Management of microfinance institutions

The module « Management of microfinance institutions” is composed of two courses:

1) Microfinance from conception to management (Prof. M. Labie)

2) Contracting and microfinance products (Prof. N. Hermes and Prof. R. Mersland)

• Prof. M. Labie (Microfinance from conception to management):

1) Introduction to Microfinance (historical context)

2) Institutional Choice

3) Financial Constrains for the organization design

4) Regulation and Governance Issues

5) Microfinance in Europe

• Prof. N. Hermes (Contracting and microfinance products):

1) Credit

2) Savings

3) Non-financial services

4) Product design

5) Remittances and microfinance

6) Microinsurance key performance indicators

• Prof. R. Mersland (Contracting and microfinance products):

1) Transformation of Microfinance Institutions

2) Mission Drift in Microfinance?

3) The future of the microfinance product innovations and institutional designs

4) Pro-poor microfinance products: The case of the disability market

5) Innovative role of technology in microfinance

6) MIS for microfinance

7) Crowdfunding, online Lending and microfinance

• Prof. M. Labie (Microfinance from conception to management) :

• Provide the basics necessary for a broad understanding of how MFIs have developed and how they are operated

• Promote a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the various styles of MFIs

• Identify the key variables to analyse the models applied in MF

• Introduce the participants to the importance of regulation and supervision issues in MF

• Introduce the participants to the importance of corporate governance issues in MF

• Prof. R. Mersland (Contracting and microfinance products):

• To introduce students to key concepts in the development of the microfinance industry, and to present recent research in combination with case experiences related to the topics covered.

• Prof. N. Hermes (Contracting and microfinance products):

• Get an understanding of microfinance lending services

• Focus on the economics of group lending versus individual lending

• Get an understanding of microfinance savings and insurance services

• Discuss the interrelationship between microfinance services and remittances

Formal presentations and class discussions organized around some readings and case studies.

Contribution to the teaching profile

• Understand the various methodologies, products and models in the microfinance sector.

• Analyse the performance of microfinance institutions.

• Rationalise the different perspectives on development issues in the microfinance sector.

• Recommend practical and creative managerial solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by microfinance institutions.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

See course outlines for details.

Contacts

Email Marc Labie : marc.labie@umons.ac.be

Email Niels Hermes : c.l.m.hermes@rug.nl

Email Roy Mersland : roy.mersland@uia.no

Method(s) of evaluation

• Other

Other

• Written assignment for Prof. M. Labie (course: Microfinance from conception to management)

• Written exam for Prof. N. Hermes and Prof. R. Mersland (course: Contracting and microfinance products)

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Two marks A (Prof. Labie) and B (Prof. Hermes and Mersland) must set the final mark C of the module.

• if A and B are greater than or equal to 8/20, then C = (A + B)/2

• if A ; 8/20 or B ; 8/20, then C = min (A,B).

Language(s) of evaluation

• english