FROM NGOs
TO FFIs IN MICROFINANCE SERVICES:
CONVERSION ROAD MAP AND
ITS CHALLENGES
Comparative
study of nine
Eastern European MFIs
PROJECT TIMETABLE
February 2004
- Preparation
for
the project, procurement of communication equipment and literature
- Participation
on the Opportunity International’s Global Conference in Manila, Philippines*
- Meeting
with the invited microfinance organizations/institutions outside OI
network
- Initial
contact with the Board Chairs and CEOs of the East European agencies
March 2004
- First
IPF session in Budapest
- Discussion
with the mentor
- Preparation
for the research (studying the literature; contacting the
agencies whose data are needed for analysis)
April 2004
- Analysis
of the current performances of the agencies contacted
- First
study visit to Nachala Agency, Sofia, Bulgaria (agency not yet
started with
conversion process)
- Analysis
of the documents and the interviews taken
May 2004
- Study
visit to
FORA Agency, Veliky Novgorod, Russia (agency being in
process of
conversion)
- Analysis
of the documents and the interviews taken
June 2004
- Participation
in the annual retreat meeting of the Board of Moznosti, Macedonia (NGO converted into
Saving House)
- Analysis
of the current status of Moznosti
July 2004
- Participation
on the Opportunity International’s Network Board meeting in Oxford, Great Britain*
- Analysis
of the performance of OI implementing partners reported to the meeting
September
2004
- Study
visit to
OBM, Podgorica, Montenegro (agency already
converted from NGO to FFI)
- Analysis
of the documents and the interviews taken
October
2004
- The IPF
seminar, Budapest
- Discussion
with the mentor
November 2004
- First
activities
on the preparation of the report
- Mentor’s opinion on the
papers
December 2004
- Participation
on the Opportunity International’s Eastern Europe meeting (venue to be
decided)*
- Consultation
of the research findings
January 2005
- Completing
the
report
- Preparation
for report’s publication
February 2005
- Publication
of
the report
- Presentation
of the report/book to the participating agencies
March 2005
- The final
IPF session: presenting the research paper/book in Budapest
Note: Activities marked with
asterisk (*) have been scheduled in
advance and
independently from the research proposal. They are not going to be part
of the
project’s budget!