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The
TPR. Meeting of the "Sustainable Microfinance to Alleviation Poverty"(SMAP-
CPR/01/201) was held as scheduled from July 12 to July 13 in Dingxi,
Gansu province. Ms. Wang Weili, assistant director of CICETE, Ms
Jia Lusheng, assistant RR of UNDP, officials from CICETE and UNDP,
Mr. Chang Zhenggui, the head of Anding area, Dingxi City, SMAP specialist
team and the representatives from the four pilot microfinance institutions
(Chifeng, Yilong, Xingren and Dingxi) attended the meeting. Professor
Liu Wenpu, the SMAP team leader, concluded last year's work and
achievements of SMAP and the difficulties the MFIs are facing now,
and also make suggestions for the work of the project after its
accomplishment in 2004. The main achievements of SMAP in year 2003
are listed below
- 1) Accelerate the setting up of the conducive environment for
NGO MFIs. The PBC policy study subproject was completed at the
end of 2003;
- 2) Achieved to help the MFIs enhance their management on Accounting
System in line with international standards, Product Design, Business
Planning, Incentive Scheme Design, and the MIS software design
was mostly completed;
- 3) Enhance the dissemination of the project and made the overall
management more efficient and transparent. At the same time, absorbed
more funds for the MFIs with good performance, thus they serve
more poor people;
- 4) With the help of international and national consultants,
Dingxi MFI restarted its program and the management including
the set of the accounting system and the product design are on
the right track.
The representatives
were all actively participated in the discussion. Facing the final
close of the project, all MFIs realized that, without external technical
assistance, they may face more difficulties unless they enhance
their management effectively. Meanwhile, Ms. Jia Lusheng again emphasized
the ownership of the revolving fund after the close of the project
belongs to UNDP.. Ms. Wang Weili positively confirmed the achievements
and contributions that each side has made in the past three years
and concluded the issues raised in the meeting. The meeting decided:
- 1) All MFIs will keep going targeting poor people as their clients
for credit service；
- 2) A preparing office of a microfinance association in Beijing
will be set up after the close of the project. This association
will take over the management function of SMAP project, such as
policy research, make criterion of MFIs, dissemination and provide
technical assistance.
- 3) The ownership of the revolving fund will be transferred
from UNDP to MOFCOM after the close of SMAP, and the exact executive
institution will be CICETE. The ownership issue may be reconsidered
when the policy of the UN donation to Chinese government is changed.
An MOU will be signed between the UNDP and CICETE based on this
issue. CICETE and UNDP will make agreement after the project to
ensure that the management of the MFIs is unchanged before the
all institutions step into next-round program.
- 4) Based on the conclusion of the experience and achievement
of SMAP project, the project office will go on concluding and
disseminating the experience of the Chinese
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