Under the Comprehensive Rural Finance Study (CRFS), which is being implemented by InM with support from the Bangladesh Bank, an important component is to conduct institution level analysis for the financial sector institutions. The objective of the analysis is to solicit the experience and lessons learned by all relevant financial sector institutions who are involved  in designing and delivery of financial products and services (e.g. savings, credit, insurance, mobile financial services, agent banking etc.). The issues under review also cover their limitations in reaching the target groups as seen by the providers, and their views on how to develop appropriate, user-friendly and sustainable financial products and services for the excluded and under-served rural population groups and enterprises.

Under the component, InM organised a series of consultation meetings during March 2024 with relevant financial institutions including Bangladesh Bank, IDRA, MRA, BTRC, banks/NBFIs, fintechs, PKSF, MFIs, insurance companies and associations, BPO, SME Foundation, trade bodies and associations, SDF, FID of the Ministry of Finance and other agencies to identify policy, regulatory and other relevant issues related to designing and delivery channels of financial services for the excluded/underserved groups in the rural areas. Glimpses of these consultation meetings are being shared in this report while the main reports are being prepared for Bangladesh Bank and other stakeholders.

On 7 March 2024, the Consultation Meeting was organised with representatives from leading state owned commercial banks and specialised banks at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Conference Room. The participants included, among others, Mr. Md. Lutful kabir, Assistant General Manager, Sonali Bank PLC; Mr. Md. Mannan Hossain, Deputy General Manager, Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (BDBL); Mr. Khan Ikbal Hasan, Deputy Managing Director, Palli Sanchay Bank; Mr. Md. Abdul Motin, General Manager, Janata Bank PLC; Mr. Showkot Shohidul Islam, Deputy General Manager, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank; Mr. ASM Nasimul Islam, Director; Bangladesh Post Office; Mr. Md. Ujir Hossain Mollah,  Assistant General Manager, Agrani Bank PLC; and Mr. Mohammad Shariful Islam, Assistant General Manager, Bangladesh Krishi Bank. The session was conducted by Professor Md. Nehal Ahmed from BIBM while Dr. Farhana Nargis, Research Fellow, InM coordinated the session.

The consultation meeting on 10 March 2024 at Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Conference Room was attended by  representatives from private commercial banks, Islami banks, non-banking financial institutions, digital banks, and Fintech companies. The participants included: Mr. Md. Arfan Ali, Chairman, Zaytoon; Md. Forhad Julfikar, Vice President, iFarmer; Mr. Mrinal Kanti Joarder, First Assistant Vice President, United Commercial Bank PLC; Mr. S.M. Rajoan, Head of CMSME & Agri Products, IFIC Bank; Mr. A.S.M. Rezaul Karim, Senior Executive Vice President, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC; Most. Rozina Bilkis, FAVP, First Security Islami Bank PLC; Mr. Syed Abdul Momen, DMD, BRAC Bank PLC.; Mr Kamrul Mehedi, Head of Small & Microfinance, City Bank PLC; Mr. Bashirul Islam, Assistant Vice President, Trust Bank Limited; Md. Sabbir Ali, Executive Officer, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (retd), Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer, bKash Limited; and Mr. Md. Ferdous Hossain Polash, Vice-President, DBH Finance PLC. The session was conducted by Professor Md. Nehal Ahmed of BIBM while Dr. Farhana Nargis, Research Fellow, InM coordinated the session.

The consultation meeting on 14 March 2024 at Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Conference Room was organised with representatives from NGO-MFIs and insurance companies. The participants included: Mr. Md. Abdus Samad, Executive Vice President, ASA; Mr. M. Shazzadul Karim, Deputy Managing Director, Pragati Life Insurance Ltd; Ms. Tasnim Islam Sneha, Programme Organiser, IDF; Mr. Md. Mahbubul Hasan, Deputy Director, TMSS; Mr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain , Manager Research and Insights, BRAC; Mr. Mustak Hossain, Executive Vice President & Head of Governance Relations, Metlife; Mr. Md. Emrul Kayes, Assistant General Manager, Grameen Bank; Mr. Fazlul Faruk, Manager, Jiban Bima Corporation; Mr. Md. Saleh bin Sums, Executive Director, Padakhep; Ms. Apu Sarkar, AGM, Shakti Foundation; and Mr. M. Khairul Islam, Executive Consultant, TMSS. The meeting started with introductory remarks by Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director of InM welcoming the participants and explaining the purpose of the meeting. He expressed deep appreciation to the participants on behalf of InM for active cooperation and for attending the meeting. The session was conducted by Professor Md. Nehal Ahmed from BIBM while Dr. Farhana Nargis, Research Fellow, InM coordinated the session. 

