Vocational Skills Dev
Cost and benefits of apprenticeships - ILO report on CBA of training in England<p><br></p><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Please find a new research report on “<a href="/site/EI/Documents/VSD/Resource%20Box/04-2018-ILO-Cost_benefit_study_England-2.pdf" target="_blank" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;background-color:transparent;">Apprenticeship training in England – a cost-effective model for firms?”</a> by Prof. Dr. Stefan C. Wolter and Eva Joho of the ILO. The authors have used evidence from Germany, Switzerland and Austria to simulate the costs and benefits of an apprenticeship policy applied in an English context.<strong> In summary, this study analyses the question of whether an average English firm could expect a net benefit when training apprentices in a similar manner to Swiss firms but does not evaluate either current English apprenticeships or current policy measures.</strong></span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">The five main conclusions that the study draw are the following:</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"> </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 36pt;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">1.</span><font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Net benefits for firms when training younger apprentices- The chances for firms of breaking even at the end of the training period of an apprenticeship are highest for three-year programs assuming that the apprentices are younger than 19 years, because minimum wages increase substantially afterwards in England. </span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 36pt;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">2.</span><font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Individual rates of return higher when younger.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 36pt;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">3.</span><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">      </span><font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Big firms could expect higher net benefits, whereas micro-companies may sometimes even face net costs in scenarios where the average firm can expect net benefits.</span></font></span></font></div>
<div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 36pt;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">4.</span><font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Three occupations in the retail sector and the catering & hospitality sector (cooks, retail cashiers, and waiters) produce simulation outcomes that show difficulties for firms to break even. In the three cases, the skill premium observable today in the UK labour market is too low to guarantee favourable outcomes for firms and apprentices.</span></font></span></font></div><div style="margin:0px 0px 0px 36pt;padding:0px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:"segoe ui", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:normal;">
<font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">
<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:11pt;">
<span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">5.</span><font face="Franklin Gothic Book,sans-serif" color="#1F4E79" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><span lang="en-GB" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Increases in the quality of training crucial that would improve the labour market outcomes of apprentices could be a necessity to secure talented applicants for the programs and thereby also reduce dropout rates.</span></font></span></font></div><p>
<br>
</p> CEMETS Blog Post: Implementing VET Reforms<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The team from CEMETS conducted an extensive literature review on implementing VET reforms. The main conclusions are summarized in a blog post... [<a href="http://www.cemets.ethz.ch/cemets-news/2018/03/entry-22--implementing-vet-reforms.html" target="_blank">more</a>]</p></div> youth employment series: kick-off event & e-talks!<p>the focal point e+i successfully launched the series on youth employment with it's kick-off event on the 15th of March 2018. <a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1572&item1=2018-03%20Youth%20employment%20promotion" target="_blank">Click here for a short summary and the presentations.</a></p><p>Moreover, stay up to date regarding the following e-Talks! about different topics around youth employment. For more information,<a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1579&item1=2018-03%20e-talks%20youth%20employment" target="_blank"> click here</a>. We count on your contribution!<br></p><p><br></p> Videos of the webinars on Local Economic Development in the SDC<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>From 13 to 22 March, the e+i and DDLG Networks jointly hosted an e-consultation on Local Economic Development (LED). After three webinars in English, French and Spanish, Maja Rüegg und Marcus Jenal facilitated an e-discussion. The videos of the webinars are now published on the e+i Shareweb, a synthesis paper of the e-discussion will follow soon... <a href="/site/EI/Pages/PSD/ei_discussions_psd_all.aspx">[more on the PSD eDiscussion page]</a></p></div> Kick-off event: E-Talk series on youth employment promotion<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>40 participants at the SDC HQ in Bern and many more connected through live-streaming attended the Youth Employment Kick-off event on 15 March with presentations by Matthias Herr, Stefan Butscher and Roman Troxler. Four eTalks are planned in the coming months. All potential participants are invited to suggest further topics.... [<a href="/site/ei/Pages/Content/Event-Profile.aspx?Event=2018-03%20Youth%20employment%20promotion" target="_blank">more</a>]</p></div> Job Offer: SHA-Secondment Asian Development Bank - Disaster Risk Financing Consultant Pakistan<p><b>The Divison Europe, Asia and Americas of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC is looking for a specialist in Disaster Risk Financing. </b>The most important points are: Experience with disaster risk financing required, Duty station: Islamabad - Pakistan, Swiss or EU nationals can apply only. <b></b><br></p><p>See the <a href="/site/DRR/Pages/Newsdetail.aspx?ItemID=285">detailed job description here.</a> </p><p><b>Contact person for more information:</b></p><p>Lotti Roth<br>Field Ressources H<br>lotti.roth@eda.admin.ch<br></p><p><b>Outputs</b><br></p><p><u>1. Inception Report covering;</u><br>a) Road map and timeline for preparation of DRF strategy, development of instruments and<br>deployment of one instrument on pilot basis.<br>b) Revised ToRs for disaster risk financing consultants/firms, as relevant<br>c) Initial scoping exercise capturing DRF activities completed, underway and planned by other<br>stakeholders.<br>d) Preliminary schedule of knowledge events (workshops) and related actions to support the<br>establishment of an insurance culture in the country.<br></p><p><u>2. Mid Term Progress Report covering;</u><br>a) Review of DRF activities and implementation status progress under the NDRMF and<br>contribution to wider efforts to strengthen the financial management of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>b) Legal framework of DRF in Pakistan, gap assessment and recommendations for improvement<br>c) Revised road map, if required.<br>d) Draft guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.<br></p><p><u>3. Final Report covering;</u><br>a) Detailed review of DRF progress and achievements, including related challenges and<br>opportunities for further advancement.<br>b) Recommendations, including road map, for the design and deployment of further DRF<br>instruments and any additional DRF needs in support of the enhanced financial management<br>of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>c) Final guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.</p><p><b>Qualifications</b><br><u>Education Requirements and Experience</u><br>I. Master's degree in Insurance, Risk Management, Actuarial Sciences, Economics Management,<br>ACII /FCII, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Spatial Econometrics or other relevant fields of study<br>with specific experience of risk insurance and re-insurance.<br>II. The competent candidate should have a general experience of about 12-15years.<br>III. The candidate should have to demonstrate proven relevant experience of about 8-10 years<br>relevant to the assignment especially experience in the insurance, re-insurance sector,<br>preferably in a large re-insurance companies e.g. Munich Re Swiss, Re or any other.<br>IV. Must having track record of disaster related fiscal risk and the design of disaster risk financing<br>solutions.<br>V. Past experience of implementing similar projects in Asian countries and good understanding of<br>disaster risk financing in Pakistan, would be an advantage.</p><p><b>Start and duration</b><br>As soon as possible for 1 year (extendable)<br>Duty Station: Islamabad, Pakistan<br></p> VET programme in Bolivia successfully completed<p class="MsoNormal">From 2006 to 2017, the SDC contributed to the technical and
vocational training in Bolivia. The program focused on the objective of improved
access, relevance and quality of the vocational technical education and
training. It offered trainees and students of vulnerable populations, in
particular young people and women from rural and peri-urban areas, access to
agricultural, industrial and service oriented vocational skills courses.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, the program targeted producers and workers who
require additional training to improve their production and services.
Especially in the beginning, most interventions took place in rural areas, but
later various actions were also implemented in peri-urban areas.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">A total of 143 training centres were strengthened, 25’000
people graduated (54% women) and 77% of them were integrated into the labour
market. The Program also had a national scope by supporting to the
Plurinational System of Competence Certification (SPCC) of the Ministry of
Education, which deconcentrated its services into 5 departments, developed more
than 110 occupational standards and certified 36’000 workers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Further information about the project</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Documentation and products of the program are available on <a href="http://www.formaciontecnicabolivia.org" target="_blank">http://www.formaciontecnicabolivia.org</a>
(Spanish website). See the project's entry in our Portfolio Database <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=655&searchterm=">here</a>.</p> The SDC supports Serbia to reform the VET system<p>As first country in the region, Serbia has recently adopted a new Law on Dual Education. Inter alia, new profiles that are in line with European standards will be cerated in secondary schools .</p><p><br></p><p>The SDC has already supported the development of a dual education program in the wood industry in Užice, through its Private Sector Development program.</p><p><br></p><p>The SDC will remain committed to support the Government of Serbia to successfully implement the adopted Law on Dual Education through a new project with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development. The project will include support to the regulatory framework, the introduction of the Monitoring & Evaluation and law promotion with continued advisory backstopping... [<a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/SDC%20-%207F-08747%20-%20Newsletter%20contribution%20-%20201803(en).pdf" target="_blank">more</a>].</p><p><br></p><p><b>Further information about the project</b></p><p>See the project's Portfolio Database entry <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=128&searchterm=E2E">here</a>, visit <a href="http://veedapsd.rs/en">the project's own website</a> or <a href="http://veedapsd.rs/en/wood">watch a video about the project</a>. More information about the collaboration of Austria, Germany and Switzerland to support dual VET in Serbia is provided <a href="https://www.dcdualvet.org/en/mou-zwischen-schweizerischer-oesterreichischer-und-deutsche-zusammenarbeit-in-serbien/">here </a>and <a href="https://www.bibb.de/govet/de/62094.php">here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:left;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><font size="0.5">The photo is from the closing academy of the Education Caravan "The Spirit of Youth". <a href="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/image_projectnews_serbia_news201803.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge it</a>.</font> </p><p></p> 13 march webinars on Local Economic Development (LED)<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Focal Points of the employment and income (e+i) and Democratisation, Decentralisation, and Local Governance (DDLG) Networks are happy to welcome you to the jointly organised e-consultation on <strong>Local Economic Development (LED) in
SDC</strong>. Territorial approaches to economic development have become more important
both from an employment and income and from a Local Governance perspective.
Over the past few months, the Focal Point and backstopping team of the e+i
Network have been working on a stock taking of projects with a territorial
development focus (particularly LED projects) within and beyond SDC. The aim of
the stock taking was to learn what the current trends are in LED and how LED
can complement other PSD and VSD approaches like MSD/M4P, the strengthening of
employability, or improving local governance efforts.</span></p><p align="justify"><br></p><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now we want to share the results of the stock taking with you and get your feedback. The e-consultation will kick off on <strong>13 March
with webinars</strong> in three languages (English, French, Spanish), presenting the stock-taking and a number of case studies from within SDC. Join the webinar in your preferred language and learn about LED approaches both from an economic development and a local governance perspective! </span><span lang="EN-GB">open </span><a href="https://meet.helvetas.org/maja.rueegg/SGTVQS65" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;font-size:13.5pt;"><u>this link for the webinar</u></span></a></p><p align="justify"><br></p><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Following the webinars, Maja Rüegg and Marcus Jenal of the e+i Network backstopping team will facilitate an e-discussion that will allow you to ask questions and contribute with your experiences with LED approaches. The <strong>e-discussion will run from 14 to 23 March</strong> and discuss questions that come out of the webinar as well as questions around the usefulness of LED approaches both from an economic development and a local governance perspective. If you have not received an invitation to the above webinars but would like to take part in the e-discussion, please write to Marcus Jenal </span><a href="mailto:mj@mesopartners.com" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB"><u>mj@mesopartners.com</u></span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> so that he can subscribe you to the email list.</span></p></div> How to build safe houses - a guide for masons<h4 align="justify">On 15 January 2018, Practical Action published the book "<a href="/site/DRR/Documents/Types%20of%20activity/Book_Masons_Guide_2018_SDC_Pratical_Action_English.pdf" target="_blank"><strong><u><font color="#0066cc">How to build safer houses with confined masonry - A guide for masons</font></u></strong></a>" with the longstanding experience of the SHA members Tom Schacher, Nadia Carlevaro and Guillaume Roux-Fouillet. </h4><h4 align="justify">This SDC-financed guide focuses on ‘confined masonry’, a construction system consisting of masonry walls (built first) and horizontal and vertical reinforced concrete elements (poured in subsequently) that confine the masonry wall panels on all four sides. This method has been developed by practitioners rather than engineers and responds well to the technical and financial capacities of self-builders. </h4><h4 align="justify">This easy-to-read pocket guide combines detailed illustrations and images with clear instructions to address construction issues. The guide acts as an ideal companion for masons, construction workers, contractors, technicians, architects and students of architecture and civil engineering completing practical training on building sites. ‘This unique guide illustrates construction of low-rise confined masonry buildings in a simple and user-friendly manner, and is expected to be an invaluable resource for house owners and builders of confined masonry houses in earthquake prone regions of the world.’</h4> Employment Fund Nepal featured in Swiss Newspaper<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The SDC project "Employment Fund" in Nepal and its innovative approach have recently been featured in the Swiss Geman newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. You can read the article <a href="/site/EI/Documents/News/022018-Newspaper-EF-Nepal-German.pdf" target="_blank">here </a>(only available in German)<a href="/site/EI/Documents/News/022018-Newspaper-EF-Nepal-German.pdf" target="_blank">.</a> According to a Worldbank survey, six month after the training more than 75% of the programme's participants have a salary which lifts them above the national poverty line. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Further information about the project</strong><br>See the project's entry in our Portfolio Database <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=25&searchterm=Employment%20Fund">here</a> or visit the <a href="http://www.employmentfund.org.np/">project's website</a>. The project also has special focus on <a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=495&item1=Gender%20in%20VSD" target="_blank">gender issues in VSD</a>. Read more about it <a href="/site/EI/Documents/Projects/7F-06976.01/SDC%20-%20Nepal%20-%20Employment%20Fund%20-%20Factsheet%20-%20Women%27s%20access%20to%20skills%20training.pdf">here</a> or watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtmnOsRS8Zk">video</a>.</p></div> Out now: UNEVOC Bulletin 32 on ICTs in TVET<font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;-ms-text-autospace:;"><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><font face="Calibri"><font size="3">The 32</font><sup><font size="2">nd</font></sup><font size="3">
issue of the UNEVOC Bulletin focuses on ‘ICTs in TVET’ and presents
a selection of UNESCO-UNEVOC’s activities that have contributed in this
thematic area and our other engagements during the last quarter of 2017. </font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font face="Calibri"><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><font size="3">Please note
that this edition of the Bulletin is available in all six UN languages on the
UNEVOC Website: </font></span><span lang="EN-US" style=""><a href="http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/bulletin/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><u><font color="#0563c1" size="3">http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/bulletin/</font></u></span></a><font size="3">
</font></span><span lang="EN-GB" style=""></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font> CEMETS Blog Post: The tricky thing about NQFsNational Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) are a very common type of VET reform. The blog post from the CEMETS team very briefly discusses some of the evidence—or lack thereof—for their hoped-for benefits and a few reasons they might help, or fail to do so. [<a href="http://www.cemets.ethz.ch/cemets-news/2018/02/entry-19--the-tricky-thing-about-nqfs.html" target="_blank">more</a>] Updated online introduction: Understanding and analysing VET systems<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>Between Christmas and New Year's Eve we made the online version our introduction "Understanding and analysing VET systems"  - one of our <a href="/site/EI/Pages/VSD/Key%20Documents.aspx" target="_blank">key documents</a> - more user friendly.<br><br>We hope the online version of the introduction meets your learning habits. If not have a look at the videos on YouTube. You will find the links at the end of the chapters. <strong>Check out the online introduction <a href="/site/EI/Pages/VSD/VSD%20Resource%20Box/Core-Elements-Intro.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></p></div> Videos about the effectivness of the SDC employment projects in 2017<p>The SDC produced five videos which explain on the basis of particular cases how its projects support employment. Watch all videos in <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/results-impact/reports-effectiveness-annual/wirkungsberichte.html" style="" target="_blank">English</a>, <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/fr/home/resultats-impact/rapports-efficacite-annuels/wirkungsberichte.html" style="" target="_blank">French</a>, <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/it/home/risultati-effetti/rapporti-efficacia-annuali/wirkungsberichte.html" style="" target="_blank">Italien</a> or <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/de/home/resultate_und_wirkung/wirkungs-_und_jahresberichte/wirkungsberichte.html" style="" target="_blank">German</a>.</p>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhSRtD1x3xU" frameborder="0" id="widget2" style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"></iframe></div>
Private Sector Dev
Securing Food Supply through a Digital Monitoring System - Rural Markets Project<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The global pandemic showed the fragility of food supply systems in many countries including Bolivia. Through the Inclusive Markets project, financed by SDC and SIDA, Swisscontact supported the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands with setting up a digital platform to monitor food supply and demand on a municipal level. More information <a href="https://www.swisscontact.org/en/news/securing-food-supply-through-a-digital-monitoring-system">here</a>.</p></div> State of the Smallholder Finance<p>Learn the newest developments, challenges and trends in the smallholder finance sector. Root Capital and other members of the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF) hosted a webinar, as well as published an annual report. </p><p>Find everything on this <a href="https://www.csaf.net/state-of-the-sector/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=64838874&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_QJZ-08Od5fs6jV3IIWkClu_ovscpFLIwSO3cBO_Ma8l3C_O9Ea2AJpBaPqhnS-uoNQePNWNGWo9ccmI1k6U8_GMCOdg&_hsmi=64838990">website. </a></p> SanMarkS: System-based approach in Sanitation<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-09082.01_Improving%20Sanitation%20Market%20Systems%20Bangladesh%202017.PNG" style="width:488px;" /><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">The Sanitation Marketing Systems in Bangladesh (SanMarkS) has recently been awarded the </span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/09/274268.htm" target="_blank">prestigious P3 Impact Award</a> for its public-private partnership (P3) approach. </span></p><p></p><p></p><div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:center;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">***********</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">SanMarkS</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"> applies Sanitation Marketing, Market Systems Thinking, and Human Centered Design to reach 450,000 poor and disadvantaged rural people by 2019 with better health and wellbeing through improved sanitation. The project began in November 2015 and is jointly funded by SDC and UNICEF and implemented by iDE-Bangladesh. </span><br></div><div><br></div><div>SanMarkS aims to build household demand and private sector supply of hygienic, affordable latrines by facilitating collaboration between national level manufacturers of latrine parts, local level entrepreneurs, municipalities and the Department of Public Health Engineering. The project promotes the integration of the private sector as a key stakeholder into the existing public and civil society platforms in the sanitation sector in rural areas. </div><div><br></div><div>SanMarkS builds the capacity of local latrine producers, their knowledge and technical know-how as well as market promotion strategies to increase their client base. </div><div><br></div><div>As a result, (341) local entrepreneurs are now organized. They have formed business associations (sanitary business associations SBA) to leverage their collective skills and buying power. This enables remote customers in villages to access hygienic latrines at affordable prices, while latrine producers who are a part of a business association have seen their sales of hygienic latrines almost double. The local government subsidies to help poor households build latrines are now used more effectively, as the local latrine producers deliver cheaper and more hygienic latrines. The sanitary business associations enforce quality standards among the members and have begun engaging with the local government to create national quality standards for improved latrines. National manufacturers are able to reach new customers who were inaccessible before due to the high cost and logistical challenges of marketing in remote areas. By engaging with a single point of contact from a business association representing several entrepreneurs, companies now have a simple and cost-effective way to distribute their products in sparsely populated rural regions. In this way, SanMarkS builds capacity of the private sector actors to develop products, messages and marketing techniques that will reach specific types of consumers based on household income, assets, lifestyles and other characteristics resulting in better health condi¬tions and well-being.