MICROFINANCE EVENT: Chuck Waterfield and Tony Sheldon Teach Course on Microfinance Business Planning and Financial Projections Using Microfin Software

Business Planning and Financial Projections with Microfin Course

April 27 to May 1, 2009, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Washington, DC

Chuck Waterfield and Tony Sheldon will teach a five-day (Monday to Friday) training course on the use of Microfin 4.0, the financial projections software that they developed for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to develop detailed five-year budgets. The course will be very hands on, and cover topics including the most important financial ratios to monitor, and how to interpret them; articulating the institution’s mission; designing and pricing products to meet clients’ needs; determining the institutional resources and capacity; and how to develop long-term diversified financial strategies. The workshop is based on the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) publication, “Business Planning and Financial Modeling for Microfinance Institutions Handbook,” that Mr. Waterfield and Mr. Sheldon coauthored. A summary of the handbook and instructions on obtaining a copy are available here. CGAP will provide financial support for the course, along with Women’s World Banking (WWB) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Registration is limited, and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis until spots are full. Early bird registration ends March 27, and the cost is USD 1250. After March 27, the cost is USD 1350. For groups of two or more from the same organization the cost is USD 1150 per person if paid by March 27, and USD 1250 thereafter. In order to register, please fill out the registration form, available here, and send it to Tony Sheldon at jasber@well.com. Payments must accompany or immediately follow the form, and can be made through wire transfer, check in US currency or in some cases by credit card. Reservations are not possible without payment, although a refund policy is in place and described on the registration form. Information on the venue is not provided. For more information, contact Mr. Sheldon by email or phone at 717-475-6733.

By Ryan Hogarth, Research Assistant

Additional Resources:

“Business Planning and Financial Modeling for Microfinance Institutions Handbook” Summary, by Chuck Waterfield and Tony Sheldon, published by CGAP: November 1998

Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network: “Business Planning and Financial Projections with Microfin Course”