Managerial Staff Training on WCAD Scale-Up Programme for GUK

Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) in collaboration with Water.org Bangladesh organised a comprehensive one-day training programme on 6 June 2023 in Bogra. The training focused on enhancing the capacity of managerial staff of the Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK) in adopting the Water Credit Adoption (WCAD) Model.

A group of senior professionals, including 30 Branch Managers from GUK, actively participated in the training programme. The objective was to provide the participants with necessary knowledge and expertise in various WCAD-related matters. The topics included provision of safely managed drinking water, sanitation, and safe hygiene services along with an elaborate discussion on the WCAD programme and selection process of potential beneficiaries from the bottom of the pyramid and other issues.

Along with the participants from GUK, the programme was attended by Mr Pankaj Kumar Sarkar, Director, Microfinance of GUK; Ms Somashree Chattapadhya, Partnership Accounts Manager of Water.org Bangladesh; Ms Khandaker Shaoli Hassan, Capacity Development Specialist of Water.org Bangladesh; Mr Md. Zia Uddin, Assistant Director, GUK; Mr Golam Rabbani, MIS Officer, GUK; Mr Gobindo Kumar Datta, Assistant Coordinator, GUK and Mr Md. Mahfusul Alam, WCAD Programme Manager of InM.

SDS Managerial Staff Training on WCAD-Scale up Programme

Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) with support from Water.org Bangladesh organised a daylong Capacity Building Managerial Staff Training programme on WaterCredit Adoption (WCAD) Model on 24 May 2023 at the SDS Training Centre, Shariatpur. Senior professionals (including 7 Regional Managers and 31 Branch Managers) of Shariatpur Development Society (SDS) joined the training course. This daylong training aimed at providing the required and expertise on WCAD related issues including safely managed drinking water, sanitation and safe hygiene services, installation of sanitary latrines and hygiene practices, detailed description of WCAD programme, selection process of potential beneficiaries from the bottom of the pyramid segments under the programme and other issues.

Mr. Bm. Kamrul Hasan, Director, SDS formally inaugurated the training programme. Among others Mr. Abul Kalam Gazi, Coordinator Microfinance, SDS, Mr. Tanvir Ahmed Kamal, Training Coordinator, SDS; Ms. Nahid Akter, Senior Research Associate, InM;  Md. Mahfusul Alam, WCAD Programme Manager, InM were present at the programme

Location: Shariatpur Development Society: SDS, Shariatpur.

Advisory Committee Meeting of ‘Comprehensive Rural Finance’ Study

The 2^nd meeting of the Advisory Committee of the “Comprehensive Rural Finance” study supported by the Bangladesh Bank was held on 15 May 2023 at PKSF Bhaban in Dhaka. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman of the Advisory Committee chaired the meeting which was attended by Dr. Toufic Ahmad Choudhury, Director General, Bangladesh Academy for Securities Markets; Mr. Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Former MD & CEO, Pubali Bank Limited; Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director, Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) and Dr. Nazma Begum, former Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. The meeting reviewed the progress of the study including the field level activities currently on-going across the country and the work plan for the next six months. The members explored different options and suggested various measures to ensure quality and relevance of collected data and information. The members also appreciated the efforts put forward by InM to achieve the overall objectives of the study.

InM organises ‘Specialised Exposure Visit on Microfinance Operations in Bangladesh’ for Nepalese Team

InM organised a ‘Specialised Exposure Visit on Microfinance Operations in Bangladesh’ for a 14-member team from Banking Finance and Insurance Institute of Nepal (BFIN) during 14-18 May 2023. The specialised exposure visit was designed to help understand the operational procedures of the MFIs to achieve their mission and goals in Bangladesh. The Team comprised of 14 senior officials from several microfinance institutions of Nepal. Under the programme, the Team visited field operations of Grameen Bank, PMUK, DISA and other organisations as well as held intensive interaction meetings with senior staff of the MFIs and InM to gain first-hand knowledge on the operational characteristics and identify underlying success factors of the microfinance sector in Bangladesh. The Team also visited Cox’s Bazar to see field operations in the region.

Capacity Building Training of Trainers (ToT) on WCAD Model

Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM) with support from Water.org Bangladesh organised a Capacity Building Training of Trainers (ToT) on WaterCredit Adoption (WCAD) Model during 08-10 May 2023 at InM Conference Room, Mirpur-2, Dhaka. The training sessions were designed to enhance the trainers’ capabilities necessary for effective design and delivery methods relating to the WCAD Model. Among others, it aimed at disseminating concepts on SDG6, safely managed drinking water and sanitation and safe hygiene services, installation of sanitary latrines and hygiene practices, impact of climate change on water and sanitation, detailed description of WCAD programme, practices of digital module of WCAD programme etc. It also shed light on training processes, critical factors that contribute to successful management of training programmes, use of appropriate training methods and media to conduct and facilitate  training sessions. The participants were senior microfinance and training professionals from Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK), Bogura and SDS: Shariatpur Development Society. The training sessions were facilitated by InM resource persons.