</div><div><br></div><div>Interested to learn more?</div><div><br></div><div>>> <a href="https://youtu.be/2GYqMiAdV88" target="_blank">Brief video</a>     >> <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20SanMarkS%20Project%20Snapshot%20Nov16%20-%20Dec17.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">SanMarkS Fact Sheet </a>     >> <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20SanMarks%20Achieved-Target.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">SanMarkS Targets and Results</a>     >><a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20iDE-IR_BD_PublicPrivateDevPartnrships.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">Solving Sanitation from all sides</a>  </div><div><br></div><p></p><p></p> Phase 2 for the Grain Post-harvest Loss Prevention Project (GPLP)<div><b><br></b></div><div><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07726.02_Project%20Image_%20Grain%20Post-harvest%20Loss%20Prevention%20Project%20(GPLP).jpg" style="width:400.887px;height:226px;" /><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Overall goa</b>l: GPLP aims at improving food security and income of small holder men and women farmers in the Central Corridor of Tanzania by addressing major constraints in post-harvest practice, access to improved technologies and adoption, knowledge sharing and related policies. Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is implementing GPLP using a market system development approach and working through multi-stakeholder partnerships with private sector and public organizations.</div><div> </div><div><b>Context : </b><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Postharvest Losses (PHL) in Tanzania are high and contribute to loss of income and food insecurity. PHL ranges between 15 to 40% for different crops, but are of particular concern for grains and pulses, which form the base for food and income for the majority. Knowledge and awareness on Post-Harvest Management (PHM) among farmers remains low. Extension services do not often include PHM training and farmers’ access to technologies remains limited. Farmers and MSME’s face difficulties to access financial services, which could allow them to invest in post-harvest technologies (PHT) or expansion of business. While women are highly involved in the PHM process, there is a wide gender-gap in rural communities, with women being in a disadvantaged position in relation to men, in access and control over resources as well as in decision-making. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF) has just come up with a National Strategy for Post-Harvest, which is expected to be launched end of 2017.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:right;"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07726.02_Project%20Image_%20Grain%20Post-harvest%20Loss%20Prevention%20Project%20%20GPLP_Tanzania.jpg" style="width:400.887px;height:226px;" /><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:right;"><br></div><div><b>Outcomes of the phase</b>: </div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">1.</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;white-space:pre;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Targeted smallholder farmers have access and adopt effective postharvest management practices and technologies</span></div><div>2.<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Postharvest policies and framework conditions are improved in Tanzania through implementation of PHM strategy and by-laws</div><div>3.<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Postharvest management stakeholders have access to information that enables decision making towards reducing postharvest losses</div><div> </div><div>>> <a href="https://tanzania.helvetas.org/en/activities/projects_tanzania/grain_post_harvest_loss_prevention/" target="_blank">more </a></div><div><br></div> youth employment series: kick-off event & e-talks!<p>the focal point e+i successfully launched the series on youth employment with it's kick-off event on the 15th of March 2018. <a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1572&item1=2018-03%20Youth%20employment%20promotion" target="_blank">Click here for a short summary and the presentations.</a></p><p>Moreover, stay up to date regarding the following e-Talks! about different topics around youth employment. For more information,<a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1579&item1=2018-03%20e-talks%20youth%20employment" target="_blank"> click here</a>. We count on your contribution!<br></p><p><br></p> Videos of the webinars on Local Economic Development in the SDC<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>From 13 to 22 March, the e+i and DDLG Networks jointly hosted an e-consultation on Local Economic Development (LED). After three webinars in English, French and Spanish, Maja Rüegg und Marcus Jenal facilitated an e-discussion. The videos of the webinars are now published on the e+i Shareweb, a synthesis paper of the e-discussion will follow soon... <a href="/site/EI/Pages/PSD/ei_discussions_psd_all.aspx">[more on the PSD eDiscussion page]</a></p></div> Kick-off event: E-Talk series on youth employment promotion<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>40 participants at the SDC HQ in Bern and many more connected through live-streaming attended the Youth Employment Kick-off event on 15 March with presentations by Matthias Herr, Stefan Butscher and Roman Troxler. Four eTalks are planned in the coming months. All potential participants are invited to suggest further topics.... [<a href="/site/ei/Pages/Content/Event-Profile.aspx?Event=2018-03%20Youth%20employment%20promotion" target="_blank">more</a>]</p></div> Job Offer: SHA-Secondment Asian Development Bank - Disaster Risk Financing Consultant Pakistan<p><b>The Divison Europe, Asia and Americas of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC is looking for a specialist in Disaster Risk Financing. </b>The most important points are: Experience with disaster risk financing required, Duty station: Islamabad - Pakistan, Swiss or EU nationals can apply only. <b></b><br></p><p>See the <a href="/site/DRR/Pages/Newsdetail.aspx?ItemID=285">detailed job description here.</a> </p><p><b>Contact person for more information:</b></p><p>Lotti Roth<br>Field Ressources H<br>lotti.roth@eda.admin.ch<br></p><p><b>Outputs</b><br></p><p><u>1. Inception Report covering;</u><br>a) Road map and timeline for preparation of DRF strategy, development of instruments and<br>deployment of one instrument on pilot basis.<br>b) Revised ToRs for disaster risk financing consultants/firms, as relevant<br>c) Initial scoping exercise capturing DRF activities completed, underway and planned by other<br>stakeholders.<br>d) Preliminary schedule of knowledge events (workshops) and related actions to support the<br>establishment of an insurance culture in the country.<br></p><p><u>2. Mid Term Progress Report covering;</u><br>a) Review of DRF activities and implementation status progress under the NDRMF and<br>contribution to wider efforts to strengthen the financial management of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>b) Legal framework of DRF in Pakistan, gap assessment and recommendations for improvement<br>c) Revised road map, if required.<br>d) Draft guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.<br></p><p><u>3. Final Report covering;</u><br>a) Detailed review of DRF progress and achievements, including related challenges and<br>opportunities for further advancement.<br>b) Recommendations, including road map, for the design and deployment of further DRF<br>instruments and any additional DRF needs in support of the enhanced financial management<br>of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>c) Final guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.</p><p><b>Qualifications</b><br><u>Education Requirements and Experience</u><br>I. Master's degree in Insurance, Risk Management, Actuarial Sciences, Economics Management,<br>ACII /FCII, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Spatial Econometrics or other relevant fields of study<br>with specific experience of risk insurance and re-insurance.<br>II. The competent candidate should have a general experience of about 12-15years.<br>III. The candidate should have to demonstrate proven relevant experience of about 8-10 years<br>relevant to the assignment especially experience in the insurance, re-insurance sector,<br>preferably in a large re-insurance companies e.g. Munich Re Swiss, Re or any other.<br>IV. Must having track record of disaster related fiscal risk and the design of disaster risk financing<br>solutions.<br>V. Past experience of implementing similar projects in Asian countries and good understanding of<br>disaster risk financing in Pakistan, would be an advantage.</p><p><b>Start and duration</b><br>As soon as possible for 1 year (extendable)<br>Duty Station: Islamabad, Pakistan<br></p> 13 march webinars on Local Economic Development (LED)<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Focal Points of the employment and income (e+i) and Democratisation, Decentralisation, and Local Governance (DDLG) Networks are happy to welcome you to the jointly organised e-consultation on <strong>Local Economic Development (LED) in
SDC</strong>. Territorial approaches to economic development have become more important
both from an employment and income and from a Local Governance perspective.
Over the past few months, the Focal Point and backstopping team of the e+i
Network have been working on a stock taking of projects with a territorial
development focus (particularly LED projects) within and beyond SDC. The aim of
the stock taking was to learn what the current trends are in LED and how LED
can complement other PSD and VSD approaches like MSD/M4P, the strengthening of
employability, or improving local governance efforts.</span></p><p align="justify"><br></p><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now we want to share the results of the stock taking with you and get your feedback. The e-consultation will kick off on <strong>13 March
with webinars</strong> in three languages (English, French, Spanish), presenting the stock-taking and a number of case studies from within SDC. Join the webinar in your preferred language and learn about LED approaches both from an economic development and a local governance perspective! </span><span lang="EN-GB">open </span><a href="https://meet.helvetas.org/maja.rueegg/SGTVQS65" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;font-size:13.5pt;"><u>this link for the webinar</u></span></a></p><p align="justify"><br></p><p align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Following the webinars, Maja Rüegg and Marcus Jenal of the e+i Network backstopping team will facilitate an e-discussion that will allow you to ask questions and contribute with your experiences with LED approaches. The <strong>e-discussion will run from 14 to 23 March</strong> and discuss questions that come out of the webinar as well as questions around the usefulness of LED approaches both from an economic development and a local governance perspective. If you have not received an invitation to the above webinars but would like to take part in the e-discussion, please write to Marcus Jenal </span><a href="mailto:mj@mesopartners.com" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB"><u>mj@mesopartners.com</u></span></a><span lang="EN-GB"> so that he can subscribe you to the email list.</span></p></div> Practitioners Notes on Monitoring and Results Measurement<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;">Alexandra
Miehlbradt<span style="color:black;"> and </span>Hans Posthumus recently <span style="color:black;">conducted a
training workshop with advanced practitioners in results measurement.<span>  </span>Based on the presentations and discussions,
they developed five Practitioners’ Notes.<span>  </span>Each Note outlines key challenges and provides solutions and tips from
the field.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p><p><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;font-size:11pt;">The Practitioners’ Notes on Monitoring and
Results Measurement are available on the DCED website at</span></strong><strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;font-size:10pt;">:<span>  </span></span></strong><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.enterprise-development.org/measuring-results-the-dced-standard/implementing-the-dced-standard/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:9.5pt;"><u>https://www.enterprise-development.org/measuring-results-the-dced-standard/implementing-the-dced-standard/</u></span></strong></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9.5pt;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p><p><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p><p><span lang="EN-GB">1 Gathering
Information from Businesses</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;">Private sector
development programs often find it challenging to gather information from
businesses on operations and performance.<span>  </span>Businesses do not always provide this information either because they
are not willing, or they are not able to.<span>  </span>It is important see the issues from a business’s perspective, to
determine what information a program really needs and to decide what is
realistic to ask a business for.<span>  </span>This
Practitioners’ Note outlines tips on how to start off on the right foot with
businesses and how to address challenges in information gathering that arise
during implementation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;font-size:8pt;"> </span></p><h2 style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt 28.9pt;text-indent:-28.9pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">2 Using
Technology in Monitoring and Results Measurement</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;">Collecting, storing, analysing and presenting results measurement
information can be time consuming, costly and error-prone.<span>  </span>New hardware and software solutions are
helping practitioners to save time and money, improve accuracy and present
information more effectively to aid in decision-making.<span>  </span>This Practitioners’ Note profiles three types
of tools:<span>  </span>device-based data collection,
on-line questionnaires and analysis software products. It outlines the pros and
cons of each and provides tips from practitioners who have used them.</span></p><h2 style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt 28.9pt;text-indent:-28.9pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:windowtext;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> </span></h2><h2 style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt 28.9pt;text-indent:-28.9pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">3 Monitoring</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;">Monitoring is a
critical function to inform program improvements in interventions and
strategies.<span>  </span>However, programs often do
not pay enough attention to ensure that staff are monitoring effectively and
efficiently.<span>  </span>This Practitioners’ Note outlines tips to help programs implement good monitoring practices, ensuring it adds value for managers and helps to avoid common pitfalls. <span> </span>It also addresses issues in outsourcing
monitoring and co-facilitators’ monitoring.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:8pt;"> </span></p><h2 style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt 28.9pt;text-indent:-28.9pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">4 Using
Multipliers to Estimate Impact</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11pt;">Multipliers can be
a cost-effective tool to estimate broader impacts such as employment
creation.<span>  </span>Programs need to validate
existing multipliers or need to develop their own sector and context specific
multipliers.<span>  </span>This Practitioners’ Note
aims to assist programs to assess when multipliers may be appropriate to use,
how to use existing multipliers and how to develop multipliers.<span>  </span>This Practitioners’ Note focuses on the
decision-making process; for the more technical aspects, reference is made to
other publications and case studies.<span>  </span></span></p></div> ANDE Report: State of Measurement in the SGB Sector<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">ANDE’s
Research and Impact team is excited to release the latest edition o</span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">f the</span><span style="color:blue;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=70026673&msgid=950946&act=CC10&c=337460&destination=http://www.andeglobal.org/measurement2017" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255) !important;"><u>State of Measurement in the SGB Sector</u></a></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">.</span></p><p style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> </span></p><p style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">The
landscape of approaches to impact measurement has transformed since ANDE <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=70026673&msgid=950946&act=CC10&c=337460&destination=http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.andeglobal.org/resource/resmgr/Files/The_State_of_Measurement_Pra.pdf" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255) !important;"><u>first investigated</u></a> how
and what our members measure in 2014. This paper provides an update on the
state of measurement practice in the SGB sector. Ultimately, we hope this
information can help develop more effective, rigorous, and actionable
measurement for the sector.</span></p><p style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> </span></p><p style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">ANDE
surveyed 30 members about their measurement practices and found that:</span></p><ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">All investors and half of capacity development providers use IRIS.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">Half of our sample collects household data.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">Capacity development providers tend to focus on business performance outcomes for the SGB while investors more often focus on the SGB reach and quality.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">Nearly all respondents spent less than 5% of their annual budget on measurement.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">Organizations that collect household-level data spend about the same on measurement as those that do not.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;">Over half of ANDE organizations surveyed said they have no full-time staff person dedicated to measurement.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt;"> <p align="center" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:center;"><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=70026673&msgid=950946&act=CC10&c=337460&destination=http://www.andeglobal.org/measurement2017">Read the Report here.</a></p> </span></li></ul></div> DFID research project update: Enabling innovation and productivity growth in low income countries<font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">This
5 -years research project in the field of economics, implemented by Tilburg
University, focuses on understanding the factors, institutions, and policies
that can increase business innovation and productivity growth, particularly in
manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa and Asia. The
updated project website presents the latest research output including
scientific articles, policy briefs, short videos and databases. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;"></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;"></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">If
you are interested please visit: </font><a href="https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/dfid-innovation-and-development" target="_blank"><u><font color="#0563c1" face="Calibri" size="3">https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/dfid-innovation-and-development</font></u></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;"></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;"></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Or
see a brief introduction video: </font><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pewGctAG1sY" target="_blank"><u><font color="#0563c1" face="Calibri" size="3">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pewGctAG1sY</font></u></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black;"></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font> New feature to easily share the results of your work!<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;">O</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;">ur brand new tool allows you to share your news and documents within seconds with the whole e+i community. No matter if you want to announce a job opening, a call for tenders or the start of a new project: it will just take few clicks to publish it on our Shareweb. </span>Go directly to the <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/share-your-knowledge.aspx" target="_blank">tool </a>or a look a the tutorial below:</p><div class="container" id="Ppt-Iframe_container" style="text-align:center;"><iframe align="middle" class="ppt_iframe class=" src="/site/EI/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/site/EI/Style%20Library/js/angular/AdventCalendar/Share%20your%20knowledge.pptx&action=embedview&wdAr=1.3333333333333333" width="660px" height="495px" frameborder="0">This is an embedded &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a target=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;http&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#58;//office.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Microsoft Office&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; presentation, powered by &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a target=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;http&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#58;//office.com/webapps&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Office Web Apps&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</iframe> </div></div> Integration of BEAM Exhange into DECDAt DCED’s Annual Meeting in Rome, in June 2017, the DCED Working Group was formally established and is now chaired by Andrea Inglin of SDC and Susanne Thiard-Laforet of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). It will build on the achievements to date of the BEAM Exchange, the facility for knowledge exchange and learning about market systems development, originally funded by The Department for International Development (DFID)  and SDC. The advantage of integrating BEAM Exchange into DCED, apart from the obvious synergies with PSD itself, other donors can participate easier and give BEAM a sound foundation for sustainability. <a href="https://www.enterprise-development.org/organisational-structure/working-groups/overview-market-systems-development-working-group/" target="_blank">>>more</a> Advanced Training Workshop in Results Measurement for PSD<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>For a week in November, close to thirty experienced results measurement practitioners gathered in Bangkok to share ideas and lessons, build their capacity and contribute to improving results measurement in PSD.  A number of them were grateful recipients of partial scholarships from SDC. </p><p>The group tackled a range of topics in results measurement including effective monitoring, credible impact measurement, assessment of women’s economic empowerment, the use of modern technology, multipliers, assessment of systemic change and analyzing and using information for decision making.  More information in the <a href="http://www.miehlbradt.com/Resources/TrainingResources/Advanced%20Training%20Workshop%20in%20Results%20Measurement%20Nov%202017.pdf" target="_blank">course flyer</a>. The practitioners shared experiences on addressing challenges in results measurement, such as how to work with the private sector on data collection, how to monitor in remote or inaccessible areas, how to do results measurement in small programs and if and how to assess non-financial benefits.  The practitioners particularly appreciated learning about innovations such as ICT-based data collection and new on-line tools for data visualization, as well as complementary methods for investigation such as social network analysis.  The most hotly debated topic was assessment of systemic change with practitioners sharing and deliberating on various approaches and tips.  Many participants reported that they got new ideas and a greater appreciation for the need to assess systemic change.  </p><p>The workshop facilitators will prepare five brief good practice notes to share some of the learning from the workshop. These notes will soon be published here, on our e+i shareweb.</p><div><img style="width:571.21px;height:428.75px;" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Covers/Image%20Advanced%20Training%20RM%20for%20PSD.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" /><br></div></div>
Financial Sector Dev
