Microfinance and Disaster Management Workshop

9-13 March 2009 | Chengdu, People's Republic of China 

These  workshops  applied  a  model  not  previously  used  within  the  context  of  the ‘Strengthening  microfinance  in  Asia  through  information  sharing  and  capacity building’ project, and consisted of  a 3-day  training  of  trainers  (ToT)  workshop  followed  by  a  2-day  MFDM  workshop. The  intention  of  undertaking  this  model  was  to  transfer  skills  to  in-country  facilitators  and  assist them  in  adapting  the  materials  to  the  local  industry  context.  This  was  followed  by  a  participant workshop  conducted by ToT graduates, with the  guidance  of a BWTP  Network  facilitator.
 
The workshop was conducted in partnership  with the Citi-China  Microfinance  Training  Centre and the China Association of Microfinance, both of which provided trainers and organised all workshop logistics.
 
Training of Trainer’s Workshop
 
The  primary  objective  of  the  Chengdu  MFDM  Training  of  Trainer’s  Workshop  was  to  prepare locally  based  facilitators  to  implement  the  Microfinance  and  Disaster  Management Trainer’s Manual for  practitioners throughout  China.

The  MFDM  Trainer’s Manual  is a  free  resource,  and as such  through  ToT  workshops  the  BWTP  Network  encourages  its  use  by  practitioners  across  Asia.

The broad objectives of the ToT workshops  in Chengdu were to:  
 
- ensure that the materials are made relevant to the Chinese microfinance industry;
- discuss  appropriate training skills  and tools;
- enhance understanding of the  issues;
- prepare for  local  implementation  of  a  MFDM workshop on the  12 –  13  March 2009. 

The Workshop
 
The  ToT  workshop  was  held  on  the  9  –  11  March  2009.  The  workshop  was  facilitated  by  a consultant  Ms  Chia  Lee  Wong  with  the  assistance  of  BWTP  Network  Lead  Coordinator  Jamie Bedson. 
 
The  six  participants  were  drawn  from  the  China  Association  of  Microfinance  (CAM),  Citi-China Microfinance  Training  Centre  (CCMTC)  and  the  Association  for  Rural  Development  of  Poor  Areas of Sichuan (ARDPAS). 
 
The workshop was conducted in both English and Mandarin.  
 
Over  the  course  of  3  days  participants examined  each  given module  in  turn  and  focused  on  the  following objectives: 
 
- understanding the workshop  contents;
- interpreting the  activities and  materials  for the Chinese microfinance industry;
- preparing  slides  and  handouts  that  are  relevant  to  the expected participant on  the 12 –  13 March;
- discussing  appropriate  workshop  techniques  and activities.
 
The  workshop  was  highly  participatory  in  nature  –  workshop  participants  were  expected to contribute to the creation of a workshop which suits the requirements of the  local industry.   
 
Please CLICK HERE for more details.