The consultation meeting on 19 March 2024 at Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Conference Room was attended by representatives from PKSF, BIBM, BARD, SDF, Cooperatives and Center for Zakat Management. The participants included: Mr. Md. Ashraful Haque, Deputy General Manager, PKSF; Mr. Ranjan Kumar Guha, Director, BARD; Mr. Md. Mahbubul Alam, Director SDF; Mr. Shahriar Kabir, General Manager, Center for Zakat Management; Dr. Md. Mosharref Hossain, Associate Professor, BIBM; and Md. Quamruzzaman, Joint Registrar, Department of Cooperatives. The meeting started with introductory remarks by Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director of InM welcoming the participants and explaining the purpose of the meeting. The session was conducted by Professor Md. Nehal Ahmed from BIBM while Dr. Farhana Nargis, Research Fellow, InM coordinated the session.  

The fifth meeting in the series on 28 March 2024 at Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Conference Room was attended by representatives from the regulatory authorities and SME Foundation. The participants were: Dr. Syed Nazrul Islam, Additional Director, Bangladesh Bank; Mr. Hafiz Mohammed Harunur Rasid, Additional Director, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission;  Mr. Md. Abu Mahmud, Assistant Director, Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority; Mr. Md Nazeem Hassan Satter, General Manager, SME Foundation;  and Mr. Muhammad Shahidul Islam, Director, Microcredit Regulatory Authority. The meeting started with introductory remarks by Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director of InM welcoming the participants and explaining the purpose of the meeting. The session was conducted by Professor Md. Nehal Ahmed from BIBM while Dr. Farhana Nargis, Research Fellow, InM coordinated the session. 

In a strategic move to enhance the impact of the WaterCredit Adoption Scale-Up Programme (WCAD), Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) hosted a Coordination Meeting for partners on 14 December 2023 in Dhaka. The WCAD initiative involved eight partner Microfinance Institutes (MFIs) dedicated to expanding access to improved sanitation and safe drinking water in Bangladesh.

The meeting aimed at strengthening effective communication channels among the partners as well as with InM and sharing lessons on effectiveness of adopted strategies to address field level challenges faced by partner MFIs. Key objectives included understanding the programme's current implementation status, identifying internal and external factors influencing MFIs’ performance and creating a structured roadmap for future implementation. This dynamic collaboration between InM, Water.org and partner MFIs reflects a shared commitment to making meaningful strides in water and sanitation accessibility for marginalised communities.

The programme was attended by Mr. Md. Nizam Uddin, Deputy Executive Director, IDF; Mr. Md. Jahidul Alam, Director, MF, SDC; Mr. Abul Kalam Gazi, Focal Person-WCAD, Coordinator (MF), SDS; Mr. Md. Faisalur Rahman, Focal Person-WCAD, Senior General Manager, SFDW; Mst. Sabrina Ahmed, Focal Person-WCAD, AGM, BASA Foundation; Mr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Focal Person-WCAD, Senior AD, PMUK; Mr. Md. Ziaul Alam, Senior Programme Officer, DISA; Mr. Md. Moin Chisty, Communication Coordinator, GUK; Ms. Nahid Akhter, Senior Research Associate, InM; Mr. Utpol Das, Programme Manager, InM and Mr. Md. Sajjad Kabir, Programme Engineer,         InM. Mr. Abu Aslam, Portfolio Lead at Water.org, and Ms. Somashree Chattapadhya, Programme Manager at Water.org, also participated in the meeting virtually.

July to August, 2023

The Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM), in collaboration with Water.org, is implementing the WaterCredit Adoption Scale-Up Programme in various regions of Bangladesh through eight (8) partnered implementing Microfinance Institutes (MFIs). The aim of the WCAD programme is to develop organisational and implementation capacity of the partner MFIs to reach out more marginalised communities to ensure improved sanitation and safe drinking water. As part of the capacity development initiatives, InM ensured one day ToT training for the Branch Managers to equip them with WCAD model, WASH initiatives, creating demand generation and programme outcomes for successful implementation of the project at the field level.

As part of the initiative, throughout July and August 2023, InM successfully conducted six comprehensive day-long physical training sessions on the WaterCredit Adoption (WCAD)- Scale up programme for its six esteemed partners: BASA, SFDW, PMUK, DISA, SDC, and IDF.