State of the Smallholder Finance<p>Learn the newest developments, challenges and trends in the smallholder finance sector. Root Capital and other members of the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF) hosted a webinar, as well as published an annual report. </p><p>Find everything on this <a href="https://www.csaf.net/state-of-the-sector/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=64838874&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_QJZ-08Od5fs6jV3IIWkClu_ovscpFLIwSO3cBO_Ma8l3C_O9Ea2AJpBaPqhnS-uoNQePNWNGWo9ccmI1k6U8_GMCOdg&_hsmi=64838990">website. </a></p> Videos of the webinars on Local Economic Development in the SDC<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>From 13 to 22 March, the e+i and DDLG Networks jointly hosted an e-consultation on Local Economic Development (LED). After three webinars in English, French and Spanish, Maja Rüegg und Marcus Jenal facilitated an e-discussion. The videos of the webinars are now published on the e+i Shareweb, a synthesis paper of the e-discussion will follow soon... <a href="/site/EI/Pages/PSD/ei_discussions_psd_all.aspx">[more on the PSD eDiscussion page]</a></p></div> Kick-off event: E-Talk series on youth employment promotion<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>40 participants at the SDC HQ in Bern and many more connected through live-streaming attended the Youth Employment Kick-off event on 15 March with presentations by Matthias Herr, Stefan Butscher and Roman Troxler. Four eTalks are planned in the coming months. All potential participants are invited to suggest further topics.... [<a href="/site/ei/Pages/Content/Event-Profile.aspx?Event=2018-03%20Youth%20employment%20promotion" target="_blank">more</a>]</p></div> Job Offer: SHA-Secondment Asian Development Bank - Disaster Risk Financing Consultant Pakistan<p><b>The Divison Europe, Asia and Americas of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC is looking for a specialist in Disaster Risk Financing. </b>The most important points are: Experience with disaster risk financing required, Duty station: Islamabad - Pakistan, Swiss or EU nationals can apply only. <b></b><br></p><p>See the <a href="/site/DRR/Pages/Newsdetail.aspx?ItemID=285">detailed job description here.</a> </p><p><b>Contact person for more information:</b></p><p>Lotti Roth<br>Field Ressources H<br>lotti.roth@eda.admin.ch<br></p><p><b>Outputs</b><br></p><p><u>1. Inception Report covering;</u><br>a) Road map and timeline for preparation of DRF strategy, development of instruments and<br>deployment of one instrument on pilot basis.<br>b) Revised ToRs for disaster risk financing consultants/firms, as relevant<br>c) Initial scoping exercise capturing DRF activities completed, underway and planned by other<br>stakeholders.<br>d) Preliminary schedule of knowledge events (workshops) and related actions to support the<br>establishment of an insurance culture in the country.<br></p><p><u>2. Mid Term Progress Report covering;</u><br>a) Review of DRF activities and implementation status progress under the NDRMF and<br>contribution to wider efforts to strengthen the financial management of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>b) Legal framework of DRF in Pakistan, gap assessment and recommendations for improvement<br>c) Revised road map, if required.<br>d) Draft guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.<br></p><p><u>3. Final Report covering;</u><br>a) Detailed review of DRF progress and achievements, including related challenges and<br>opportunities for further advancement.<br>b) Recommendations, including road map, for the design and deployment of further DRF<br>instruments and any additional DRF needs in support of the enhanced financial management<br>of disaster risk in Pakistan.<br>c) Final guidelines on post-disaster budget execution.</p><p><b>Qualifications</b><br><u>Education Requirements and Experience</u><br>I. Master's degree in Insurance, Risk Management, Actuarial Sciences, Economics Management,<br>ACII /FCII, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Spatial Econometrics or other relevant fields of study<br>with specific experience of risk insurance and re-insurance.<br>II. The competent candidate should have a general experience of about 12-15years.<br>III. The candidate should have to demonstrate proven relevant experience of about 8-10 years<br>relevant to the assignment especially experience in the insurance, re-insurance sector,<br>preferably in a large re-insurance companies e.g. Munich Re Swiss, Re or any other.<br>IV. Must having track record of disaster related fiscal risk and the design of disaster risk financing<br>solutions.<br>V. Past experience of implementing similar projects in Asian countries and good understanding of<br>disaster risk financing in Pakistan, would be an advantage.</p><p><b>Start and duration</b><br>As soon as possible for 1 year (extendable)<br>Duty Station: Islamabad, Pakistan<br></p> SCBF end-November 2017 to end-February 2018<h1 style="text-align:center;">Approved Projects</h1><h4>E-Saving club Akiba Mexico</h4><p>The aim of this project is to digitalise the loan origination process of the partner financial institutions Pretmex and offer Akiba´s own digital MicroCreditLine product (MCL). Online lending is a relatively new concept in Mexico with only few providers covering mainly the consumer lending sector and at usury rates. The MCL product specifically targets the funding need of low-income employees who often have to borrow at very high costs and unreasonable conditions when facing short-term financial emergencies. >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-12-E-Savings.club-Akiba-Mexico_Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4>J.Wipf  Guardian Life Insurance Limited (GLIL) Bangladesh</h4><p>The SCBF support of one year is meant to enhance the partners´ GLIL and BRAC capacities to develop and develop microinsurance products, one preferably with savings-linked component, offered to one or more segments of BRAC´s diverse and vast membership (it has the largest microfinance programme in the world). >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-01-John-Wipf-Guardian-Life-Bangladesh-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="font-size:1.1em;letter-spacing:0.4px;">WWB Lead Foundation Egypt (automation)</span></h4><p>The main objective of the project is to transform Lead´s microinsurance operations to make them digital and automated, through the design and development of a fraud robot able to detect fraudulent insurance pay-out claims. Upon project completion, the insurance process automation solution should enable Lead to expand its client base from currently 180,000 to 318,000 clients in 2019 and manage high scale operations without adding more staff. >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-02-WWB-Lead-Egypt-automation-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4>WWB Lead Foundation Egypt (family)</h4><p>Lead Foundation aims to develop at least one family health insurance product and roll it out to its currently over 200,000 clients and their families, expanding its beneficiary base to 950,000 by end of 2019, and thus enhancing their resilience in face of unexpected health crises and hospital emergencies. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2018-03-WWB-Lead-Egypt-family-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Venture South Biashara na Fedha Tanzania</h4><p>Biashara na Fedha and Simusolar aim to develop, test and scale up customised loan products designed to finance the acquisition of solar-powered water pumps by smallholder farmers around Lake Victoria, reaching out to 1,000 farmers by 8.2019, and intending to reach 17,000 farmers three years after the support. The customisation will take into account the crop cycles and smallholder farmer credit profiles. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-04-Venture-South-Tanzania-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Symbiotics MicroCred DRC</h4><p>The purpose of the product up-scaling support is to upgrade the existing loan products of MicroCred, esp. the roll-out of the local currency loan product in Congolese Francs (CDF). Secondly, the support will be focused on developing and launching deposit products, and providing to clients financial education on the spectrum of services (savings and loans). This is expected to lead to outreach of 7,500 CDF clients (2,000 new) and 17,000 deposit clients by end of 2018.          <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> more</span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat Banco Solidario Ecuador</h4><p>Banco Solidario plans to redesign its existing housing microfinance product and adjust mobile tools to support credit officers in selling the products, improving the living conditions of at least 1,794 clients and their families at project end and 4,000 clients by December 2021. The technical assistance will also trigger a capital investment of USD 11 mil. for home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-06-Habitat-Banco-Solidario-Ecuador-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat COAC JA Ecuador</h4><p>COAC JA (Calculadora de Ahorro y Credito – Jardin Azuayo) aims to redesign its existing housing microfinance product and introduce a new micro-mortgage product, improving the living conditions of at least 2,000 / 500 clients and their families with the housing microloan and mortgage product (respectively) at project end and 6,000 / 1,200 clients by December 2021. Upon project completion, app. USD 8 mil. capital for home improvements will be mobilised. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-07-Habitat-COAC-JA-Ecuador-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat LOMC Sri Lanka</h4><p>With this technical assistance LOMC Sri Lanka aims to expand its housing portfolio by reaching out to new customer segments and build the capacity of product management within the institution. It is expected that by end of the project, 7,200 clients with families will have access to improved financial products and services for home improvement and app. USD 14 mil. will be invested in home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-08-Habitat-LOMC-Sri-Lanka-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat LOLC Cambodia</h4><p>Over 18-month period LOLC intends to introduce a new micro mortgage product and grow and manage its housing portfolio by gaining inputs on product level strategy and product management principles. Upon project completion, 2,520 families/clients will have access to improved financial products and services for home improvements/construction and approximately USD 8.4 mil. capital will be invested in home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-09-Habitat-LOLC-Cambodia-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>BFC NUCAFE Uganda</h4><p>NUCAFE is a coffee farmer organization with a total of 200 member organizations, which translates into over 1 million individual coffee farmers. This financial education campaign is designed to raise awareness and understanding of agricultural insurance (Relative Evapotranspiration Index Drought Insurance) for smallholder farmers and their general financial education to improve their financial capacities and change their attitude towards formal financial services. By project end, 70,000 smallholder coffee farmers (including 17,000 young farmers and 17,000 female farmers) will be able to better manage business activities as well as understand the importance of savings and risk management tools (including agricultural insurance). <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF_FEW-14-Nucafe-Uganda-Factsheet-.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p> SCBF end-November 2017 to end-February 2018<h1 style="text-align:center;">
<b>Completed Projects</b></h1><h4>
<b><br></b></h4><h4>
<b>WWB Al Amana Morocco</b></h4><div>Al Amana redesigned and rebranded its existing health insurance product to “Tayssir Al Amana” and developed a strong marketing campaign leading to an increase in uptake and usage of the product. That, in concert with the supportive management systems for product monitoring and evaluation resulted in a substantial growth of Al Amana´s microinsurance portfolio from 2013 through 2016. >>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2013-05_FinalReport_Morocco_Al-Amana-WWB-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></div><div>
<br>
</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project_SCBF%20end-November%202017%20to%20end-February%202018_0.jpg?RenditionID=5" alt="" style="width:479px;" />
<br>
</div><div>
<br>
</div><div>“Rkia, client of Al Amana in Morocco, who makes her living through embroidery and sewing“</div><div>©Courtesy of Al Amana<br></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;color:inherit;font-family:"helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Positive Planet  Al Barid Bank  Morocco</span><br></h4><div>Al Barid Bank intended to develop a new payment agent network to deliver social benefits (G2P – government to people) to rural areas in Morocco through adapting its existing mobile banking platform (developed with the SCBF support 2013-01). However, this switch from cash-based to mobile-based distribution system was thwarted by changes in regulatory framework. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2013-08_Final-Report_Morocco_ABB_PlanetFinance-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><h4>
<br>
<b>Alliance Myanmar</b></h4><div>Alliance for Microfinance and Myanmar successfully developed, piloted and rolled out a successful Small Enterprise loan product, leading to an uptake of 10,713 loans by project end and aiding the successful development of the institution in the past two years. The SE loans now comprise 41% of the total loan portfolio and yielded 40% income for AMFIM in 2017. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FE_Final-Report-Alliance-30-12-2017-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<b><br></b></div><h4>
<b>Alliance Myanmar</b></h4><div>AMFIM succeeded in designing a system where financial education is an integrated part of its business model and does not depend on the access to external funding after the initial phase of development. AMFIN adapted the content of the programme to serve the varying needs of its group loan clients and small enterprise loan clients. At project end, all group loan clients (over 45,000) have been trained with the presentation guide and at least 20,000 clients have watched the video at disbursement. For small enterprise loans, at least 1,500 clients have watched the disbursement video and 225 took part in one or more financial education training sessions. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FE_Final-Report-Alliance-30-12-2017-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<b>KiWi Mexico</b></h4><div>As part of the financial education campaign, KiWi Mexico designed a variety of tools and materials, such as user manuals, videos on YouTube, FAQ, and new scripts explaining how the digital platform for micro-merchants works (see reference to 2016-01) and how it contributes to better financial control, credit-worthiness and sales. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FEW-10-KiWi-Mexico-Final-Report-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF%20end-November%202017%20to%20end-February%202018_1.jpg?RenditionID=5" alt="" style="width:479px;" />
<br>
</div><div>
<br>
</div><div>“Rkia, client of Al Amana in Morocco, who makes her living through embroidery and sewing“</div><div>©Courtesy of Al Amana<br></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<br>
</h4><div>
<br>
</div> Article on Weather Index Insurance<p>Weather index insurance has often been hailed as a blessing for smallholder farmers to cope with climate shocks. These expectations were overblown. Generally, farmers’ uptake of index insurance remains low. But this does not mean that there is no potential. Research from Kenya shows that better tailoring index insurance to smallholder conditions could increase uptake with significantly positive effects for agricultural development. </p><p>You can read the full article <a href="/site/EI/Documents/FSD/Topics/Micro-Insurance/rural21-Magazine-WeatherIndexInsurance-2017.pdf" target="_blank">here.</a></p> 2017 Symbiotics MIV Survey<font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><h3 style="margin:0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color:rgb(255, 101, 0);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt;">2017 Symbiotics MIV Survey</span></h3><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="line-height:150%;"><span style="color:rgb(80, 80, 80);line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10.5pt;">The 2017 <a href="https://sptf.info/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2390&qid=142455"><u><font color="#0000ff">Symbiotics
MIV survey</font></u></a> is now available. The survey, which is done on an annual basis,
provides comprehensive market trends and peer group analysis on microfinance
off-shore investments.</span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><span style="color:rgb(80, 80, 80);font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10.5pt;">This is the second
year that SPTF has partnered with <a href="https://sptf.info/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2391&qid=142455"><u><font color="#0000ff">Symbiotics</font></u></a>
to add questions to the MIV survey that look at how MIVs incorporate various
aspects of social performance into their activities. The questions cover
policies, tools, and initiatives related to the work of the SPTF and its <a href="https://sptf.info/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2363&qid=142455"><u><font color="#0000ff">Social
Investor Working Group</font></u></a> in the pursuit of ensuring responsible investment in
inclusive finance.</span> 20th anniversary of our Savings and Credit Forum<p><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">This autumn we had the chance to have an inspiring and insightful Savings and Credit Forum on "<a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1768&item1=SC-Forum%202017-09" target="_blank">Why and how formal savings services matter to low-income and vulnerable households</a>"! We were lucky to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this unique event series for continuous learning, exchange and networking. Nathalie Wyser took the opportunity to give a very special thanks to Ruth Egger who had initiated the Forum and had guided it very wisely during many years, still being involved with helping to make this one on "Savings Services" outstanding again.  </span></p><p><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_20th%20anniversary%20Save%20Credit%20Forum%20Group%20Photo.jpg" style="width:576.333px;height:337.349px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span><br></p><p>from left to right:<br>Alexandre Berthaud (E-Savings), Peter Beez (FP e+i), Ruth Egger (formerly Intercooperation, now Board member HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation), Nathalie Wyser (FP e+i), Graham Wright (MicroSave).</p><p><br></p><p>Did you get curious about our long history of Savings and Credit Fora? Find out <a href="/site/EI/Pages/FSD/Events/SC-Forum/savings-and-credit-forums.aspx" target="_blank">more</a><br></p><p><br></p> New feature to easily share the results of your work!<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;">O</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height:107%;">ur brand new tool allows you to share your news and documents within seconds with the whole e+i community. No matter if you want to announce a job opening, a call for tenders or the start of a new project: it will just take few clicks to publish it on our Shareweb. </span>Go directly to the <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/share-your-knowledge.aspx" target="_blank">tool </a>or a look a the tutorial below:</p><div class="container" id="Ppt-Iframe_container" style="text-align:center;"><iframe align="middle" class="ppt_iframe class=" src="/site/EI/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/site/EI/Style%20Library/js/angular/AdventCalendar/Share%20your%20knowledge.pptx&action=embedview&wdAr=1.3333333333333333" width="660px" height="495px" frameborder="0">This is an embedded &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a target=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;http&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#58;//office.com&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Microsoft Office&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; presentation, powered by &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a target=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;_blank&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;http&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#58;//office.com/webapps&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Office Web Apps&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</iframe> </div></div> SCBF mid-August to end of November 2017<h1 style="text-align:center;">Approved projects: </h1><p><br></p><h3>Advans Ghana</h3><p>This intervention will enable Advans Ghana to conduct a post pilot review of the rural expansion done so far and based on the conclusions of the review roll-out the rural services (loans and savings) through alternative delivery channels (mobile solutions, mobile money, point of sales and agri-value chains). By April 2019, it is expected that at least 10,000 rural clients (3,300 borrowers) will be served and a rural portfolio (micro & SME) will represent 22% of the total loan portfolio. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/20179721-SCBF_2017-06-Symbiotics-Advans-Ghana-Factsheet_final.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </p><p><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Zingsure Malawi</span><br></p><p>Zingsure will build up the local human resources (2,700 members as agents) to assist the Muslim Association of Malawi to register its members and to collect monthly premium contributions from them. Upon project completion, Zingsure should be in a position to provide initial life insurance group scheme cover to 1 million members in Malawi.<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_Factsheet_PUW_2017-07-Zingsure-Malawi.pdf" target="_blank"> >>more</a></p><div><br><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Advans Tunisie</span><br></div><div><div>Advans Tunisie aims to expand its outreach and impact in rural areas via the expansion / launch of two types of lending services: 1) rural lending through alternative delivery channels, and 2) agri-lending with farmer and value chain centric approach. It aims to reach 500 rural and 113 agricultural clients by project end, representing 5% of the lending portfolio, and over 3,000 such new clients by 2020. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2017-08-Advans-Tunisie-factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Financiera Fundeser  Nicaragua </span><br></div></div><div><div>The objective is to promote an appropriate financial product for access to low-pressure irrigation technologies to modernise agricultural methods and increase income of small producers in Nicaragua, reaching 140 credit placements by end of pilot, and 5,000 three years thereafter. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2017-09-Fundeser-iDeal-Nicaragua-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </div></div><div><br></div><div><h3>Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze  Haiti</h3><div>The overall goal of this intervention is to sustainably scale up SFF´s individual small business loan product, with loans ranging from HTG 45,000 to HTG 6 mil., from current 4,718 to 13,532 clients by 2020. To accomplish this, it is essential for SFF to review the operations of the current product, to identify the critical weaknesses, staff capacity and design, and to identify several options for the product going forward. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-10-OI-Fonkoze-Haiti-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Zingsure Zambia</span><br></div><div><div>To start its greenfield insurance operations in Zambia, Zingsure will build up the local human resources of three affinity groups to register their members and to collect quarterly membership fees from their members incl. the distribution of membership cards with the Zingsure embedded insurance offering. Upon project completion, Zingsure should be in a position to provide initial life insurance group scheme cover to 1 million members in Zambia. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-11-Zingsure-Zambia-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><h3>Zingsure Zimbabwe </h3><div>The aim of this financial education campaign is to build and train the needed local human resources in Zimbabwe (133 financial education consultants, 367 micro entrepreneur agents, and 117 assessors) who will act as the focal point to provide information on insurance and financial services on an ongoing basis to the millions of members of large faith-based affinity groups and their extended family. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF_Factsheet_FEW-13-Zingsure-Zimbabwe.pdf" target="_blank">>>more </a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> SCBF mid-August to end of November 2017<p></p><h1 style="text-align:center;">Completed projects:</h1><p></p><h3>
<span style="font-size:1.1em;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><b>E-Tontine La Poste du Benin</b></span><img data-filename="E-tontine Benin.png" alt="" style="font-family:inherit;letter-spacing:0.4px;" /></h3>The goal of the intervention was to use technology to increase formal micro-savings at La Poste du Benin by digitising and building bridges with traditional savings practices known as ‘tontines’. Over the short duration of the project 6,680 savings accounts were opened. The project was prematurely closed due to UNCDF intervening with a promise of substantial donor funding to piggy-back on this innovative, high-potential market entry of E-Savings.club. As a result, La Poste´s commitment to E-Savings.club weakened, leading to its crowding out from the market.
