of microfinance as well as increasing the number and country coverage of accredited microfinance trainers in the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

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Course Description

The course features a unique, blended approach consisting of:

1. Self-paced study using the Microfinance Distance Learning (MFDL) package developed by UNCDF. The package is available also online at http://www.uncdf.org/mfdl/.
2. Online tutoring and e-discussion. Tutors will assist participants throughout the course in completing course assignments through grading and feedback. Online discussions will be moderated by the team leader of tutors.
3. Meeting with international microfinance experts through four 3-hour videoconference sessions at selected GDLN centers. The videoconference sessions will feature presentations and discussions on current issues and best practices in microfinance. The videoconferences will also be webcast live at http://streaming.jointokyo.org/.
4. Local courses in selected countries will be available during the same time period.

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Course Fee

The MFTOT8 courses will be sponsored jointly by ADBI, CDB and TDLC. Participants need to pay a course fee to receive learning materials and online tutoring. The revenue of participants’ fees is used to cover partially the operational costs.

To meet increasing demand to deliver this high quality learning program, we have introduced new participation fee structure since MFTOT7. A full course fee is USD 300. Participants in less developed and middle-income countries will receive financial supports from the course sponsors and organizers.

· US$50 for participants in least developed countries (“IDA” or “Blend” category in the link)

· US$150 for participants in middle-income countries (“IBRD” category except for “High-income economies”)

· US$300 for all the other countries (all the other countries except for above)

Country classifications can be found at:
http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups 
*Please note that country is based on participant’s residence/location, not his/her nationality.

Please visit the MFTOT8 course website for details.

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