MICROCAPITAL STORY: Unitus, in Partnership with Financial Sector Deepening (FSDK), Opens Africa Microfinance Growth Centre, a Leadership Development Program for Early-Stage Microfinance Institutions in East Africa

Unitus, an international non-profit organization, has opened the Africa Microfinance Growth Center, a non-profit program developed in partnership with Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSDK), to help CEOs and senior managers of early-stage microfinance organizations (MFIs) improve strategy, leadership, and execution in order to grow their organizations and expand microfinance services in East Africa. In addition to assistance from FSDK, financial support is also being provided by Omidyar Network, The Boeing Company, and SV2: Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund. No information as to the amounts provided by these companies or the overall budget of the Center was available at the time of this release.

“We plan to use our expertise successfully scaling MFIs in other areas of the world and apply a similar model in East Africa where microfinance is desperately needed but is struggling to grow,” said Ed Bland, President of Unitus. “The Growth Centre will help CEOs develop leadership skills, organizational strategy, and functional expertise in a dynamic, peer-to-peer learning environment. Ultimately, this will empower CEOs to lead their MFIs toward faster growth and greater impact on low-income families.”

The 18-month program will include intensive workshops, trainings, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Participants are expected to graduate the program with a strategic plan for their organization, training in functional business topics needed for day-to-day management, and strengthened leadership skills. Sessions will be held in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Space is limited and applicants will be selected through an intensive application and interview process. Potential participants include any institution providing financial services to the poor, including NGOs, non-banking finance companies, SACCOs, and other providers. For more information and an application please visit: http://www.unitus.com/about-us/growth-centre. Applications are due by end-of-day Friday May 08, 2009.

Unitus is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2000 with offices in Seattle, Washington, Bangalore, India and Nairobi, Kenya. According the company’s most recent annual report, as of December 2007 Unitus’ total assets were USD 15.1 million. The organization reported partnerships with 18 MFIs in seven different countries, representing over 3.3 million clients with an aggregate gross loan portfolio of over USD 379 million. The annual report is also available on the MIX Market, the microfinance information clearinghouse. No other more recent data was available.

FSDK was established in 2005 to support the development of financial markets in Kenya. FSDK operates as an independent trust under the supervision of professional trustees, with policy guidance from a program investment committee. Donors include the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) the Ministry of Trade & Industry/World Bank and Swedish SIDA. The MIX Market has no information on FSDK. To view FSDK’s most recent annual report click here.

By Laura Anderson, Research Associate

Additional Resources:

PRWeb: Unitus Announces Groundbreaking Leadership Development Programme for CEOs of Early-Stage Microfinance Institutions in East Africa

Omidyar Network: Home

The Boeing Company: Global Corporate Citizenship

Unitus: Home

The MIX Market: Unitus Profile

Financial Sector Deepening Kenya: Home, 2007 Annual Report

The World Bank: Home

SIDA: Home

Department for International Development: Home