CGAP, MasterCard Foundation Introduces e-learning Platform For MFIs In Ghana

The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) together with the MasterCard Foundation are launching an ambitious drive to build capacities of players in the Microfinance industry in Ghana.

The training is expected to take off on the Gateway ACADEMY portal, a mobile friendly platform which will have both fee based and free academic content, uploaded for participants.

Speaking at the eighth annual general meeting of the Micro Credit Association of Ghana at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, Senior Operations Officer with CGAP, Thomas Sinclair noted that the program is an answer to a huge capacity gap identified among staff of institutions offering financial services to the unbanked low income population in Ghana.

He indicated that the program is from the onset targeting seven (7) countries; Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi.

He outlined that “CGAP and MasterCard is working with Microfinance institutions, banking associations, central banks, Mobile Network Operators and instructional designers to create an e-learning platform that is accessible and mobile friendly to make an impact in financial inclusion.

Mr Sinclair explained that the training programs will cover “Technical Training, Leadership and Management and Industry Knowledge.

He told Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador on the sidelines of the event that, “there is definitely a capacity gap among practitioners who work for microfinance institutions especially around how to create products, how to manage institutions and you will find that most acutely in sub Saharan countries and you definitely find that also in Ghana.”

“Part of the reason is that it is not necessarily taught in schools so you generally have a high level of knowledge but when it comes to the specifics of micro finance, micro credit or financial inclusion in general, there is definitely a capacity gap.”

Thomas was especially excited about the Gateway Academy Platform which he was positive will reach out to several practitioners under an affordable and much convenient arrangement.

“It is expensive to bring people to one place outside their institution or to bring in a trainer to the institution.”

“My project is building an online learning platform which will be low bandwidth and available from mobile phones and tablets and it is geared towards reaching to a segment of the market that we don’t traditionally reach with our in-person training,” Thomas stated.

He told Ultimate News his outfit is working out modalities on how much the courses which attract fees, will cost and how they can involve institutions to take up part of the cost of training for their staff.