On July 15th, 2023, InM organised a training session at BASA Research and Training Centre in Mirzapur, Tangail with the presence of Mr. Bishwajit Saha, Senior AGM from BASA Foundation. This was followed by a training session on July 23rd, 2023, held at the SFDW Training Centre in Jessore, where Mr. Faisalur Rahman, Senior General Manager and Focal Person for WCAD at SFDW, was present. On July 29th, 2023, another training session took place at the Padakhep Institute of Development & Management (PIDM) in Adabar, Mohammadpur, with Mr. Md. Jahangir Hossain, Focal Person for WCAD at PMUK, participated. Moving into August, on the 18th, a training session occurred at the DISA Training Center in Mirpur-12, with the presence of Mr. Chandan Chakroborti, Micro Finance Director and Mr. Md. Jahangir Alam Bhuiyan, the Focal Person for WCAD at DISA. The next day, August 19th, 2023, InM organised another training session at the SDC Training Center in Faridpur, with the participation of Mr. Kazi Ashraful Hassan, Executive Director, and Mr. Hamidul Islam, Director of Operations at SDC. Concluding this series, on August 26th, 2023, a training session was held at the IDF regional office in Chittagong, with the participation of Mr. Toslim Rizvi, the Area Manager for Training at IDF. The training sessions were facilitated by Ms. Nahid Akhter, Senior Research Associate, InM; Mr. Utpol Das, Programme Manager, InM and Mr. Sajjad Kabir, Programme Engineer, InM.

The training aimed to enhance the understanding of the WCAD programme among Branch Manager- level participants, facilitating effective knowledge dissemination and future implementation. During the training sessions, the WCAD programme model was discussed, ensuring that participants gained a holistic understanding of its objectives, methodologies, expected outcomes and motivating them to amplify WCAD loan disbursement in alignment with project indicators. The participants also registered themselves for the online digital learning platform developed by InM on WCAD project implementation. The interactive nature of the training encouraged participants to ask questions, seek clarifications, and engage in meaningful discussions, thereby fostering a conductive learning environment.

The training not only equipped the participants with knowledge but also paved the way for effective cascading of the WCAD programme within their respective organisations. The Branch Managers, having grasped the programme's essence, are now better poised to share their insights and knowledge with their teams

In-Country Exposure Visit Organised

Under the collaborative effort of InM and Water.org, a two-day in-country exposure visit was organised during 4-5 October 2023, at CHRD in Modhupur, Tangail. The location is one of the focal points for the WaterCredit Adoption (WCAD) programme of BURO Bangladesh, a long-term partner of Water.org. The primary objective of the visit was to offer participants a hands-on understanding of how microfinance has been effectively integrated into water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiatives. BURO Bangladesh, a successful WaterCredit programme partner, shared their valuable experiences with other organisations. The programme aimed to share these valuable practical experiences with other partner organisations to catalyse positive changes.

The participant partner organisations included IDF, BASA, PMUK, SFDW, DISA, SDC, GUK, and SDS, with each sending two senior staff members to participate in this enlightening exposure visit. InM played a pivotal facilitating role in organising the visit, fostering opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration among the WCAD partner microfinance institutions (MFIs). The visit created a platform where these organisations could exchange ideas and share their experiences, particularly concerning the challenges faced in implementing the WCAD programme effectively.

The objectives of the visit were multi-faceted. Firstly, it aimed to provide a deep insight into BURO Bangladesh's WaterCredit Adoption Programme and its integrated approach towards improving access to safe drinking water and enhanced sanitation through microfinance mechanisms. Secondly, it sought to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the functioning, objectives, and impact of the WaterCredit Adoption Programme on marginalised communities. Additionally, the visit aimed to identify best practices and innovative strategies for combining microfinance and WASH interventions with a focus on achieving positive outcomes. Lastly, it aimed to explore the collaborative efforts between InM, MFIs, and BURO Bangladesh in implementing water credit initiatives and fostering sustainable development.

The visit comprised of various activities, including an orientation session where BURO Bangladesh introduced their WaterCredit Adoption Programme, field visits to project sites and communities and roundtable discussions where participants shared insights and strategies to overcome challenges. They also visited BURO Craft to learn about the socioeconomic impact of BURO Bangladesh's initiatives. Participants provided valuable insights, noting the unique nature of WCAD's integration of microfinance, the importance of top management support, capacity development for staff, rigorous research, programme structure, monitoring and evaluation, demand creation by loan officers and the necessity of local entrepreneur linkage. PMUK's commitment to continuing WASH activities beyond the WCAD programme was highlighted and IDF emphasised the need for strong motivation to overcome challenges.

During the discussion, various challenges were also identified, including economic hardships faced by targeted marginalised communities, difficulty in loan collection, convincing potential borrowers due to interest rates, monsoon season hindering construction, employee turnover affecting project objectives and initial challenges faced by new partners which were subsequently addressed.

The exposure visit provided valuable insights and learning, showcasing the effectiveness of microfinance integration into WASH initiatives and the importance of collaboration and support from top management. It highlighted the need for staff capacity development, ongoing research, structured programme outlines and strong monitoring and evaluation. The challenges of economic conditions, loan collection, and convincing borrowers were acknowledged, emphasising the importance of motivation and determination to overcome such obstacles. Overall, the visit underscored the innovative and transformative nature of the WCAD programme and its potential to make a lasting impact on marginalised communities.