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The
Pakistan Microfinance Network finds it origins in 1995 as an informal
association based on the exchange of thoughts and experiences between
microfinance providers operating in Pakistan.
In 1999 this loose collaboration, the Microfinance Group Pakistan, sought
and received financial support from the Aga Khan Foundation and the Asia
Foundation. Through its expanding
and more formalised operations it continued to build confidence and trust
amongst donors, government and microfinance institutions. In 2001 it moved successfully to become a separate legal
entity under the name of the Pakistani Microfinance Network (PMN).
PMN
is a network of organisations engaged in microfinance and dedicated to improving
the outreach and sustainability of microfinance in Pakistan. PMN acts as a
disseminator of microfinance information with the aim of enhancing the scale,
quality, diversity and sustainability of microfinance providers in Pakistan.
PMN
pursues three objectives:
1.
Enhancing the capacity of retail MFIs
Through
training courses, the network seeks to build up technical expertise and
disseminate operational best practices. During
training events, members are also encouraged to present historical overviews of
their organisations, illustrate key issues in their current operations and
divulge financial information on their organisations.
In
the past, PMN has organised training courses in market research, credit
methodologies, management skills, business planning and financial modelling and
others. For 2004, it proposes nine training courses, run by Pakistan
practitioners and international trainers in gender, financial management, credit
operations, business development services.
2.
Developing and disseminating the use of performance measures and
promoting financial transparency in retail MFIs.
PMN
started in 1999 to promote transparency among its members, asking them to
self-report their performance indicators, which are then aggregated, analysed
and published bi-annually as a nation-wide report, the Performance Indicators
Report. It is widely acknowledged that PMN is one of the leading national
networks in the world in managing and producing performance indicators for the
microfinance industry.
3.
Helping to create an enabling environment for retail MFIs.
PMN
organises policy seminars on regulatory issues as well as nation-wide
conferences, and has representation on the Consultative Group for Microfinance
run by State Bank of Pakistan. In addition, PMN publishes position papers on
issues reflecting a consensus among its members.
PMN
gathers 12 microfinance providers, including most of the largest and
better-established microfinance institutions in the country, representing a
regional balance and approximately 90% of the outreach in Pakistan.
PMN
members:
First
MicroFinanceBank Ltd. (FMBL)
Development
Action for Mobilization and Emancipation (DAMEN)
Kashf
Foundation
National
Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
Orangi Pilot
Project (OPP)
Sarhad Rural
Support Programme (SRSP)
Sindh
Agricultural & Forestry Workers’ Cooperative Organization (SAFWCO)
Sungi
Development Foundation
Taraqee
Foundation (TF)
Thardeep
Rural Development Programme (TRDP)
Punjab Rural
Support Programme (PRSP)
The Bank of
Khyber (BOK)
The PMN has been innovative in establishing national standards and benchmarking for its members. To promote transparency, PMN members provide performance indicators which are collated and presented in the PMN bi-annually Performance Indicators Report (PIR). By working to improve the quality and consistency of the PIR data, the PMN looks to enhance the capacity of its members to track best practice performance indicators.
The
PMN was initially established using funds donated by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
and the Asia Foundation. Currently PMN is operating from continued support from
the AKF, DFID and income generated from its training courses.
PMN
is headed by a Chief Executive Director, assisted by a Network Coordinator and a
Finance Manager / Company Secretary. The board of directors is representative of
the membership base, with most of the ten directors coming from member
organisations.
PMN
is headed by a Chief Executive Director, assisted by a Network Coordinator and a
Finance Manager / Company Secretary. The board of directors is representative of
the memberships, with a majority of the ten directors coming from member
organisations.
PMN
web site: www.pmn.org.pk
PMN
promotional documents