Alliance Forum Foundation joint project in cooperation with BRAC University

As part of the Alliance Forum Foundation's activities to contribute to international development, the Foundation is helping to nurture microfinance professionals through the development of a specialized master's program  in cooperation with BRAC University in Bangladesh. Both BRAC and the country of Bangladesh have been at the forefront of the  microfinance movement since its inception making them ideal partners to help educate and nurture a new generation of microfinance professionals.

Through the microfinance professional master's program, the Foundation will help to support and strengthen the use of microfinance to promote economic and social development in Asia and Africa.

As the first step toward this program, the Foundation has established a ten-day certificate introductory course which was launched in September 2009 and covers the basics of microfinance in depth.

This certificate course provides participants with a solid understanding of both the history  and the fundamental issues involved in the field of microfinance. Onsite visits to MFIs and peer group meetings also give the participants basic hands-on experience and background in the operational aspects of microfinance.

The aim of the course is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the broad field microfinance.

[ Course Characteristics]

*Following successful completion of the course, the Alliance Forum Foundation will work with course graduates to assist them with finding internship positions at microfinance institutions operating in Bangladesh and countries in Africa.

BRAC University
BRAC University was established by BRAC in 2001
The university has a wide range of faculties and departments and is well-known for its Development Economics program which allows students opportunities for field research and hands-on experience.
http://www.bracuniversity.net/

BRAC （ Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee ） The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) was first established by Fazle Hasan Abed with the help of 12 volunteers in 1972 following the liberation of Bangladesh. Today, with an operating budget of almost $400 million dollars (see 2007 Annual report) and over 120,000 employees, BRAC is the worlds largest NGO. The breadth of BRAC's programs and activities include agricultural development, the provision of education and public health services, microfinance, and business development. BRAC was a pioneer of the microfinance movement which provides small, noncollateralized loans to low-income households. The organization now operates in 14 countries throughout the world and is expanding its operations in Africa. BRAC University is a private university in Bangladesh that was established by BRAC in 2001. The university's mission is to foster national development through the creation of a center for higher education that develops creative leaders, responds to society's needs, and contributes to learning and creation of knowledge. BRAC University 's departments of Architecture, engineering, social science, and humanities have received high acclaim. The university also has a business school and a development institute called the BRAC development Institute (BDI). BDI's unique curriculum and activities seek to eradicate extreme poverty by focusing on practical solutions such as financial services for the poor, social empowerment and participatory governance.

Roadmap for establishing the Master's Program for Microfinance Professionals

2 week introductory course on Microfinance

	Predeparture Workshops		Introductory course on Microfinance in Bangladesh		Workshops
Predeparture workshops were held for participants in Tokyo prior to the course in Bangladesh from September 3rd to 17th 2009. Since the participants' return to Japan, workshops are being held to discuss application of the knowledge and experience gained from the course. In the future, the Foundation seeks to establish internships through WAFUNIF which will allow participants to use their newly gained knowledge and experience to contribute to international development. See the MF Report ( Japanese ) >>