07au-5053 Credit Union Development in Asia 2008-2010
| budget |
€ 653.084,42 |
status |
execution |
| start date |
01-01-2008 |
date end |
31-12-2010 |
| location |
Asia |
country |
thailand |
| financer |
Agriterra |
| executor |
Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions |
intervention level |
regional |
| Programmes |
| work area 08: Banking and Credit sector (including Insurance) | IFAP 08: Ensure secure access to resources | |
| description |
This proposal on Credit Union Development in Asia 2008-2010 fits well into our collaboration with ACCU, and builds upon previous projects supported by Agriterra.
The project can be split up into the following different parts:
1. Consolidation of WECUMI – Women Empowerment in Credit Unions through Microenterprise.
This subproject is composed (...more...) |
| description |
This proposal on Credit Union Development in Asia 2008-2010 fits well into our collaboration with ACCU, and builds upon previous projects supported by Agriterra.
The project can be split up into the following different parts:
1. Consolidation of WECUMI – Women Empowerment in Credit Unions through Microenterprise.
This subproject is composed of the following four major development programs:
- Microenterprise Skills Development Training
- E-Commerce for Microenterprise
- Continuation of WECUMI
- Entrepreneurial Networking
- Regional activities on WECUMI
2. Marketing Credit Union in Countries in Transition, Cambodia and Laos, as a vehicle for Poverty Alleviation.
Expected output Cambodia:
- Train 50 Managers on Credit union tools and management
- Conduct 100 community level training sessions
- Conduct 3 exposure programs and train 20 credit union leaders in Cambodia
- Better legal environment for credit union development.
- Mobilized savings of US$ 150,000 from 20,000 members
- At least 2,000 cooperative leaders are trained to manage the village level savings and credit cooperative
- Change the concept of micro credit to microfinance with people’s participation.
Expected output LAOS:
-Three credit unions with Institutional Capacity, Manager, Office and at least 500 members
- Train 10 government office field officers on credit union management
- Conduct 30 community level training sessions
- Conduct three exposure programs and train 20 credit union leaders
- Mobilized savings US$ 20,000 from 5,000 members
- At least 2,000 village level community members are trained on value of savings
- To organize Savings based Microfinance network organization.
3. Marketing Credit Union to Youth.
Previous project has implemented youth products development of credit unions as pilot basis in Thailand. The analysis of membership profile of Credit Unions revealed that 80% of the present members are belonging to the age group of year 45 to 65. It is considered as one of major problems in credit unions. The leaders of credit unions have recognized the need to reach out young people to insure the sustainability of credit unions.
Therefore ACCU would be developing appropriate marketing strategies and financial products based on the needs and lifestyles of the youth. The programs will be piloted in Thailand and introduce another country with members of ACCU.
So the following activities will be executed:
- The Strategic Planning workshop
- Development of Credit Union Solution for Youth Marketing
- Technical support on the implementation of Credit Union Solution
- Youth Ambassadors’ Internship Program
- Regional Program on youth
The impact of this project will be:
• Introduced sustainable people’s organization
• Introduce savings mobilization activities in the Community
• Increased democratic participation at grassroots level
• Institutional building of 50 credit unions in Cambodia and 60 credit unions in Luang Prabhang
• Increased women representation in Community activities
The total budget for the period 2008-2010 is Euro 573.270.
Specification:
ACCU: Euro 25.750 per year
Agriterra: Euro 165.340 per year (...less...) |
| results & observations |
The project includes four major activities:
1. Women Empowerment through Credit Unions (WECUMI)
2. Rural Finance in Cambodia (RUFICA)
3.SCU Promotion in Luang Prabang
4. Youth Program in Credit Unions
1. Consolidation of Women empowerment in Credit Unions through microenterprise (WECUMI) is supported in Nepal. During an evaluation meeting it was concluded that the (...more...) |
| final results & observations |
The project includes four major activities:
1. Women Empowerment through Credit Unions (WECUMI)
2. Rural Finance in Cambodia (RUFICA)
3.SCU Promotion in Luang Prabang
4. Youth Program in Credit Unions
1. Consolidation of Women empowerment in Credit Unions through microenterprise (WECUMI) is supported in Nepal. During an evaluation meeting it was concluded that the impact of CUMI is making poor women more self sufficient and savings oriented. The micro finance programme is rolled out in 19 districts with 139 participating SACCOS, benefitting 32.592 women (see also project 5065 and 5513 of NEFSCUN). ACCU supports NEFSCUN in implementing CUMI with advisory support and organising different meetings, workshops and trainings. In Sri Lanka and Indonesia the WECUMI programme is also implemented. The e-COOP programme- marketing trough internet- was started in Thailand and expanded to Sri Lanka. Here is a lack of IT skills among entrepreneurs, therefore only a limited number of entrepreneurs are participating in this programme.
2. In Cambodia two organisations (NGOs) are technically supported by ACCU in order to establish and strengthen Credit Unions. A total of 15 CUs were established, covering 8.187 members. Cambodia still has no law on credit unions or cooperatives, making it difficult to work towards strong CU as there is no legal framework and no legal standards to be adhered to. CU capacity and quality is weak in general.
3. Laos: ACCU is supporting to build the capacities of 44 village development funds and 6 Saving and Credit Unions in Luang Prabang Province. Technical support is provided to backstop the project staff stationed in Laos, as well as support in coordinating with the Lao government. See also project 5052, specific project for establishing SCUs in Laos.
4. Youth Programme: Together with Aflatoun Child Saving International a Training of trainers programme was organised on child social and financial education for 5 countries. The youth products will be introduced to the youth through the credit unions, which will need to be supported with this.
5. Unfortunately, this 3 years project can not be financially supported in 2010 and therefore, already at the end of 2009, ACCU decided to slow down the activities as a follow up would not be possible in 2010
Opinion of project officer: Progress during the first semester was slow, but during second semester a lot of activities were implemented. The fragmented technical support of ACCU over several countries and several topics requires substantial time to show results. ACCU delivers technically high quality products and advises, but to what level can local organisations really implement all the ideas, with a limited technical support and backstopping? For Lao, a special project for promoting SCU was started in 2009 with financial support of Agriterra and PSO (advisor), allowing a full fledged technical residential team to implement the project. In Nepal, Agriterra is actively supporting NEFSCUN as well, so substantial progress is being made in Nepal now. For the other countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia it is difficult to assess the results and impact of the ACCU support.
(...less...) |
| specialisms |
| Banking and credit sector (incl. insurance) | |
PROPOSAL
| Agri-agency | Own contribution executor | Other parties | Total requested budget |
|---|
| Agriterra | ACCU | | |
| € 0,00 + € 0,00 | € 0,00 | € 0,00 | € 579.384,00 |
The credit Union Development in Asia is a three years project 2008 to 2010.
The project consists of 3 components:
1. Consolidation of WECUMI – Women Empowerment in Credit Unions through Micro enterprise
The project aims to provide affordable financial services to ‘have less’ and entrepreneurial women members of credit unions in Nepal, Indonesia and Thailand.
2. Marketing Credit Union in Countries in Transition as a vehicle for Poverty Alleviation
This program is the continuation of the existing programs started in Cambodia and Lao.
In Lao for instance the project will provide people in the rural
communities of Luang Prabhang access to affordable financial services as well as improved social accountability.
3. Marketing Credit Union to Youth
ACCU plans to design model products and services meeting the financial goals of youth market. |
GOALS