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2015-01_Final-Report_Benin_Post-_edited1.pdf" target="_blank">>> more</a> 
<p></p><p></p><p>
<br>
</p><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-3">
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_SCBF%20-2017-12.png" alt="" style="width:178px;height:72px;" />" </div><div class="col-sm-9"><p>“The first client of E-tontine (lady to far left) at La Poste du Benin. She is a travelling market trader who does not have enough money to own a stall, and therefore moves around the market selling glasses and small electric appliances. She started her E-tontine with FCFA 500 as she was eager to find a place to save.” ©Courtesy of E-Savings.club<br></p></div></div><h3>
<b><br>Syngenta  ACRE Africa  Tanzania</b></h3><div><div>ACRE Africa (formerly Kilimo Salama) developed a financial education strategy on how to reach smallholder farmers in several agricultural value chains through microfinance institutions, input companies, mobile network operators, and contract growers for agribusinesses. Over 70,000 farmers combined were trained in the Arusha and Iringa regions, with 27,500 taking up insurance within the two years of a related SCBF product up-scaling intervention 2014-01-02.
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FE-02-03-ACRE-Tanzania_edited1.pdf" target="_blank">>> more</a></div></div><div>
<br>
</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF-2017-12-picture-Picture1.png" alt="" />
</div><div>“Ms Mwajuma, client of ACRE Africa in Tanzania, assessing the damage on her farm“ ©Courtesy of ACRE Africa</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF%20Group%20Photo%202017-12.png" alt="" />
</div><div>“The farmers in Tanzania display their insurance certificates” ©Courtesy of ACRE Africa<br></div><p></p> LED? TED? Stocktaking<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The e+i Network is putting together a stocktaking on local economic development (LED) and territorial economic development (TED) initiatives in SDC. If you are engaged in any projects with a local/territorial focus – whether you call them LED/TED or not – please briefly let us know <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2S9QXFP" target="_blank">here</a>. Thank you very much!</p></div> NADEL: Registration for courses in 2018 is open<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><div>For over 20 years, the NADEL Center for Development and Cooperation at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich) has been offering specialized courses to professionals working in NGOs, bilateral organizations, international organizations, foundations, and the private sector. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Further details about the program can be found </span> <a href="http://www.nadel.ethz.ch/education/individual-courses-for-professionals.html" style="background-color:#ffffff;letter-spacing:0.4px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">.</span></div><p><br></p></div> Satellite technology expedites insurance payouts in India’s crop insurance programme<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Farmers in
several districts in Tamil Nadu are receiving payouts because their losses had
been identified by satellite data.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Chennai,
(July 19th, 2017) Early insurance payouts were surging during the recent Rabi
cropping season in Tamil Nadu, a state in the south of India. For the first
time in India, a state government made use of satellite data in assessing
various damages and offered compensation to farmers under the prevented sowing
feature of the 2.8 bn USD-heavy national crop insurance programme. Under this
prevented or failed sowing cover famers received an average pay-out of around
200 EUR if in their village rice could only be sown in less than 25% of the
rice growing area because of too little or too much rain.</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">  <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2017-09-spotlight2.aspx" target="_blank">>> entire press release</a></span><br></p>
Financial Sector Dev
SDC Guidance Sheet - Digital Financial Services<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage">This guidance sheet is part of a series of tools developed to support SDC staff and partners in designing and implementing projects aiming at financial inclusion.<br><br>This specific guidance sheet introduces the concept and key aspects of digital financial services. It provides guidance on how to design, prepare, implement, and monitor SDC projects effectively.</div> Inclusive Insurance and the Sustainable Development Goals<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals seeks to complete what the Millennium Development Goals did not achieve, particular in reaching the most vulnerable. Inclusive insurance as a risk protection mechanism can arguably support many of the SDGs. Being an integral part of financial systems development, inclusive insurance is a cross-cutting approach, adopted to contribute to the goals of other development agendas, such as food security, agricultural, rural and private sector development and gender mainstreaming.</p></div> Igniting SDG Progress Through Digital Financial Inclusion<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>This compendium identifies how digital financial inclusion can ignite faster progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and create long-lasting social and economic impact for millions of people worldwide. If you are a decision-maker in government, business, or civil society this compendium could be of interest for you. It helps to make digital financial inclusion a priority, whether it is allocating financing to build digital infrastructure, digitizing your payments, or passing regulations to ensure digital financial services can be used by everyone.</p><p>Inclusive digital financial services refer to mobile money, online accounts, electronic payments, insurance and credit, combinations of them and newer fintech apps, that reach people who were formerly excluded. Digital financial inclusion, when provided responsibly and sustainably in a well- regulated environment, not only drives growth, but also enables faster progress toward many of the other SDGs, as this compendium shows.</p></div> Applying a Market Systems Approach to Savings GroupsThis learning brief proposes the application of the market systems approach to support the development of a well-functioning system where Savings Groups effectively reach all those who seek participation. Equally important, this paper proposes an agenda for sector stakeholders moving forward, envisaging a new role for development agencies through active coordination and proactive experimentation in the formation and operations of Savings Groups. The Dawn of Insurtech<span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;'><b>do </b><strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>emerging customers want covered</span></strong> and <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>what type of insurance</span></strong> product are they looking for? <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>How is technology helping</span></strong> to address their needs?<br> <br> In its latest publication, <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>AXA</span></strong> <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>looks at the customer, the insurer and the result</span></strong> of <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>combining new data processing methods</span></strong>, <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>breakthrough technology</span></strong>, such as blockchain, <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>and innovative insurance models</span></strong> to respond to the needs of new customers. The launch of <em><b><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>fizzy</span></b></em>, a <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>live retail product</span></strong>, which <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>combines the parametric approach and blockchain</span></strong> may end up <strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;'>transforming how customers interact with the insurance sector. </span></strong></span> Rural21-Magazine-WeatherIndexInsurance-2017Weather index insurance has often been hailed as a blessing for smallholder farmers to cope with climate shocks. These expectations were overblown. Generally, farmers’ uptake of index insurance remains low. But this does not mean that there is no potential. Research from Kenya shows that better tailoring index insurance to smallholder conditions could increase uptake with significantly positive effects for agricultural development. Recent Research on Women’s Economic Empowerment<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:
107%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:
minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:
AR-SA">This update brings together key findings from recent original studies on
constraints and solutions to women’s economic empowerment (WEE), as well as the
social and economic benefits of WEE.</span> An introduction to market systems development (Video)<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">This short, jargon-free video explains what the market systems approach is all about: how it differs from conventional aid, and how it can be used to help create widespread and lasting improvements in incomes, access to jobs, products and services for millions of people living in poverty.</span></p></div> Unpacking “impact investment” – what it’s and why it’s relevant<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><div style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">In this blog post, the authors unpack what impact investment entails and look into its relevance for sustainably financing development initiatives.</span>Looking back at the 1980s and 1990s: private investors often avoided developing country markets and did so for reasons – returns were too low especially for the level of risks; markets were not safe and attractive; and local investment climates were stifling and challenging.<br>Quick forward: new initiatives, in particular since 2007, have emerged to mitigate risks in investment while also leading to a significant and measurable improvement in the livelihoods of poor and disadvantaged women and men. Acclaimed as a “new frontier” in development finance, .. <a href="http://blog.helvetas.org/unpacking-impact-investment-what-its-and-why-its-relevant/" target="_blank">>>more</a></div></div> Unlocking the potential for women through Islamic finance in Pakistan<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; word-spacing: 2px;">Financial inclusion ensures the ease of access, availability and usage of formal and informal financial products and services for all members of a society. It is widely acknowledged that financial inclusion can effectively address the bottlenecks that prevent poor women (and men) from reaching their potential. Enabling disadvantaged women to benefit from financial inclusion has been more challenging, particularly in communities dominated by powerful middlemen where women have marginal roles and restricted rights. This is what the Livelihood Hindukush Programme (LPH) in Islampur valley of District Swat, Pakistan tried to sustainably address. >> <a href="http://blog.helvetas.org/unlocking-the-potential-for-women-through-islamic-finance-in-pakistan/" target="_blank">read entire blog post</a></span> SDC - ei Medium term orientation 2015-2019<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The purpose of this mid</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">term orientation is to define the thematic and methodological priorities that</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> SDC’s focal point and network on Employment and Income (e+i) will pursue over the next five years.</span></p></div> SDC - Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment in MSD - 2016 (fr)This thematic guidance sheet is one of a series written to support SDC staff in ensuring that gender issues are taken into account transversally in different thematic domains – in this case, focusing on market systems development (MSD). It outlines key gender issues regarding women’s economic empowerment in MSD and how these can be integrated in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cooperation strategies and project interventions. Some existing familiarity with MSD terminology is assumed. The Landscape of Microinsurance in Latin America and the Caribbean 2014 The 2014 installment of the World Map of Microinsurance programme's landscape studies focuses on the Latin America and the Caribbean region. An update on the 2011 Landscape of Latin America and the Caribbean, this study was produced to provide insurers with key data-driven insights and perspectives on the state of microinsurance in the region, and looks at trends in distribution, growth in the region, the focus on mass insurance and the business case. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - A Handbook for Microinsurance Practitioners2nd edition - The second edition of this handbook includes the feedback and suggestions made by microinsurance practioners and experts, as well details on index-based and Takaful insurance. It summarises key principles and indicators for microinsurance providers. The handbook describes nine principles and ten key indicators, as well as the considerations to be given in evaluating performance for certain products. It also introduces benchmarking and explores the topic of social performance. Rural Finance - Rural Finance What is so special about itThis synthesis looks at rural finance based on 5 points, from the supply and the demand sides to what is needed, including the framework conditions and the aspects to be considered. In the 70s and 80s, the government-owned development banks and some projects offered loans. Today, agricultural credit is usually related to cash crop production. The demand of rural households for financial services includes both farm and non-farm activities. The regulatory framework as well as government supervision have to take into account the specific liquidity requirements in remote areas, the problems of communication, risks, seasonality and social links in place. Social Performance Standards ReportThis Social Performance Standards Report was created by MIX to collect information on the 22 core indicators selected by The Social Performance Task Force. Part I of the report contains 13 indicators which mainly focus on an MFI's mission, products and services offered, social responsibility to clients and to staff, and clients outreach. Part II contains 6 indicators which focus on employment outreach, social responsibility to community and to environment, and children education. Finally, the table for poverty measurement contains the remaining 3 indicators on poverty levels. MFIs that want to update their profile on MIX Market with the social performance indicators are expected to be able to report information on the 13 indicators contained in Part I of the report. Finally, a glossary has been created to link those indicators which are most difficult to conceptualize and conform to a standard definition.
<a href="">[fr]</a><a href="">[es]</a> Social Performance Glossary - 2006This glossary defines key terms, concepts and best practice principles in social performance of microfinance institutions.The terms and definitions in the glossary are listed alphabetically. They are also listed by category at the back of the glossary. Conceptual Note on Social Performance - 2006This note presents all important concepts of social performance of microfinance institutions: definitions; benefits of social performance management; a presentation of social performance assessment approaches, including the presentation of 10 tools of poverty assessment/social performance management; the description of different social rating approaches. The publication contains boxes with case studies. The Role of Investors in Promoting Social Performance in Microfinance - 2009This publication of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP)discusses the role investors can play in introducing social performance. The publication was prepared by the Social Performance Working Group of e-MFP, and is partly based on a workshop for Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIV) organised by SDC in Bern in March 2007. The French copy contains only the part on the MIV workshop - La copie française ne contient que les conclusions du séminare sur la pérformance sociale de mars 2007 à Berne. The Role of Investors in Promoting Social Performance in Microfinance - 2008 (fr)This publication of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP)discusses the role investors can play in introducing social performance. The publication was prepared by the Social Performance Working Group of e-MFP, and is partly based on a workshop for Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIV) organised by SDC in Bern in March 2007. The French copy contains only the part on the MIV workshop - La copie française ne contient que les conclusions du séminare sur la pérformance sociale de mars 2007 à Berne. The Relationship Between Social and Financial Performance in MicrofinanceMicrofinance is driven by two objectives, social and financial: This brief analyses the relationship between these two objectives: is strong social performance a business asset, an unproductive expense, or a fashionable term with no effect on financial viability? The analysis is based on social and financial data from 126 MFIs (data on SPI audit tool and financial performance of a representative range of MFIs worldwide). Implementing the Client Protection Principles A Technical Guide for Investors - 2009Client protection is a key issue in microfinance. The Client Protection Principles are a set of global principles aimed at ensuring microfinance clients are treated fairly and responsibly and do not become over-indebted. This Guide offers simple and straightforward guidance and tools for investors seeking to incorporate the Principles into their investment processes. It was compiled by CGAP, drawing on contributions from across the microfinance investor community. Audit of the Social Performance of Microfinance Institutions the SPI Questionnaire 3.1 - 2010This is a questionnaire that assesses principles, actions and corrective measures implemented by the MFI to achieve its social mission. It is composed of three main elements: 1) the identity of the MFI 2) the institutions’ own social mission and strategy. 3) the organizational processes in the light of four dimensions: a) outreach to the poor and excluded; b) adaptation of services and products to the target clients; c) improvement of the economic and social benefits for the clients and their families; and d) the institution's social responsibility The questionnaire is compatible with the Mix Market reporting and complemented with a guide in English, French and Spanish(see below) Audit of the Social Performance of Microfinance Institutions-the SPI Questionnaire 3.1 - 2010 (fr)This is a questionnaire that assesses principles, actions and corrective measures implemented by the MFI to achieve its social mission. It is composed of three main elements: 1) the identity of the MFI 2) the institutions’ own social mission and strategy. 3) the organizational processes in the light of four dimensions: a) outreach to the poor and excluded; b) adaptation of services and products to the target clients; c) improvement of the economic and social benefits for the clients and their families; and d) the institution's social responsibility The questionnaire is compatible with the Mix Market reporting and complemented with a guide in English, French and Spanish(see below). Audit of the Social Performance of Microfinance Institutions-the SPI Questionnaire 3.1 - 2010 (es)This is a questionnaire that assesses principles, actions and corrective measures implemented by the MFI to achieve its social mission. It is composed of three main elements: 1) the identity of the MFI 2) the institutions’ own social mission and strategy. 3) the organizational processes in the light of four dimensions: a) outreach to the poor and excluded; b) adaptation of services and products to the target clients; c) improvement of the economic and social benefits for the clients and their families; and d) the institution's social responsibility The questionnaire is compatible with the Mix Market reporting and complemented with a guide in English, French and Spanish(see below). Swiss Microfinance Investments From Early Growth Stage to MaturityThe study was co-funded by Symbiotics and SDC. The idea for this study emerged from the 2011 annual policy dialogue of Swiss microfinance practitioners with the director of SDC, Ambassador Martin Dahinden, to better understand the role the Swiss private sector plays in expanding responsible financial services to poor households and small businesses in developing and emerging countries in the South and East. Rating Guide - 2012This guide provides information on institutional rating methodologies in microfinance. It was put together by the Rating Initiative, with contributions from four microfinance rating agencies, namely M-CRIL, MicroRate, MicroFinanza Rating, and Planet Rating. The guide clarifies the difference between microfinance institutional ratings and other ratings such as credit ratings, social ratings, and certifications which are available for MFIs and their investors. It indicates how these ratings can be used. Users of ratings will find technical information in the appendices that will be useful for those that integrate ratings in their investment process. Rating Guide - 2012 (fr)This guide provides information on institutional rating methodologies in microfinance. It was put together by the Rating Initiative, with contributions from four microfinance rating agencies, namely M-CRIL, MicroRate, MicroFinanza Rating, and Planet Rating. The guide clarifies the difference between microfinance institutional ratings and other ratings such as credit ratings, social ratings, and certifications which are available for MFIs and their investors. It indicates how these ratings can be used. Users of ratings will find technical information in the appendices that will be useful for those that integrate ratings in their investment process.
