The survey was conducted over the months of November and December 2002, with some answers received early January 2003. Twenty-six high-level managers completed the survey on behalf of twenty BWTP member organisations (57% rate of participation), in majority from commercial banks (42%) and NGOs/MFIs (35%) located in South and South East Asia. Mission and Goals BWTP members prefer a network deeply rooted on the interaction between commercial actors and community-based organisations (groups, NGOs, MFIs) but open to every organisation with a high profile in microfinance, working at local, regional or international level. Among the main goals, respondents favoured the exploration of innovative ways of doing microfinance in Asia, a better understanding and dissemination of Best Practices in microfinance across Asia, and promoting banking institutions in microfinance and linking them with other actors in the field. At sub-regional level, establishing standards and highlight success stories were rated most important, while at national level, strengthening local microfinance networks was the priority. Activities The members gave a strong preference to capacity building (best practices, product development…) as the main activity of the network, ahead of information dissemination (newsletter, website…), research (commercialisation…) and advocacy/policy-development (market research, financial support…). Membership As a first time since the creation of the Network (1997) and along with the survey documents a membership renewal form was sent to the members enrolled in the BWTP network as of 1997. By sending back the completed form 57% of members have renewed membership for the period 2002-2003. |