Feature articleRole of Microfinance NetworksNational and regional microfinance networks are playing an increasingly important role in facilitating growth and development in microfinance. These networks are professional associations that represent a wide spectrum of microfinance providers and act as catalysts for change in the sector. Country and regional microfinance networks are different in that they do not promote a particular methodology and they do not own their members. Rather the members are part owners themselves of the network as they pay annual membership fees and normally govern the network through seats on the Board of Directors. Members of these networks have a range of structures (NGO, regulated, commercial, government, and shareholder), have diverse target clienteles, employ diverse methodologies, and operate independently of one another. The primary objectives of these networks are: > to advocate for policies which promote an enabling environment for microfinance; In addition to these core objectives, many networks have responded to the funding needs of their members and have helped connect their members with funders and investors. Across the globe, microfinance networks have successfully contributed to an increased capacity of their members to offer quality financial services to their clients, to help their members transform into regulated deposit-taking financial intermediaries and to influence important legislation that has helped microfinance institutions to service more clients with more products and services. Networks have been able to successfully prevent caps on interest rates, prevent taxation of NGO MFIs, and promote legislation to allow branchless banking.
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Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. : 
