7^th Eastern India Microfinance Summit 2023

The Association of Micro Finance Institutions - West Bengal (AMFI - WB) is an institution which endeavors to promote and develop microfinance in the state of West Bengal. Founded as a self-regulatory organization, and registered as a Public Charitable Trust in 2010, AMFI-WB encompasses a community of microfinance organizations that operate in West Bengal.

It was formed to deliver better services to the poor, thereby helping these populations improve their standards of living. AMFI-WB envisions a community of microfinance institutions who are committed to initiating a significant change in the lives of the poor, especially women. AMFI – WB currently caters to around 71.26 lakh poor women by providing them with financial services, especially micro credit. With a membership of 35 Micro Finance Institutions, bank especially micro credit through approximately 25639 employees who hail from lower economic background. Their primary goals include: encouraging MFIs to maintain healthy relationships with banks, ensuring that MFIs stay on track and focused with the guideline prescribed to them, and mediating between various government officials and other important sector stakeholders. AMFI – WB regularly conducts stakeholder meets at the district level, management development programs for its members, microfinance industry-related seminars & workshops, and member meetings on matters of mutual interest.

Our Mission

The sole objective of AMFI-WB is to initiate a significant change by empowering the poor, especially women, who are socially disadvantaged and economically exploited. With this objective, AMFI-WB monitors MFIs to ensure that they are compliant with the RBI guidelines and that they adhere to the Codes of Conduct prescribed by the RBI, MFIN, and Sa-Dhan. It boasts of being a ‘first-of-its-kind’ initiative in the state’s collective fraternity of key MFI players. It is a unique effort, and has been instrumental for the enhancement of income-generating activities among poor women through the help of microfinance services in the state.

Prime M2i Consulting Private Limited (M2i) was incorporated in March 2006. M2i brings in best application of modern management principles to enable enterprises and projects achieve their objectives, improve their efficiency and integrate with the market. We continuously assimilate knowledge from diverse fields and build on the existing body of knowledge. We use rigorous analysis to solve complex management problems, while maintaining absolute clarity in the recommendations we make. Our processes are designed to ensure a rewarding experience for our clients, as well as, for us. We interact closely with our clients to provide customized solutions. While we emphasize on innovations, we follow them up with rigorous validation and standardization to ensure sustainability of these innovations.

M2i has been working in the field of financial inclusion since 2006. We have worked with a number of MFIs, banks, equity investors, donors, NGOs and industry associations on a variety of projects. The M2i team has in-depth knowledge of financial inclusion, with experience in Risk Management, financial linkages of community groups, impact evaluation and training, with a focus on ‘double bottom line’ management, including social performance management (SPM), client protection (CP) and poverty measurement.

Pioneering initiatives of M2i: M2i has been a global pioneer in Code of Conduct Assessment tool, having performed first set of assessments in India. COCA has now been mainstreamed in India with over 200 assessments having been performed over the past 8 years.

M2i has also introduced online training of field staff using mobile and web application. This has enhanced efficiency of trainings of MFI field staff.

In addition M2i has,

• Introduced the concept of ‘Hidden Delinquency’ as part of its Risk Management advisory to MFIs. Hidden delinquency is a precursor to portfolio quality problems as well as client distress.
• Introduced third party training needs assessment as well as trainings for field staff of MFIs.
• Developed a sampling approach for client/household surveys which takes in to account unique aspects of organizations working in rural areas. We use svyset command in STATA to incorporate designed effect introduced by this approach.
• Facilitated bank/FI linkage of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in several countries in Africa and Asia.
• Developed a risk assessment tool for microenterprise lending
• Introduced the concept of Risk Based Internal Audit in MFIs