Rating Guide - 2012 (es)This guide provides information on institutional rating methodologies in microfinance. It was put together by the Rating Initiative, with contributions from four microfinance rating agencies, namely M-CRIL, MicroRate, MicroFinanza Rating, and Planet Rating. The guide clarifies the difference between microfinance institutional ratings and other ratings such as credit ratings, social ratings, and certifications which are available for MFIs and their investors. It indicates how these ratings can be used. Users of ratings will find technical information in the appendices that will be useful for those that integrate ratings in their investment process. FSD - Weather Index-based Insurance in Agricultural Development - A Technical GuideThis technical guide is intended as a practical reference tool to guide IFAD, WFP and other donors’ country programme management staff through the steps of implementing a weather index-based insurance programme. It looks at each phase of the process: from the first step of assessing whether WII is the right method of intervention and is feasible, through developing a pilot, to possible future areas that IFAD, WFP and other donors can support through scaling up. The guide includes background information, explanations and resource recommendations to help inform decision-making. FSD - Protecting the Poor A Microinsurance Compendium Volume IIReviewing the progress of microinsurance This book looks at recent developments and achievements in microinsurance and considers where the industry stands now. It comes five years after the publication of the first volume of Protecting the Poor: A Microinsurance Compendium. SDC Guidance - Insurance for smallholder farmers and vulnerable households against catastrophic events - Guiding principles for donors and governments<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>SUBTITLE "Guiding principles for donors and governments". In 2010, SDC published a Project Cycle Management (PCM) handbook for preparing, implementing and evaluating financial sector development projects: A Manual on Managing Cooperation in Financial Sector Development. This paper provides complementary information specific to projects dealing with agricultural and catastrophe insurance (thereafter referred to as “ACI”). It aims to provide high-level guidance on designing or assessing ACI projects and includes a section on monitoring, too.</p></div> Can Leasing Fill the Finance Gap General Principles and Experience from Pakistan<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>This paper reflects the experience of SDC in supporting leasing to the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector in Pakistan over the last four years. It also draws on experiences from elsewhere in order to provide points of comparison, but it is essentially based on lessons learned in Pakistan.</p></div> Microfinance in India A State of Sector Report - 2007SDC co-financed the State of Sector Report of the Indian microfinance sector 2007. This is the second of a series of report on the microfinance sector in India, prepared for presentation to the annual Microfinance India conference organized by ACCESS Development Services. Microfinance India State of the Sector Report 2008SDC co-financed the State of Sector Report of the Indian microfinance sector 2008. It presents major trends in the Indian microfinance sector in 2008, Highlighting current issues, investments and innovations. Reasons for the possible failure of a Revolving Fund - 1994 (es)11 Reasons for the Possible Failure of a Revolving Fund by W. Milligan is a classic in the literature on Revolving Funds and explains reasons, why Revolving Funds, which are set up for the support of small-scale farming and livestock activities, have often failed to be an effective and sustainable support instrument. Reasons for the possible failure of a Revolving Fund - 1994 (fr)11 Reasons for the Possible Failure of a Revolving Fund by W. Milligan is a classic in the literature on Revolving Funds and explains reasons, why Revolving Funds, which are set up for the support of small-scale farming and livestock activities, have often failed to be an effective and sustainable support instrument. Reasons for the possible failure of a Revolving Fund 11 Reasons for the Possible Failure of a Revolving Fund by W. Milligan is a classic in the literature on Revolving Funds and explains reasons, why Revolving Funds, which are set up for the support of small-scale farming and livestock activities, have often failed to be an effective and sustainable support instrument. FSD - Rural Finance What is so special about it - 2005-01This synthesis looks at rural finance based on 5 points, from the supply and the demand sides to what is needed, including the framework conditions and the aspects to be considered. In the 70s and 80s, the government-owned development banks and some projects offered loans. Today, agricultural credit is usually related to cash crop production. The demand of rural households for financial services includes both farm and non-farm activities. The regulatory framework as well as government supervision have to take into account the specific liquidity requirements in remote areas, the problems of communication, risks, seasonality and social links in place.
FSD - Accessing Financial Services in Rural AreasThis InfoResources Focus provides an overview on rural finance, describes the challenges of providing financial services in rural areas and proposes ways to address the dificulties.</br>
<a href="https://www.shareweb.ch/site/EI/Documents/FSD/Accessing%20Financial%20Services%20in%20Rural%20Areas%20-%202008(fr).pdf">fr</a>
</br><a href="https://www.shareweb.ch/site/EI/Documents/FSD/Accessing%20Financial%20Services%20in%20Rural%20Areas%20-%202008(es).pdf">es</a> FSD - SDC's management response to the SmartAid Index - Report - Letter - 2009-08A few years earlier, in 2003, SDC agreed to have a Donor Peer Review which you can download here. The document includes the appreciation of the Review by the Directorate of SDC and the resulting outline of the action plan based on the Review.
Do you have any resources that you find of importance and relevance to this network, so please let us know at: <a href="isabelle.dauner@helvetas.org">isabelle.dauner@helvetas.org</a> FSD - Manual on Managing Programmes in Financial Sector Development<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>This Manual for Strategic and Operational Project Cycle Management (PCM) aims at improving Accountability for Results in SDC Financial Sector Development cooperation projects. The manual provides practice-oriented guidance to development professionals dealing with FSD projects. The manual focuses on planning, monitoring, evaluating and steering FSD initiatives. Its main audience is SDC programme management staff and partner representatives with whom projects are planned, monitored and evaluated. more on the <a href="https://www.shareweb.ch/site/EI/Pages/FSD-PcM-Manual.aspx">Manual</a></p></div> FSD - SmartAid for Microfinance Index - Swiss agency for developpment and cooperation - SDC ResultsThe CGAP SmartAid for Microfinance Index measures and rates the way microfinance funders work. Its indicators assess five areas: strategic clarity, staff capacity, accountability for results, knowledge management, and appropriate instruments. An independent, external assessment, the Index highlights strengths and areas for improvement; it does not, however, evaluate the quality of programs on-the-ground. Ten funders—AECID, AFD, AfDB, EC, GTZ, IFAD, ILO, MIF, SDC, and UNCDF—participated in SmartAid 2009. These are the results of the assessment of SDC. More information on <a href ="http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.11.7956/">http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.11.7956/</a> FSD - Promoting equal participation in sustainable economic developmentThe toolbox covers each e+i topic- VSD, PSD and FSD- with an entire chapter. It comprises various tools of which each is briefly described outlining expected impacts, key steps for implementation as well as potential partners to work with. Most tools are illustrated with a good practice example. <a href="http://www.enterprise-development.org/page/download?id=2690" target="_blank"> >Download this document</a> FSD - Policy for Financial Sector Development<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>SDC's financial sector policy describes the strategic orientation, operational principles and instruments of SDC's activities in financial sector development. A must for everybody working in an SDC financial sector project!</p></div>
Vocational Skills Dev
VET programme in Bolivia successfully completed<p class="MsoNormal">From 2006 to 2017, the SDC contributed to the technical and
vocational training in Bolivia. The program focused on the objective of improved
access, relevance and quality of the vocational technical education and
training. It offered trainees and students of vulnerable populations, in
particular young people and women from rural and peri-urban areas, access to
agricultural, industrial and service oriented vocational skills courses.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, the program targeted producers and workers who
require additional training to improve their production and services.
Especially in the beginning, most interventions took place in rural areas, but
later various actions were also implemented in peri-urban areas.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">A total of 143 training centres were strengthened, 25’000
people graduated (54% women) and 77% of them were integrated into the labour
market. The Program also had a national scope by supporting to the
Plurinational System of Competence Certification (SPCC) of the Ministry of
Education, which deconcentrated its services into 5 departments, developed more
than 110 occupational standards and certified 36’000 workers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Further information about the project</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Documentation and products of the program are available on <a href="http://www.formaciontecnicabolivia.org" target="_blank">http://www.formaciontecnicabolivia.org</a>
(Spanish website). See the project's entry in our Portfolio Database <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=655&searchterm=">here</a>.</p> The SDC supports Serbia to reform the VET system<p>As first country in the region, Serbia has recently adopted a new Law on Dual Education. Inter alia, new profiles that are in line with European standards will be cerated in secondary schools .</p><p><br></p><p>The SDC has already supported the development of a dual education program in the wood industry in Užice, through its Private Sector Development program.</p><p><br></p><p>The SDC will remain committed to support the Government of Serbia to successfully implement the adopted Law on Dual Education through a new project with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development. The project will include support to the regulatory framework, the introduction of the Monitoring & Evaluation and law promotion with continued advisory backstopping... [<a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/SDC%20-%207F-08747%20-%20Newsletter%20contribution%20-%20201803(en).pdf" target="_blank">more</a>].</p><p><br></p><p><b>Further information about the project</b></p><p>See the project's Portfolio Database entry <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=128&searchterm=E2E">here</a>, visit <a href="http://veedapsd.rs/en">the project's own website</a> or <a href="http://veedapsd.rs/en/wood">watch a video about the project</a>. More information about the collaboration of Austria, Germany and Switzerland to support dual VET in Serbia is provided <a href="https://www.dcdualvet.org/en/mou-zwischen-schweizerischer-oesterreichischer-und-deutsche-zusammenarbeit-in-serbien/">here </a>and <a href="https://www.bibb.de/govet/de/62094.php">here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:left;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><font size="0.5">The photo is from the closing academy of the Education Caravan "The Spirit of Youth". <a href="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/image_projectnews_serbia_news201803.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge it</a>.</font> </p><p></p> Employment Fund Nepal featured in Swiss Newspaper<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The SDC project "Employment Fund" in Nepal and its innovative approach have recently been featured in the Swiss Geman newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. You can read the article <a href="/site/EI/Documents/News/022018-Newspaper-EF-Nepal-German.pdf" target="_blank">here </a>(only available in German)<a href="/site/EI/Documents/News/022018-Newspaper-EF-Nepal-German.pdf" target="_blank">.</a> According to a Worldbank survey, six month after the training more than 75% of the programme's participants have a salary which lifts them above the national poverty line. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Further information about the project</strong><br>See the project's entry in our Portfolio Database <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=25&searchterm=Employment%20Fund">here</a> or visit the <a href="http://www.employmentfund.org.np/">project's website</a>. The project also has special focus on <a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=495&item1=Gender%20in%20VSD" target="_blank">gender issues in VSD</a>. Read more about it <a href="/site/EI/Documents/Projects/7F-06976.01/SDC%20-%20Nepal%20-%20Employment%20Fund%20-%20Factsheet%20-%20Women%27s%20access%20to%20skills%20training.pdf">here</a> or watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtmnOsRS8Zk">video</a>.</p></div> Video from the Skills for Jobs (S4J) project in Albania<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Swisscontact produced a video about the Skills for jobs (S4J) project in Albania. </span></div><div style="text-align:left;"><br></div><div style="text-align:left;margin-left:25px;"><iframe width="660" height="371" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gp8miu06ja0" frameborder="0" id="widget2" style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align:left;margin-left:25px;"><br></div><div style="text-align:left;margin-left:25px;"><b>Further information about the project</b></div><div style="text-align:left;margin-left:25px;">See the project's entry in our Portfolio Database <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=7&searchterm=Skills%204%20Jobs%20Albania">here</a>. The <a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=759&item1=Technology%20enhanced%20learning" target="_blank">Technology Enhanced Learning</a> component of the project was presentend in <a href="/site/EI/Pages/newsdetail.aspx?ItemID=26">our TEL seminar</a>.</div> New Videos: PSD and VSD projects in the Great Lakes region<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">Check out the latest video interviews with beneficiaries of SDC Vocational Skills Development project PROMOST and its partner Private Sector Development project PROECCO. Both project are active in the Great Lakes region:</p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="ES">o <a href="https://youtu.be/ccYZoQZF4ZA" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ccYZoQZF4ZA</a> </span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="ES">o <a href="https://youtu.be/8_m68OtoANA" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8_m68OtoANA</a> </span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="FR-CH">o </span><a href="https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8</a><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family:"Courier New";font-size:10pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8" target="_blank"></a></span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">Learn more about the projects in our <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/Content/projects-search-archived.aspx" target="_blank">portfolio database</a> (members only).</p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family:"Courier New";font-size:10pt;"> </span></p></div> The SDC joins forces with UN agencies to promote youth employment in Cambodia<div>SDC is supporting the UN joint programme on Youth Employment in Cambodia. The phase 1 of the project is two years (01.09.2017 to 31.08.2019)  and SDC contributes USD 2 million to the total budget of USD 4.5 million. The programme will promote decent and productive employment opportunities for Cambodian youth, with strong focus on the employability of young job seekers through quality education and skills training, including life skills, entrepreneurship and volunteerism.</div><div>Some photos of the launch event are posted on the<a href="https://business.facebook.com/SwissCooperationMekong/?business_id=173846446315935" target="_blank"> facebook page</a> of the SDC's team in the Mekong region. For more information about the project, we recommend this <a href="http://kh.one.un.org/content/unct/cambodia/en/home/resource-center/news-and-updates0.html" target="_blank">article on the website of the UN  mission in Cambodia</a>. </div> The SDC supports employment of Roma and persons with disabilities in Macedonia<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>As part of the efforts to combat unemployment, the SDC has recently joined an ongoing UNDP programme on employment generation. The Swiss contribution is focused on vulnerable groups, primarily Roma and persons with disabilities, as they are disproportionally affected by high unemployment in Macedonia. This will be achieved by introducing appropriate active labour market measures, improving the capacities of responsible stakeholders to coordinate employment measures, and sensitizing and incentivising the private sector. The project contributes to ease the risk of vulnerable groups to fall into poverty, and enhances their social inclusion. </p><p>[Photo is from a previous project, copyright: UNDP]</p></div> A new programme on vocational skills development in Macedonia<div>A new programme on vocational skills development has been launched in Macedonia. It aims to address youth unemployment through supporting market relevant skills development by strengthening the engagement of the private sector. In this manner, the employability of vocational training graduates will be increased. The programme will cover the formal and the non-formal VSD, as well as policy development. Special attention will be paid to youth at risk of poverty and social exclusion, due to the lack of access to the labour market.</div><div>The implementing partners – Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, together with the local subcontractor – the Macedonian Civic Education Centre, and the Macedonian Economic chamber as a strategic partner, are currently implementing the inception phase. The main phase is to start in March 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>[Photo is from a previous project, copyright: <span lang="EN-GB" style="">Beat
Schweizer</span>]</div> “Systemic Approach” for the training of water sector specialists in Uzbekistan<p>The Swiss-Uzbek Skills Development Project (March 2015 until August 2018) contributes to further development of the VET system in Uzbekistan by introducing a systemic approach to cooperation among the Ministries responsible for the training, retraining and advanced training of specialists in the water sector. </p><p>In addition, the project is an excellent expample of how the strategic orientations of the SDC's Education Strategy can be reflected in the project design.  At least three strategic orientations are adressed: "Education System Governance", "Quality and relevance" and "Sustainability, Cohesion and Resilience".</p><p>The systemic approach to cooperation comprises all activities within the cycle process “Demand-Training-Job Placement”. The project also shows how VSD can contribute to the SDGs, in this case to the SDG 6 "Clean water and sanitation".</p><p>Competences for cooperation of staff and managers of the Ministries involved have been developed in joint activities of the cycle process, especially while jointly developing tools for labor-market-needs analysis, new standards, curricula and further training programs, regulations for running of Regional Competence Centres. </p><p><a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/GOPA%20-%207F-01289.04%20-%20Shareweb%20contribution_v2%20-%202017%20-%2008%20(en).pdf" target="_blank">Read more about the project</a> or access the<span style="font-size:13px;color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=14&searchterm=Skills%20Development%20Project" target="_blank" style="">e+i Portfolio Database</a> for more information about the project [e+i members only].</p> Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET): Start of Implementation in 2018<div>SET is a program aiming at fostering skills provision in order to increase youth opportunities to get to a gainful (self-) employment. It will contribute to improved access to agricultural skills, and increased relevance and quality of Vocational Skills Development (VSD). Switzerland plans to invest $24m over the next twelve years. We expect implementation to start during the first semester of 2018.<br>The program’s intention is to address all levels (macro, meso and micro) of the skills development ecosystem. At macro level SET program aims at supporting the National Strategy for Skills Development. The focus will be on increased coordination among stakeholders and improved access to job market data. The meso level will be targeted through the capacity building of the leading national institution for trainers’ training, the Morogoro Vocational Teachers Training College. The micro level is represented by the targeted increased access to better skills in the agricultural sector. SET wants to tap on existing public and private training institutions and organizations outreach and assets by supporting them in tailoring new, shorter and all-inclusive trainings for youth that address the needs of the market. e+i members have access to more information about the project in the <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/project-profile-archive.aspx?projectId=532&searchterm=S4E%20Tanzania" target="_blank" style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);">e+i Portfolio Database</a>.</div> VSD and PSD for mine victims and persons with disabilities in Colombia<p>The team from Handicap International produced a short and worth reading paper about their approach to achieve socioeconomic  inclusion for victims of mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) and persons with disabilities in the departments of Cauca, Nariño and Córdoba of Colombia. <br>Both VSD and PSD elements are applied, and a participatory approach is practised. We are happy to distribute their work and would <span lang="EN-GB" style="color:#454545;line-height:107%;font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;">encourage </span>other <span lang="EN-GB" style="color:#454545;line-height:107%;font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;">practitioners </span>to share their experiences. Read the paper <a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/E+I%20article%20colombia%20final%20May%2013%202017.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> Skills for Jobs introduces innovation in teaching and learning in Albania<p>The Skills 4 Jobs project responds to the challenges of the Albanian vocational skills development (VSD) system:  low quality of VET courses, bad reputation, and both weak labour market orientation and private sector involvement. It promotes work-based learning, private sector cooperation and Swiss expertise. With its focus on vocational schools it complements other ongoing Swiss funded initiatives on policy level. In March, the project launched its new way of learning concept with an audience of more than 250 persons, including teachers, students, policy makers, international donors and partners. To read more about the event, click <a href="/site/EI/Documents/Projects/7F-08727.01/Swisscontact%20-%207F-08727.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> DC dVET: Information letter 2017<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">In 2017 the Donor Committee for dual Vocational Education and Training (DC dVET) wants amongst others proactively promote the thematic exchange among its members in the countries of Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova and South Caucasus as well as francophone countries of West Africa. The exchange includes a regional workshop in each of the regions, i.e. on the 27/28 June 2017 in Tirana (Albania) and in late November 2017 in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). In addition, the DC dVET is conducting a study in cooperation with Prof. Dr. D. Euler (University of St. Gallen) that reveals the roles and responsibilities of the private sector in dual VET and illustrates concrete experiences of its members in development cooperation. For more information see <a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/DC%20dVET%20-%207F-0885401%20-%20Infodocument%20-%20Information%20Letter%20-%202017(en).pdf" target="_blank">Information Letter 2017</a> or the DC dVET Website (</span><a href="https://www.dcdualvet.org/" target="_blank" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);">www.dcdualvet.ch</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">). </span> End of the successful VSD programme in Romania<p>Over the last two years Switzerland supported the initial and continuing education of organ builders and carpenters in Transylvania, Romania. The programme demonstrates how the cultural heritage can serve as basis for a comprehensive programme. Transylvania has the highest organ density in the world and some of the instruments are rarities. The programme helps to preserve that culutral and touristic highlight of the region.