Middle Management for MFIs

The number one reason for prioritizing middle management training is growth. When microfinance programs were first getting started, there was little need for middle management. Today, proven methodologies, more appropriate regulation and supervision, new technologies, innovative partnerships, and increasing access to capital are creating an environment in which microfinance service providers of varying types can grow. The more they grow: 1) the more middle managers they need; and 2) the more complex the skill set that their middle managers require.

This microNOTE briefly explores why middle management capacity building has become a priority and describes the kind of training that middle managers typically require. It then summarizes the interventions that are currently used to strengthen middle management capacity and highlights gaps in service provision that weaken the capacity building effort. It is hoped that the clear definition of these gaps will provide a departure point for industry stakeholders to design and support stronger middle management capacity building initiatives in the future.

• Annex I contains a list of class-room based short-courses offered in 2007.
• Annex II contains a list of short courses with a duration of more than one week.
• Annex III contains a list of academic programs specializing in microfinance.
• Annex IV contains a list of distance learning opportunities for microfinance managers.