CENTRE FOR SELF-HELP DEVELOPMENT

Institute of micro-finance and cooperative development.

Enhancing MFI's Training Capacities through Advanced Training of Trainers (ToT)

The Centre for Self- help Development (CSD) organized a training program titled "Advanced Training of Trainers" held in Kathmandu. The five day training program was held from September 03-07, 2017 with an aim to develop in-house trainers from various MFIs.  This training was the phase II of the previous   Training of Trainers (TOT) held in the year 2015 and 2016. The training program was facilitated by the Executive Director of Birat Community Development Center (BICODEC) Mr. Prakash Kumar Pokhrel.

Mr. Shanker Nath Kapali, Executive Director of CSD welcomed the participants and made his opening remarks that CSD has been organizing various training programs seminars and exposure visits in coordination with CSD's networks to build the capacities of microfinance institutions as well as discuss about challenges faced by MFIs. He added," The main objective of the training program is capacity building of MFI's trainers so that they could conduct their in-house staffs training effectively"

A total of 29 participants from various development banks, cooperatives and FINGOs nationwide including the staffs of CSD participated in the program. They were from Nepal Women Community Service Center, Jeevan Bikas Samaj, Chautari Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd, Mirmire Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha Ltd, Grameen Swayam Sewak Samaj, Nerude Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd, UNYC Nepal, Udayadev Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd, Mahuli Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd, Manushi, Nawaprativa Saving & Credit Co-operative Ltd, Kalika Microcredit Development Bank Ltd, Laxmi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd, Shrijana Community Development Centre, Mahila Upkar Munch, Swarojgar Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd, Bauddha Grameen Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd, Dhaulagiri Community Resource Development Center (DCRDC) and Centre for Self-help Development (CSD). 

During the five day training program the facilitator reiterated time and again   that one must do away with one's ego if one wants to become an effective trainer. Moreover, he also stressed on the need for selecting the training methodology and materials according to the objectives. Similarly, he also added that the songs, jokes and quotations used during the training programs should not hurt the feelings of anyone.

The course was designed to enhance the facilitation skills of the participants who were mainly the manager level staffs of MFIs. During the course of the training the participants could enhance their knowledge and skills about various facets of training such as methodology, management, training evaluation, manual design and report writing. Similarly, during the training the participants had   also been able to enhance their delivery skills and various question handling techniques and material development skills.

Moreover, activities in between sessions also proved to be a platform to showcase the hidden talents of the participants. This also evidenced the importance of entertainment during the training program.  It also provided the participants with an opportunity to know their strengths and weaknesses by self evaluating themselves during the micro teaching session on the last day of the training. According to most of the participants this was the first time they were involved in such kind of activity.

During the feedback session where Chairman of CSD Mr. Shrestha was present, the participants expressed their satisfaction on the learnings of the five day training. Majority of the participants mentioned that they had been conducting the training programs in their own way for a long time without paying much attention to the right techniques of training. Therefore, this five day training had exposed them to areas where they lacked and what should be done to improve the quality of training in future.       

The training program was concluded on the fifth day after the participants filled up an evaluation sheet about the effectiveness of the training program and an action plan forecasting the training related activities for the next 6 months. The training program officially ended with closing remarks by Mr. Shankar Man Shrestha and the certificate distribution to the participants.

Speaking in his closing address Mr. Shrestha explained "The five day training program would bear fruit only when the learning from the training is brought to practice and create an effect of some kind. You are the master trainers who have the ability to influence hundreds of staffs working under you and through your thousands of clients.  I urge you to take a lead and make a difference" Moreover, he expressed his desire to see a multiplier effect of the training in the future. He urged the participants to internalize the learning that would change the face of the organization for the better.