<br>Inter alia, 400 hours of work based and 100 school based master classes were organised last year. A few graduates participated in mangament courses. Learn more about the programme in its <a style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/FPPR%20-%20Annual%20report%20-%20Romanina%20organ%20builder%20project%20-%202017(de).pdf" target="_blank">annual report</a> [german only].</p> News form Mongolian VSD Project<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>J. Enkhchimeg is breaking gender barriers and making history in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men. The story is about one of the successful cases which refers back to the previous phase and links the second phase of the <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/Content/Project-Profile.aspx?projectId=7F-07710.03">Mongolian VET</a> project. Read the short story<span style="font-family:"arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt;"> <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Documents/Projects/7F-08696.01/SDC%20-%20VSD%20Project%20News%20-%20Gender%20and%20VSD%20-%20Enkhchimeg%20Story%20-%202017-03%20(en).pdf?web=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><br></p></div> Video: Skills for life as humanitarian aid project in Kenyan refugee camp<p>In the north of Kenya refugees in the camp and residents of the town Kakuma are taught professional skills to enable them to assure their livelihood. Young people between 15 and 25 are trained in farming, mechanics, bricklaying, waste management, blacksmithing or are developing skills in repairing computer equipment, sewing and hairdressing. FDFA produced <a href="https://youtu.be/3aiqyFCU-mc" target="_blank">a short video</a> about the impact of the programme on the life of its participants and their families.</p> Skills4Jobs in Albania featured in "Stories from the field"<p>The SDC funded project "Skills for Jobs Albania" was recently featured in Swisscontact's online magazine "Stories from the field". The programme supports Albania's new skills strategy and compromises three components: </p><p>- Improvement of the quality of formal and non-formal VSD in selected sectors, benefiting the private sector and increasing accessibility to women and youth.<br>- Multi-Functional Centres establishing sustainable and innovative relations with the private sector.<br>- Functionality at the provider level of inclusive labour market insertion facilities and instruments.</p><p><a href="http://stories.swisscontact.org/the-new-zuckerbergs" target="_blank">Click </a>here to learn more about the programme in general and what it has to do with the new female Zuckerbergs.</p> GIZ launched its new TVET Telegraph<p>GIZ launched the new compact quarterly "TVET Telegraph". Each issue will focus on a certain topic, which is highly relevant for German VET cooperation. The current issue is dedicated to the topic of Skills Development in the Context of forced Displacement and Migration. Besides that, the team behind the newsletter will update you on recent publications and upcoming events (just like we do). To subscribe to the service, write an email to svbb@giz.de and indicate whether you prefer the englisch or german edition. Click here to read the first issue in <a href="/site/EI/Documents/Events/Partner%20Activities/VSD%20partner%20activities/VSD/GIZ%20-%20TVET%20Telegraph%20-%20Volume%201%20%20-%202016-12%20(de).pdf">german</a> or <a href="/site/EI/Documents/Events/Partner%20Activities/VSD%20partner%20activities/VSD/GIZ%20-%20TVET%20Telegraph%20-%20Volume%201%20%20-%202016-12%20(en).pdf">english</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p> r4d network launched two new VSD research projects<p></p><p></p><span style="font-size:12px;"><p style="font-size:12px;"></p></span><p>The Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development (r4d) launched two new research projects in the field of VSD:</p><p></p><p></p>- Linking Education and Labor Markets: Under what conditions can Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) improve the income of the youth?<br>- The contribution of vocational skills development to inclusive industrial growth and transformation: An analysis of critical factors in 6 countries<p></p><p></p><p>Both projects were selected during a two-stage process (read more <a href="http://http//www.r4d.ch/News/Pages/170217_newthematicr4dprojects.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>). Researchers should also have a look at the current third thematically <a href="http://http//www.r4d.ch/News/Pages/170217_CallforProposals_3rdOpenCall.aspx" target="_blank">open call for research projects</a>.<br></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p> Film about VET programme participants in Georgia<p>Have you ever wondered who the participants in SDCs VET programmes are and what they aspire? <a target="_blank" href="https://www.interactive.eda.admin.ch/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=80&lng=fr">This short film presents</a> you Medea and Giorgi, who are determined to take part in the economic life of their own village. To spread their story you can also share the film via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDeV5xe5C24">FDFAs YouTube presence</a>.<br></p><p>Besides the individual stories, the film is also interesting from an analytical perspective as SDCs engagement in Georgia shows what VET interventions can achieve:<br>- 95% of vocational course graduates found employment in agriculture.<br>- 200 new training modules and 8 educational programmes were introduced in vocational colleges. <br>- Work-based learing was introduced at 4 animal farms and 5 fruit growing farms.</p><p>Due to these impressive numbers, SDC and UNDP decided to expand the programme. By 2018 10'000 farmers will benefit.</p> Face-to-Face meeting of the Western Balkan e+i practisioners<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="p1"><span>From 20 - 23 September 2016 the Face-to-Face (F2F) meeting of the Western Balkan (WBA) e+i practitioners took place in Pristina Kosovo. 25 participants from the WBA cooperation offices, the SDC head office, representatives from other Eastern offices as well as selected implementation partners actively participated in it. This year’s topic was centred around Vocational Skills Development (VSD) and had the objective to learn about SDC’s VSD direction and get concrete ideas how VSD projects could reach out more to the private sector and excluded target groups with appropriate, efficient and effective models of collaboration and delivery mechanism. Read more about the <span>F2F</span> <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2016-12-spotlight3.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> or access </span><a href="/site/EI/Documents/Forms/fullppage_folder_web.aspx?RootFolder=/site/EI/Documents/Events/2016-09%20F2F%20Pristina" target="_blank"><span>the folder with s</span><span>elected presentations</span></a><span> of the event.</span></p></div> Promoting and Supporting Inclusivity Through Skills Development for Tourism in Lao PDR<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">[by </font></font></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;text-align:justify;">Sonenaly Phetsiriseng</span><font style="line-height:1.5;"><font color="#000000"> - </font></font><span style="line-height:1.5;">National Program Officer Employment & Skills Lao PDR] </span><font style="line-height:1.5;"><font color="#000000">Switzerland and Luxembourg are joining hands for a new vocational education and skills development project in Lao PDR.  </font></font><font style="line-height:1.5;">‘Skills for Tourism’ will promote sustainable and inclusive growth of the tourism and hospitality sector in Lao PDR thereby contributing to poverty reduction. </font><font style="line-height:1.5;">It is expected that graduates of improved and expanded tourism and hospitality skills development, in particular disadvantaged young people, will find gainful employment in tourism and hospitality. </font><font style="line-height:1.5;"><font color="#000000">The project builds on previous and ongoing support for vocational education and skills development in Lao PDR, from both Switzerland and Luxembourg. Read <a target="_blank" href="/site/EI/Documents/VSD/Regional%20Activities/East%20Asia/Country%20Activities/SDC%202016%20-%20VET%20Project%20Laos.pdf">more</a>.</font></font></p> Vocational Skills Development in the context of Violent Extremism – Technical Workshop<p class="ExternalClass9D6775BF121C4767BDFC237EB84B5016"></p><p>On 16-17 March 2016 a technical workshop on vocational skills development (VSD) in the context of violent extremism took place in Geneva. It gathered high-level practitioners, policy-makers and researchers, who discussed the potential contribution of VSD to the prevention of violent extremism (PVE). The workshop focused on targeting youth 'at risk' and on finding the most promising approach and design of vocational skills programmes. It also tackled the question of transition from training to employment in order to assure stable social and labour market integration of young people 'at risk'. The workshop's results served as input to the international policy conference on the implementation of the UN Action Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism held on 7/8 April 2016 in Geneva. Please find more information <span lang="EN-GB" style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="/site/EI/Pages/Events/events-vsd.aspx?ItemID=52" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p></p> ADB annual conference 2016 in Frankfurt<div class="ExternalClass0AE6A90FA1B74F3DACBAD09F99DB71FA"><p>The 49th annual conference's theme was „Cooperating for Sustainability" and attracted over 4.000 participants from government, international and multilateral institutions, academia, business and civil society and media. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, German Development Minister Gerd Müller, ECB President MarioDraghi, Former Federal President Horst Köhler were among the participants. Please find more information <a href="http://www.adb.org/annual-meeting/2016/main" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">here</span></a>. To watch the conference video click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q12zo94lWv8" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">here.</span></a></p></div> 2nd International Congress on Vocational and Professional Education and Training<p class="ExternalClass56097C4FA5004D63807C53766216E154"></p><p>The second edition of the International VPETCongress took place from June 20-22 2016. The theme to be explored by thisedition was «From Skills to Prosperity – Sharing Elements of Success». TheCongress offered the opportunity to share and learn from the experiences madein different education systems and development projects all over the world.Among others, the insights of two VSD projects in <span lang="DE-CH"><a href="http://vpet-congress.ch/sites/default/files/files/Presentations/Seminar3_presentations_EN_FR_VpetCongress2016.pdf" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">Bulgaria</span></a></span> and <span lang="DE-CH"><a href="http://vpet-congress.ch/sites/default/files/files/Presentations/160611_Kostic_Private%20Sector%20Responsive%20Education%20Final%20editable%20no%20movie.pdf" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">Serbia</span></a></span> supported by the SDC have been presented. Findall the presentations <span lang="DE-CH"><a href="http://www.vpet-congress.ch/?q=en/download" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">here</span></a></span>.</p><p></p> SDC Day on Swiss Vocational Education and Training System<p class="ExternalClass490ABE78DC164A109FF5EE7934020C03"></p><p><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">On June 20, prior to the 2nd international congresson Vocational and Professional Education and Training, SDC invited guests andpartners to get acquainted with the particularities of the 'dual system' ofSwiss Vocational Education and Training. In this setting, the SDC introducedits approach to Vocational Skills Development world-wide based on five guidingprinciples: embeddedness, access, relevance, quality and permeability. Pleasefind more information and all the presentations </font></span><span lang="DE-CH" style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><a href="/site/EI/Pages/Events/events-vsd.aspx?ItemID=63" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB"><font color="#0000ff">here</font></span></a></span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">.</font></span></p><p></p> Mongolia<p class="ExternalClass8A99A702B5964E069C7530B6943E44A7"></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_%20Project%20mongolia%20Men%20at%20work.png" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:206px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /><span lang="DE-CH" style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/mongolia/en/home/news/news.html/content/countries/mongolia/en/meta/news/2016/yep" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><font color="#0000ff">here</font></span></span></a></span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">.</font></span></p><p></p> Cambodia<div class="ExternalClass8A57BECB9AAD44618CAEFAD5460A0F3B"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20electronical%20devices%20reperation%20cambodia.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:205px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />With the start to the first phase, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has  launched a 12-year Skills Development Programme (2016-2028) in Cambodia with a total budget of CHF 25 million. The overall objective of the programme is to increase the income and employment opportunities of disadvantaged young women and men in the northern provinces of Cambodia and to contribute to creating an inclusive, relevant and well-coordinated technical, vocational education and training (TVET) system nationwide. Starting on 01 July 2016, the first phase of the programme will run until 30 June 2020. Read more <span lang="EN-GB" style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="http://swisscooperationmekong.org/2016/06/switzerland-launches-skills-development-programme-in-cambodia/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p></div> Colombia<div class="ExternalClassFD347B8FAD244F9B9EBA3E11A26F7686"><p>A regional SDC-workshop on vocational skills development (VSD) took place in Colombia in February 2016. It gathered heads of SDC's VSD projects in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the people responsible for this theme in Embassies/Cooperation Offices. The focus was on school-to-work transitions and on coordination with the private sector. Part of the workshop was held with SDC's gender regional network and addressed the interplays between gender and VSD/employment issues. Presentations and reports (in Spanish) are available <a href="/site/EI/Pages/VSD/Events/2016-02%20SDC%20Regional%20Seminar%20Bogota%20-%20Homepage.aspx">here</a>.</p></div> Mongolia<div class="ExternalClassD38062F6A1D548A68F80952C8A073E3E"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Reward%20Mongolia.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:161px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />The Ministry of Labour of Mongolia awarded SDC as "The Best Partner Organisation in the Labour Sector", recognising its contribution into the development of the Vocation Education and Training sector in Mongolia. SDC is funding two projects in this sector: Vocational Education and Training Project and the Vocational Skills Development Project. The results of the projects have been recognised by the government and private sector. The new tools and methodologies have been approved by the stakeholders for nation-wide replication. In addition to the hard skills - technical competencies, the Mongolian youth need to build and strengthen the soft- life skills. SDC supports the Life-skills Education through its Youth Development Programme. The Life-skills trainings and channels to deliver it (including the VET schools) to the youth have been highly appreciated by the Ministry of Labour and the local labour offices in the regions. Other partners, such as GIZ and KOICA have been nominated for their long years contributions into the sector. The selection criteria were the significance of results, scope of contribution and innovation. </p></div> Great Lakes Region<div class="ExternalClassC65F7C9310334973B3A83E0BBAF45551"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-08386.02_PROMST%20Promoting%20market%20Oriented%20SkillsTraining%20%20_Great%20Lakes.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:99px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /> <strong>Pr</strong>omoting <strong>M</strong>arket <strong>O</strong>riented <strong>S</strong>kills <strong>T</strong>raining (PROMOST) is a 12 years program started in 2013 in the Western Province of Rwanda. The second phase will start in February 2016 and SDC intends to extend the project to Burundi and the DRC in the medium term. This project combines the building of Vocational Training Centers (VTC), the development of competency-based curricula and the reinforcement of local ownership by strengthening the partnership with and the involvement of the private sector. <a href="/site/EI/Documents/VSD/Topics/Labour%20Market%20Orientation/SDC%20-%20Great%20Lakes%20-%20VSD%20Regional%20Vocational%20Training%20Program.pdf">Read more here</a>.</p></div> Egypt<div class="ExternalClass4E961480280442EA8B6DE1AF63FA3534"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Egypt%20Newsletter.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:145px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />The Embassy of Switzerland's Office for International Cooperation, in collaboration with WorldFish and CARE International, and in coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, is launching a project titled Sustainable Transformation of Egypt's Aquaculture Market System (STREAMS), aimed at boosting production of inexpensive, nutritious and safe fish from sustainable aquaculture systems in Egypt. <a href="/site/EI/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/site/EI/Documents/VSD/Tools/VET%20Systems%20Development/press%20release%20Egypt.docx&action=default">Press Release</a></p></div> Tunisia<p class="ExternalClassF3807744529F4C66AFA5B8AA1211ABC8"></p><p>In January 2016, the 2nd phase of the project "<a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/tunisia/en/home/internationale-zusammenarbeit/projekte.html/projects/SDC/en/2012/7F08328/phase2" target="_blank">Formation professionelle: modules pratiques pour renforcer l'employabilité des jeunes</a>" was launched in Tunisia. The project, which is to run until the end of 2020 with a budget of CHF 9.6 Mio, focuses on the integration of young degree holders into the labour market, i.e. by providing them with practical working skills in so-called "entreprise d'entraînement". Unemployment, which is particularly high among young men and women who have completed higher education, has proven to be an important driver of social unrest and instability in Tunisia. The project builds on experiences from the first phase and contains a significant scaling up of these activities. It also includes innovative approaches, such as working with the private sector on creating a working environment that promotes the integration and valorization of young professionals within an organization. The implementing partner of the project is swisscontact.</p><p></p> Niger<div class="ExternalClass171A94B7DAC044B2A036CA8509DFBD37"><p><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">Niger knows an apprenticeship system with practical learning at the
workplace. In November, a ministerial delegation visited Switzerland in order
to learn about the roles and shared responsibilities of the private sector, the
cantonal and state authorities in Switzerland in the dual vocational education
system.</font></span> <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/activities-projects/projects.html/projects/SDC/en/2011/7F07791/phase2.html" target="_blank">>>more</a></p></div> Education Network<div class="ExternalClass4D28E38334D5462EA28E9FD506E3A295"><p><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">Call for a backstopping to support the Education network and the
monitoring of SDC's contribution to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).</font></span></p><p><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">see <a href="https://www.simap.ch/shabforms/COMMON/application/applicationGrid.jsp?template=1&view=1&page=/MULTILANGUAGE/simap/content/start.jsp&language=EN" target="_blank">simap platform </a>for details (search for "Education focal point",
notice n°889801)</font></span></p></div> Geogia/Eastern Europe and CIS<div class="ExternalClass99525ACE2BA048B395363CDD96660A51"><p><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">Together with ILO, UDNP and World Bank, SDC has organized and chaired a
regional conference on Jobs and Employment. The e+i network participated in
this event and could present relevant and much welcomed results on private
sector cooperation and labour market orientation based on discussions held
within the network. for: <a href="http://jobs4prosperity.org/">Insights and results</a></font></span><span style="color:#993366;line-height:115%;font-family:"calibri light",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"> </span></p></div> Croatia<div class="ExternalClass42D7B7C07D4949EE8FC53C8E2820DE9F"><p><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">From 19 to 22 October, the Croatian minister Vedran Mornan visited
Switzerland in order to gain a better understanding about the dual vocational
education and training system, and especially the role of the private sector
and private businesses.</font></span> <a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/aktuell/news-medienmitteilungenartikelundreden.html/deza/en/meta/news-deza/2015/10/20/vertiefter-einblick-in-die-berufsbildung-der-schweiz" target="_blank">>> more</a></p></div> Cambodia<div class="ExternalClassAE4AB6771F894584A32BD0A3653C6A6B"><p>
A VSD project has been tendered. see <a href="https://www.simap.ch/shabforms/COMMON/application/applicationGrid.jsp?template=1&view=1&page=/MULTILANGUAGE/simap/content/start.jsp&language=EN" target="_blank">simap platform</a>
for details</p></div> Bulgaria, Romania<p class="ExternalClass1B9032506E054A3D8760578953692996"></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height:115%;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;"><font color="#000000">Mauro Dell'Ambrogio, State Secretary for Education, Research andInnovation (SERI) paid working visits to Bulgaria and Romania to discuss topicson Vocational Education and Training and scientific collaboration. In Sofia, heopened together with the Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science the “TodorTanev”, the first dual vocational training course, which has been developed incollaboration with Swiss partners.<a href="https://www.news.admin.ch/message/index.html?lang=de&msg-id=58832" target="_blank"> >> More information in German and French</a></font></span></p><p></p> Albania<p class="ExternalClassC3306CDACD7849C4B0A9BED109DDBABB"> The new project on vocational skills development inAlbania, the “Skills for Job Project” has been awarded to a Swiss-Albanianconsortium including Swisscontact (Switzerland, Lead) and CommunicationProgress (Albania). The project will facilitate the development of quality VSDoffers by including dual approaches and new ways of learning, using moderntechnologies like smart phones and social media and applying a combination ofblended (individualised) learning and work-based learning approaches. Thepreparation phase is running since 1st of October 2015. </p> Albania<p class="ExternalClassE1ABD62E7E16407A8B8B243855D05C5F">The Swiss Cooperation Albania project portfolio in the field of job creation has grown and consists now of four projects financed by SDC and SECO. To ensure coordination, information sharing, joint learning and potentially also to identify joint activities, a Coordination Platform on Job Creation was designed along the successful example in place in Kosovo. On 22 October the first Coordination Platform meeting took place to inform each other of the projects and to discuss the mechanism, objectives and frequency.</p><p class="ExternalClassE1ABD62E7E16407A8B8B243855D05C5F"><a href="https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/albania/en/home/international-cooperation/projects.html" target="_blank">>> more information on the projects</a><br></p> Western Africa<p>The «Association pour le Développement de l’Education en Afrique » (ADEA), which is supported by SDC, organizes a ministerial conference in October, 12-14 in Kigali with 28 countries on the subject investments in training-of-trainers and training for entrepreneurs. >Read more</p> Serbia<div>The Swiss Cooperation Office Belgrade announces an invitation to tender for the mandate ‘From Education to Employment (E2E): Youth Skills Development and Private-Public Partnership in Serbia’. >Read more</div> Mongolia<div>The TVET and technical occupations attract primarily young boys rather than girls. Therefore, the CVT project, which is co-financed by SDC, BMZ, and the Australian Government, is introducing the Girls Days with the aim to provide equal access and opportunities for boys and girls. >Read more</div> Macedonia - Increasing Market Employability (IME)<p>After the inception phase the SDC project “Increasing Market Employability (IME)” started the implementation phase in April 2015 that will last until end of March 2019. Based on various sector analyses, the tourism and hospitality, green economy and creative industries sectors were selected to apply the Market System Development (MSD) approach. IME is implemented by Swisscontact. >Read more </p> Kosovo<p>The State Secretary in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yves Rossier, visited the newly opened Pristina Career Counselling Center (PCCC) at the Pristina Municipality on 26 May. The main role of the PCCC is to counsel graduates of seven Pristina based VET schools and link them with the private sector for internships and employment. This is an intervention of the “Enhancing Youth Employability (EYE) project implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation (HIS) and Management Development Associate (MDA). >Read more</p> Bangladesh<p>SDC published the case study “Industry-led Apprenticeships: facilitating sector-wide horizontal collaboration for sustainable and demand-led skills development”. This study is based on the experiences of the Industry-led apprenticeship project, a multistakeholder initiative to enhance access to training and employment opportunities for the poor and disadvantaged in the footwear and leathergoods sector in Bangladesh. ><a href="/site/EI/Documents/VSD/SDC%20-%20Case%20Study%20-%20Industry-Led%20Apprenticeship%20-%202015-04.pdf" target="_blank">Read more</a></p> Mali<p class="ExternalClass7309B47DD4DC4E4FBE3C6205034C3E52"> </p><p>The project “Programme d’Appui à la Formation Professionnelle” (PAFP4) implemented by Swisscontact, supports the development of a new system of information and career guidance. Six newly information areas welcome youth seeking information on their professional integration. ><a href="/site/EI/Documents/Projects/7F-00736/Swisscontact%20-%20PAFP%204_fr.pdf" target="_blank">Read more in French</a></p><p> </p>
Private Sector Dev
Securing Food Supply through a Digital Monitoring System - Rural Markets Project<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>The global pandemic showed the fragility of food supply systems in many countries including Bolivia. Through the Inclusive Markets project, financed by SDC and SIDA, Swisscontact supported the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands with setting up a digital platform to monitor food supply and demand on a municipal level. More information <a href="https://www.swisscontact.org/en/news/securing-food-supply-through-a-digital-monitoring-system">here</a>.</p></div> SanMarkS: System-based approach in Sanitation<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-09082.01_Improving%20Sanitation%20Market%20Systems%20Bangladesh%202017.PNG" style="width:488px;" /><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">The Sanitation Marketing Systems in Bangladesh (SanMarkS) has recently been awarded the </span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><a href="https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/09/274268.htm" target="_blank">prestigious P3 Impact Award</a> for its public-private partnership (P3) approach. </span></p><p></p><p></p><div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:center;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">***********</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">SanMarkS</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"> applies Sanitation Marketing, Market Systems Thinking, and Human Centered Design to reach 450,000 poor and disadvantaged rural people by 2019 with better health and wellbeing through improved sanitation. The project began in November 2015 and is jointly funded by SDC and UNICEF and implemented by iDE-Bangladesh. </span><br></div><div><br></div><div>SanMarkS aims to build household demand and private sector supply of hygienic, affordable latrines by facilitating collaboration between national level manufacturers of latrine parts, local level entrepreneurs, municipalities and the Department of Public Health Engineering. The project promotes the integration of the private sector as a key stakeholder into the existing public and civil society platforms in the sanitation sector in rural areas. </div><div><br></div><div>SanMarkS builds the capacity of local latrine producers, their knowledge and technical know-how as well as market promotion strategies to increase their client base. </div><div><br></div><div>As a result, (341) local entrepreneurs are now organized. They have formed business associations (sanitary business associations SBA) to leverage their collective skills and buying power. This enables remote customers in villages to access hygienic latrines at affordable prices, while latrine producers who are a part of a business association have seen their sales of hygienic latrines almost double. The local government subsidies to help poor households build latrines are now used more effectively, as the local latrine producers deliver cheaper and more hygienic latrines. The sanitary business associations enforce quality standards among the members and have begun engaging with the local government to create national quality standards for improved latrines. National manufacturers are able to reach new customers who were inaccessible before due to the high cost and logistical challenges of marketing in remote areas. By engaging with a single point of contact from a business association representing several entrepreneurs, companies now have a simple and cost-effective way to distribute their products in sparsely populated rural regions. In this way, SanMarkS builds capacity of the private sector actors to develop products, messages and marketing techniques that will reach specific types of consumers based on household income, assets, lifestyles and other characteristics resulting in better health condi¬tions and well-being.</div><div><br></div><div>Interested to learn more?</div><div><br></div><div>>> <a href="https://youtu.be/2GYqMiAdV88" target="_blank">Brief video</a>     >> <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20SanMarkS%20Project%20Snapshot%20Nov16%20-%20Dec17.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">SanMarkS Fact Sheet </a>     >> <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20SanMarks%20Achieved-Target.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">SanMarkS Targets and Results</a>     >><a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20iDE-IR_BD_PublicPrivateDevPartnrships.pdf?web=1" target="_blank">Solving Sanitation from all sides</a>  </div><div><br></div><p></p><p></p> Phase 2 for the Grain Post-harvest Loss Prevention Project (GPLP)<div><b><br></b></div><div><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07726.02_Project%20Image_%20Grain%20Post-harvest%20Loss%20Prevention%20Project%20(GPLP).jpg" style="width:400.887px;height:226px;" /><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Overall goa</b>l: GPLP aims at improving food security and income of small holder men and women farmers in the Central Corridor of Tanzania by addressing major constraints in post-harvest practice, access to improved technologies and adoption, knowledge sharing and related policies. Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is implementing GPLP using a market system development approach and working through multi-stakeholder partnerships with private sector and public organizations.</div><div> </div><div><b>Context : </b><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Postharvest Losses (PHL) in Tanzania are high and contribute to loss of income and food insecurity. PHL ranges between 15 to 40% for different crops, but are of particular concern for grains and pulses, which form the base for food and income for the majority. Knowledge and awareness on Post-Harvest Management (PHM) among farmers remains low. Extension services do not often include PHM training and farmers’ access to technologies remains limited. Farmers and MSME’s face difficulties to access financial services, which could allow them to invest in post-harvest technologies (PHT) or expansion of business. While women are highly involved in the PHM process, there is a wide gender-gap in rural communities, with women being in a disadvantaged position in relation to men, in access and control over resources as well as in decision-making. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF) has just come up with a National Strategy for Post-Harvest, which is expected to be launched end of 2017.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align:right;"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07726.02_Project%20Image_%20Grain%20Post-harvest%20Loss%20Prevention%20Project%20%20GPLP_Tanzania.jpg" style="width:400.887px;height:226px;" /><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:right;"><br></div><div><b>Outcomes of the phase</b>: </div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">1.</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;white-space:pre;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Targeted smallholder farmers have access and adopt effective postharvest management practices and technologies</span></div><div>2.<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Postharvest policies and framework conditions are improved in Tanzania through implementation of PHM strategy and by-laws</div><div>3.<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Postharvest management stakeholders have access to information that enables decision making towards reducing postharvest losses</div><div> </div><div>>> <a href="https://tanzania.helvetas.org/en/activities/projects_tanzania/grain_post_harvest_loss_prevention/" target="_blank">more </a></div><div><br></div> Integration of BEAM Exhange into DECDAt DCED’s Annual Meeting in Rome, in June 2017, the DCED Working Group was formally established and is now chaired by Andrea Inglin of SDC and Susanne Thiard-Laforet of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). It will build on the achievements to date of the BEAM Exchange, the facility for knowledge exchange and learning about market systems development, originally funded by The Department for International Development (DFID)  and SDC. The advantage of integrating BEAM Exchange into DCED, apart from the obvious synergies with PSD itself, other donors can participate easier and give BEAM a sound foundation for sustainability. <a href="https://www.enterprise-development.org/organisational-structure/working-groups/overview-market-systems-development-working-group/" target="_blank">>>more</a> New Videos: PSD and VSD projects in the Great Lakes region<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">Check out the latest video interviews with beneficiaries of SDC Vocational Skills Development project PROMOST and its partner Private Sector Development project PROECCO. Both project are active in the Great Lakes region:</p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="ES">o <a href="https://youtu.be/ccYZoQZF4ZA" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ccYZoQZF4ZA</a> </span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="ES">o <a href="https://youtu.be/8_m68OtoANA" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8_m68OtoANA</a> </span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="FR-CH">o </span><a href="https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8</a><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family:"Courier New";font-size:10pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/zKu7RnuiBU8" target="_blank"></a></span></p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;">Learn more about the projects in our <a href="/site/EI/memberarea/Pages/Content/projects-search-archived.aspx" target="_blank">portfolio database</a> (members only).</p><p class="Default" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="FR-CH" style="font-family:"Courier New";font-size:10pt;"> </span></p></div> VSD and PSD for mine victims and persons with disabilities in Colombia<p>The team from Handicap International produced a short and worth reading paper about their approach to achieve socioeconomic  inclusion for victims of mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) and persons with disabilities in the departments of Cauca, Nariño and Córdoba of Colombia. <br>Both VSD and PSD elements are applied, and a participatory approach is practised. We are happy to distribute their work and would <span lang="EN-GB" style="color:#454545;line-height:107%;font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;">encourage </span>other <span lang="EN-GB" style="color:#454545;line-height:107%;font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;">practitioners </span>to share their experiences. Read the paper <a href="/site/EI/Documents/To%20SORT/Themes/VSD/E+I%20article%20colombia%20final%20May%2013%202017.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> SDC has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA)<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal">SDC has joined the <a href="http://www.businesscalltoaction.org/" target="_blank">Business Call to Action</a> (BCtA), a multi-stakeholder initiative hosted by the UNDP. The initiative asks companies to make concrete commitments to include people from the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) in their value chains, be it as clients, employees or entrepreneurs. By making these commitments public and verifiable, BCtA helps to bring the benefits of the markets to the BoP and is in turn helping companies to understand how to measure their impact through an impact measurement system.</p><p class="MsoNormal">To date, over 170 companies, ranging from multinationals to social enterprises,
and working in 65 countries, have responded to the BCtA by committing to
improve the lives and livelihoods of millions in developing countries through
access to markets, financial services, affordable healthcare, water and sanitation,
education and other critical services. BCtA member companies are market leaders
that provide examples of successful, profitable and scalable models for
reaching poor communities and contributing to global development.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p></div> External Reviews of MSD Projects in the Western Balkan (WBA) Region<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;font-size:14.3px;">During 2016 and early 2017 five SDC Market System Development (MSD) projects in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia were externally reviewed. All these MSD projects have the overall goal to create jobs that is addressed through PSD, VCA and VSD interventions. <strong>Overall all projects made good progress and based on these external reviews have planned second or exit phases.</strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;font-size:14.3px;"> </span></p><p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br></p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14.3px;font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Learn about the main conclusions and recommendations that are common in many projects are.... </strong>>><a href="/site/EI/Pages/Projects/External-Reviews%20-MSD-Projects-WBA%202017.aspx" target="_blank">more</a></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br></p></div> Swisscontact on "Inclusive markets - sustainable growth for everyone"<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>Enjoy a very short video where Swisscontact explains its role as a facilitator in the chicken/ maize value chain in Bangladesh: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY3Dkb0dUcA" target="_blank">here</a> </p></div> Latin American Network for MSD<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;"><img style="width:297px;height:149px;" alt="" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_LA%20Network%20for%20MSD.PNG" class="fr-fir fr-dii" />An international Meeting for the creation of a Latin American Network for MSD took place end of January 2017 in Lima, Peru, organized by ASOCAM, BEAM Exchange and Swisscontact with support from ILO. 60 participants from 35 organizations (governments, NGOs, academy, private sector, research Institutes, bi- and multilateral donors) from 12 countries participated in order to exchange and share lessons of good practices, lessons learned and challenges in the application of systemic approaches in Latin America; to network; and to share strategic inputs on joint aspirations to promote the approach and the network in Latin America and the Caribbean.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;">>> <a href="http://www.esm4p.info/red-latinoamericana-para-dsm/encuentro-internacional-2017.html" target="_blank">more information </a>about the event here                                                    >> <a href="http://www.asocam.org/fileadmin/recursos/esm4p/notaSintesis26-27-ene2017.pdf" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;">synthesis </span><span style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;">report</span></a><span style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0pt;"> (spanish) of the event</span></p></div> BEAM Exchange is inviting you to share your stories<span style="color:black;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;">BEAM Exchange is inviting you to share your stories of overcoming monitoring and results measurement challenges. The chances are that your solution is information another programme is looking for! You can share your story in any format (blog, Skype call, video etc.). This is a great opportunityf or you to contribute to the exchange of innovation and learning in measuring programme impacts. >> <font color="#000000" face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><a href="https://beamexchange.org/community/get-involved/measurement-stories/" target="_blank" style="font-size:10pt;">more</a></span></font></span> Adaptive Management within market system dvelopment<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p>On November 1st SDC invited Mike Albu, the director of BEAM Exchange, to discuss adaptive management within market system development (MSD), based on a recent  <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/Topics/Value%20Chain%20Development/PSD/2016%20Getting%20there%20from%20here.pdf" target="_blank">report </a>published by the BEAM research team. They used a mixed-method approach which included a literature review and 60 key informant interviews to identify opportunities and limitations confronting the widespread adoption of adaptive management in MSD programms. One of the study’s recommendation is to rethink the logframe and how it is used, moving away from linear thinking and number-based results management. Look at Mike Albu's <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/PSD%20Beam%20Exchange%20Adaptive%20Programming%20study%20-%20for%20SDC%202016%20-%2011.PPTX?Web=1" target="_blank">slides</a> as input for the discussion or read one of the authors  blog post or visit the  <a href="https://beamexchange.org/community/webinar/road-adaptive-management/" target="_blank">webinar </a>on the topic.</p></div> Lessons from the Rural Livelihood Development Programme Tanzania: Contract Farming and other topics<p class="ExternalClassB8192020F2D94F2F9FCB8EB2873AF4CD"></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-03459.05_RLDP%20Rural%20Livelihood%20Development%20Program%20RLDP%20Tanzania.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:137px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">The Rural Livelihood Development Programme (RLDP) came to an end in December 2015 after ten years of implementation. In 2015, it engaged in an extensive process of Capitalization of Experience to derive lessons learned focussing on three topics: Programme Management applying the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, Contract Farming and Gender Mainstreaming. All three topics are available as short and long versions (<a href="https://www.helvetas.org/news_blog/publication/value_chains.cfm">here</a>). Hands on experience in a challenging context like central Tanzania – a must read for MSD practioners!</font></font></font></span> </p><p></p> Programme regional PROECCO<div class="ExternalClassD6E2ED1BB44A4455AC82F9FFB493A351"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-08320.02_PROECCO%20Climate%20reponsive%20construction.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:159px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />"On July 1<sup>st</sup> 2016, SDC's <strong>Promoting off-farm employment and income in the Great Lakes Region through climate responsive construction material production</strong><strong> </strong>(PROECCO) project will enter its second phase. The first phase was dedicated to technological transfer and adaptation to provide context specific business solutions in the construction material production sector. These business solutions will be tested and refined in the second phase to boost scaling up environmental and labor friendly production methods applying a MSD approach. The project will improve production techniques in Rwanda, Burundi as well as South Kivu and serve a demand for construction materials fueled by the regions rapid urbanization. </p><p>>>more information on the <a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/Topics/Local%20Economic%20Development/SDC%20-%20Factsheet%20-%20PROECCO%20-%202016%20(fr).pdf">fact sheet</a> (French only)</p></div> SDC side event, DCED Global Seminar, Bangkok<p class="ExternalClass46898B0CCBDF4D6A83E9882C88F97FEF"></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Bangkok%20Conference%20Group%20Photo.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:274px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />SDC e+i side event at the DCED Global Seminar in Bangkok: From 14.-16. March 2016, DCED held its Global Seminar. Around 130 participants from all over the world attended the Seminar, around 35 participants from SDC financed projects. The SDC e+i network organized a small side-event with the objective to bring together the network community, provide a space to exchange and network and share latest news around Results Measurement: (1) Swisscontact shared their experience with SenseMaker as a new methodology for capturing systemic change. (2) The SDC good practice paper: "<a href="/site/EI/Documents/PSD/Topics/Results%20Measurement/SDC%20MRM%20good%20practices%202016%20draft.pdf">Monitoring and Measuring Results in Private Sector Development</a>" was presented and discussed. (3) HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation shared and discussed preliminary findings of its study with the objective to define and elaborate what “right-sizing” MRM system means.<br>>> for more information please contact <a href="mailto:annick.vollmar@helvetas.org">Annick Vollmar</a></p><p></p> Western Balkans (WBA)<div class="ExternalClass112BDF6EE6CF4A48BFF5137703EC3A7B"><div>A Monitoring and Result Measurement (MRM) and DCED Standard training was organised for the WBA Swiss Cooperation Offices (SCO) from 25 – 28 August at Lake Ohrid in Macedonia. This was considered highly important since most of the private sector development project embrace a MRM system along the DCED Standard that requires to some extent a different steering by the SCO. The training was delivered by Hans Posthumus who is well known in this field and is currently also working for e+i on a good practice paper for SDC on MRM for private sector development projects. >> more news will follow later</div></div> New UNDP / SDC agreement for inclusive growth in Africa through private sector, inclusive business, and market development.<div class="ExternalClassD27BE94F91F34CBF96A362A5C2DF88A4"><div>Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 September 2015 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have signed a new agreement to bolster inclusive growth in Africa through private sector, inclusive business, and market development.</div><div>The 3.7 million Swiss Francs contribution will support a three-year initiative “Accelerating Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa” that seeks to create employment and livelihoods, particularly for women and young people, and support regional institutions and national governments in developing inclusive markets and businesses. The initiative builds on the work of UNDP’s African Facility for Inclusive Markets.<a href="http://www.africa.undp.org/content/rba/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/10/01/undp-and-switzerland-to-boost-sustainable-private-sector-development-in-africa.html" target="_blank"> >> more</a></div></div> Kosovo companies and products at OLMA in St.Gallen<div class="ExternalClass5EE3680A4C6A428482BFCE9D7D5FD912"><div><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20Olma%20Kosovo%20Food%20Shop.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:100px;height:75px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />Every year in the city of St. Gallen the agricultural and nutrition fair "OLMA" is taking place. The fair was held from 8 – 18 October 2015 and attracted a large number of visitors. This year SDC created an interactive exhibition about food, food security and nutrition at the OLMA agricultural fair and Kosovo was part of it. SME’s from Kosovo who are supported by the PPSE project had the opportunity to present a wide range of their products. <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2015-12-spotlight5.aspx" target="_blank" style="line-height:1.6;">Read more >></a></div></div> In 2014 the first phase of a new SDC financed MSD/Inclusive Markets project<p>In 2014 the first phase of a new SDC financed MSD/Inclusive Markets project, named Rural Markets, took off in Bolivia. This project is implemented by Swisscontact and the local foundation PROFIN, and has started to facilitate the implementation of innovative business models that take account of the extraordinary challenges market development faces in the Altiplano and inter-Andean valleys. We would be happy to share our experiences e.g. regarding market systems development through successful business links among seed producers, multipliers, wholesalers and the industry, the introduction of new varieties of (root) vegetables, and business models for the provision of rural technical assistance services in sparsely populated regions.</p> BEAM needs you! Do you need BEAM?<p>You remember having heard about BEAM, don't you? exactly BEAM Exchange is the new one-shop for sharing knowledge and learning about market systems approaches for reducing poverty. DFID and SDC have lunched it just last year.Now discover who the BEAM community is how BEAM can help you and  how to you can contribute to it and why BEAM needs you!
<a href="/site/EI/Pages/eiHowTo/Project-Profiles/Beam-Exchange.aspx" target="_blank">
<strong>>here</strong></a></p>
Financial Sector Dev
SCBF end-November 2017 to end-February 2018<h1 style="text-align:center;">Approved Projects</h1><h4>E-Saving club Akiba Mexico</h4><p>The aim of this project is to digitalise the loan origination process of the partner financial institutions Pretmex and offer Akiba´s own digital MicroCreditLine product (MCL). Online lending is a relatively new concept in Mexico with only few providers covering mainly the consumer lending sector and at usury rates. The MCL product specifically targets the funding need of low-income employees who often have to borrow at very high costs and unreasonable conditions when facing short-term financial emergencies. >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-12-E-Savings.club-Akiba-Mexico_Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4>J.Wipf  Guardian Life Insurance Limited (GLIL) Bangladesh</h4><p>The SCBF support of one year is meant to enhance the partners´ GLIL and BRAC capacities to develop and develop microinsurance products, one preferably with savings-linked component, offered to one or more segments of BRAC´s diverse and vast membership (it has the largest microfinance programme in the world). >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-01-John-Wipf-Guardian-Life-Bangladesh-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="font-size:1.1em;letter-spacing:0.4px;">WWB Lead Foundation Egypt (automation)</span></h4><p>The main objective of the project is to transform Lead´s microinsurance operations to make them digital and automated, through the design and development of a fraud robot able to detect fraudulent insurance pay-out claims. Upon project completion, the insurance process automation solution should enable Lead to expand its client base from currently 180,000 to 318,000 clients in 2019 and manage high scale operations without adding more staff. >> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-02-WWB-Lead-Egypt-automation-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></p><p><br></p><h4>WWB Lead Foundation Egypt (family)</h4><p>Lead Foundation aims to develop at least one family health insurance product and roll it out to its currently over 200,000 clients and their families, expanding its beneficiary base to 950,000 by end of 2019, and thus enhancing their resilience in face of unexpected health crises and hospital emergencies. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2018-03-WWB-Lead-Egypt-family-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Venture South Biashara na Fedha Tanzania</h4><p>Biashara na Fedha and Simusolar aim to develop, test and scale up customised loan products designed to finance the acquisition of solar-powered water pumps by smallholder farmers around Lake Victoria, reaching out to 1,000 farmers by 8.2019, and intending to reach 17,000 farmers three years after the support. The customisation will take into account the crop cycles and smallholder farmer credit profiles. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-04-Venture-South-Tanzania-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Symbiotics MicroCred DRC</h4><p>The purpose of the product up-scaling support is to upgrade the existing loan products of MicroCred, esp. the roll-out of the local currency loan product in Congolese Francs (CDF). Secondly, the support will be focused on developing and launching deposit products, and providing to clients financial education on the spectrum of services (savings and loans). This is expected to lead to outreach of 7,500 CDF clients (2,000 new) and 17,000 deposit clients by end of 2018.          <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> more</span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat Banco Solidario Ecuador</h4><p>Banco Solidario plans to redesign its existing housing microfinance product and adjust mobile tools to support credit officers in selling the products, improving the living conditions of at least 1,794 clients and their families at project end and 4,000 clients by December 2021. The technical assistance will also trigger a capital investment of USD 11 mil. for home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-06-Habitat-Banco-Solidario-Ecuador-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat COAC JA Ecuador</h4><p>COAC JA (Calculadora de Ahorro y Credito – Jardin Azuayo) aims to redesign its existing housing microfinance product and introduce a new micro-mortgage product, improving the living conditions of at least 2,000 / 500 clients and their families with the housing microloan and mortgage product (respectively) at project end and 6,000 / 1,200 clients by December 2021. Upon project completion, app. USD 8 mil. capital for home improvements will be mobilised. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-07-Habitat-COAC-JA-Ecuador-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat LOMC Sri Lanka</h4><p>With this technical assistance LOMC Sri Lanka aims to expand its housing portfolio by reaching out to new customer segments and build the capacity of product management within the institution. It is expected that by end of the project, 7,200 clients with families will have access to improved financial products and services for home improvement and app. USD 14 mil. will be invested in home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-08-Habitat-LOMC-Sri-Lanka-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>Habitat LOLC Cambodia</h4><p>Over 18-month period LOLC intends to introduce a new micro mortgage product and grow and manage its housing portfolio by gaining inputs on product level strategy and product management principles. Upon project completion, 2,520 families/clients will have access to improved financial products and services for home improvements/construction and approximately USD 8.4 mil. capital will be invested in home improvements. <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2018-09-Habitat-LOLC-Cambodia-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p><h4>BFC NUCAFE Uganda</h4><p>NUCAFE is a coffee farmer organization with a total of 200 member organizations, which translates into over 1 million individual coffee farmers. This financial education campaign is designed to raise awareness and understanding of agricultural insurance (Relative Evapotranspiration Index Drought Insurance) for smallholder farmers and their general financial education to improve their financial capacities and change their attitude towards formal financial services. By project end, 70,000 smallholder coffee farmers (including 17,000 young farmers and 17,000 female farmers) will be able to better manage business activities as well as understand the importance of savings and risk management tools (including agricultural insurance). <span style="font-size:14.3px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">>> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF_FEW-14-Nucafe-Uganda-Factsheet-.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></p><p><br></p> SCBF end-November 2017 to end-February 2018<h1 style="text-align:center;">
<b>Completed Projects</b></h1><h4>
<b><br></b></h4><h4>
<b>WWB Al Amana Morocco</b></h4><div>Al Amana redesigned and rebranded its existing health insurance product to “Tayssir Al Amana” and developed a strong marketing campaign leading to an increase in uptake and usage of the product. That, in concert with the supportive management systems for product monitoring and evaluation resulted in a substantial growth of Al Amana´s microinsurance portfolio from 2013 through 2016. >>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2013-05_FinalReport_Morocco_Al-Amana-WWB-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></div><div>
<br>
</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project_SCBF%20end-November%202017%20to%20end-February%202018_0.jpg?RenditionID=5" alt="" style="width:479px;" />
<br>
</div><div>
<br>
</div><div>“Rkia, client of Al Amana in Morocco, who makes her living through embroidery and sewing“</div><div>©Courtesy of Al Amana<br></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;color:inherit;font-family:"helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Positive Planet  Al Barid Bank  Morocco</span><br></h4><div>Al Barid Bank intended to develop a new payment agent network to deliver social benefits (G2P – government to people) to rural areas in Morocco through adapting its existing mobile banking platform (developed with the SCBF support 2013-01). However, this switch from cash-based to mobile-based distribution system was thwarted by changes in regulatory framework. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2013-08_Final-Report_Morocco_ABB_PlanetFinance-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><h4>
<br>
<b>Alliance Myanmar</b></h4><div>Alliance for Microfinance and Myanmar successfully developed, piloted and rolled out a successful Small Enterprise loan product, leading to an uptake of 10,713 loans by project end and aiding the successful development of the institution in the past two years. The SE loans now comprise 41% of the total loan portfolio and yielded 40% income for AMFIM in 2017. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FE_Final-Report-Alliance-30-12-2017-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<b><br></b></div><h4>
<b>Alliance Myanmar</b></h4><div>AMFIM succeeded in designing a system where financial education is an integrated part of its business model and does not depend on the access to external funding after the initial phase of development. AMFIN adapted the content of the programme to serve the varying needs of its group loan clients and small enterprise loan clients. At project end, all group loan clients (over 45,000) have been trained with the presentation guide and at least 20,000 clients have watched the video at disbursement. For small enterprise loans, at least 1,500 clients have watched the disbursement video and 225 took part in one or more financial education training sessions. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FE_Final-Report-Alliance-30-12-2017-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<b>KiWi Mexico</b></h4><div>As part of the financial education campaign, KiWi Mexico designed a variety of tools and materials, such as user manuals, videos on YouTube, FAQ, and new scripts explaining how the digital platform for micro-merchants works (see reference to 2016-01) and how it contributes to better financial control, credit-worthiness and sales. <span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">>>
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF-FEW-10-KiWi-Mexico-Final-Report-edited.pdf" target="_blank">more</a></span></div><div>
<span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF%20end-November%202017%20to%20end-February%202018_1.jpg?RenditionID=5" alt="" style="width:479px;" />
<br>
</div><div>
<br>
</div><div>“Rkia, client of Al Amana in Morocco, who makes her living through embroidery and sewing“</div><div>©Courtesy of Al Amana<br></div><div>
<br>
</div><h4>
<br>
</h4><div>
<br>
</div> 20th anniversary of our Savings and Credit Forum<p><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">This autumn we had the chance to have an inspiring and insightful Savings and Credit Forum on "<a href="/site/EI/Pages/Content/Profiles.aspx?SmartID=1768&item1=SC-Forum%202017-09" target="_blank">Why and how formal savings services matter to low-income and vulnerable households</a>"! We were lucky to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this unique event series for continuous learning, exchange and networking. Nathalie Wyser took the opportunity to give a very special thanks to Ruth Egger who had initiated the Forum and had guided it very wisely during many years, still being involved with helping to make this one on "Savings Services" outstanding again.  </span></p><p><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_20th%20anniversary%20Save%20Credit%20Forum%20Group%20Photo.jpg" style="width:576.333px;height:337.349px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><br></span><br></p><p>from left to right:<br>Alexandre Berthaud (E-Savings), Peter Beez (FP e+i), Ruth Egger (formerly Intercooperation, now Board member HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation), Nathalie Wyser (FP e+i), Graham Wright (MicroSave).</p><p><br></p><p>Did you get curious about our long history of Savings and Credit Fora? Find out <a href="/site/EI/Pages/FSD/Events/SC-Forum/savings-and-credit-forums.aspx" target="_blank">more</a><br></p><p><br></p> SCBF mid-August to end of November 2017<h1 style="text-align:center;">Approved projects: </h1><p><br></p><h3>Advans Ghana</h3><p>This intervention will enable Advans Ghana to conduct a post pilot review of the rural expansion done so far and based on the conclusions of the review roll-out the rural services (loans and savings) through alternative delivery channels (mobile solutions, mobile money, point of sales and agri-value chains). By April 2019, it is expected that at least 10,000 rural clients (3,300 borrowers) will be served and a rural portfolio (micro & SME) will represent 22% of the total loan portfolio. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/20179721-SCBF_2017-06-Symbiotics-Advans-Ghana-Factsheet_final.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </p><p><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Zingsure Malawi</span><br></p><p>Zingsure will build up the local human resources (2,700 members as agents) to assist the Muslim Association of Malawi to register its members and to collect monthly premium contributions from them. Upon project completion, Zingsure should be in a position to provide initial life insurance group scheme cover to 1 million members in Malawi.<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_Factsheet_PUW_2017-07-Zingsure-Malawi.pdf" target="_blank"> >>more</a></p><div><br><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Advans Tunisie</span><br></div><div><div>Advans Tunisie aims to expand its outreach and impact in rural areas via the expansion / launch of two types of lending services: 1) rural lending through alternative delivery channels, and 2) agri-lending with farmer and value chain centric approach. It aims to reach 500 rural and 113 agricultural clients by project end, representing 5% of the lending portfolio, and over 3,000 such new clients by 2020. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2017-08-Advans-Tunisie-factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Financiera Fundeser  Nicaragua </span><br></div></div><div><div>The objective is to promote an appropriate financial product for access to low-pressure irrigation technologies to modernise agricultural methods and increase income of small producers in Nicaragua, reaching 140 credit placements by end of pilot, and 5,000 three years thereafter. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2017-09-Fundeser-iDeal-Nicaragua-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a> </div></div><div><br></div><div><h3>Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze  Haiti</h3><div>The overall goal of this intervention is to sustainably scale up SFF´s individual small business loan product, with loans ranging from HTG 45,000 to HTG 6 mil., from current 4,718 to 13,532 clients by 2020. To accomplish this, it is essential for SFF to review the operations of the current product, to identify the critical weaknesses, staff capacity and design, and to identify several options for the product going forward. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-10-OI-Fonkoze-Haiti-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:17px;letter-spacing:0.4px;">Zingsure Zambia</span><br></div><div><div>To start its greenfield insurance operations in Zambia, Zingsure will build up the local human resources of three affinity groups to register their members and to collect quarterly membership fees from their members incl. the distribution of membership cards with the Zingsure embedded insurance offering. Upon project completion, Zingsure should be in a position to provide initial life insurance group scheme cover to 1 million members in Zambia. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2017-11-Zingsure-Zambia-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">>>more</a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><h3>Zingsure Zimbabwe </h3><div>The aim of this financial education campaign is to build and train the needed local human resources in Zimbabwe (133 financial education consultants, 367 micro entrepreneur agents, and 117 assessors) who will act as the focal point to provide information on insurance and financial services on an ongoing basis to the millions of members of large faith-based affinity groups and their extended family. <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF_Factsheet_FEW-13-Zingsure-Zimbabwe.pdf" target="_blank">>>more </a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> SCBF mid-August to end of November 2017<p></p><h1 style="text-align:center;">Completed projects:</h1><p></p><h3>
<span style="font-size:1.1em;letter-spacing:0.4px;"><b>E-Tontine La Poste du Benin</b></span><img data-filename="E-tontine Benin.png" alt="" style="font-family:inherit;letter-spacing:0.4px;" /></h3>The goal of the intervention was to use technology to increase formal micro-savings at La Poste du Benin by digitising and building bridges with traditional savings practices known as ‘tontines’. Over the short duration of the project 6,680 savings accounts were opened. The project was prematurely closed due to UNCDF intervening with a promise of substantial donor funding to piggy-back on this innovative, high-potential market entry of E-Savings.club. As a result, La Poste´s commitment to E-Savings.club weakened, leading to its crowding out from the market.
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2015-01_Final-Report_Benin_Post-_edited1.pdf" target="_blank">>> more</a> 
<p></p><p></p><p>
<br>
</p><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-3">
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_SCBF%20-2017-12.png" alt="" style="width:178px;height:72px;" />" </div><div class="col-sm-9"><p>“The first client of E-tontine (lady to far left) at La Poste du Benin. She is a travelling market trader who does not have enough money to own a stall, and therefore moves around the market selling glasses and small electric appliances. She started her E-tontine with FCFA 500 as she was eager to find a place to save.” ©Courtesy of E-Savings.club<br></p></div></div><h3>
<b><br>Syngenta  ACRE Africa  Tanzania</b></h3><div><div>ACRE Africa (formerly Kilimo Salama) developed a financial education strategy on how to reach smallholder farmers in several agricultural value chains through microfinance institutions, input companies, mobile network operators, and contract growers for agribusinesses. Over 70,000 farmers combined were trained in the Arusha and Iringa regions, with 27,500 taking up insurance within the two years of a related SCBF product up-scaling intervention 2014-01-02.
<a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FE-02-03-ACRE-Tanzania_edited1.pdf" target="_blank">>> more</a></div></div><div>
<br>
</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF-2017-12-picture-Picture1.png" alt="" />
</div><div>“Ms Mwajuma, client of ACRE Africa in Tanzania, assessing the damage on her farm“ ©Courtesy of ACRE Africa</div><div>
<img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF%20Group%20Photo%202017-12.png" alt="" />
</div><div>“The farmers in Tanzania display their insurance certificates” ©Courtesy of ACRE Africa<br></div><p></p> Satellite technology expedites insurance payouts in India’s crop insurance programme<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Farmers in
several districts in Tamil Nadu are receiving payouts because their losses had
been identified by satellite data.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Chennai,
(July 19th, 2017) Early insurance payouts were surging during the recent Rabi
cropping season in Tamil Nadu, a state in the south of India. For the first
time in India, a state government made use of satellite data in assessing
various damages and offered compensation to farmers under the prevented sowing
feature of the 2.8 bn USD-heavy national crop insurance programme. Under this
prevented or failed sowing cover famers received an average pay-out of around
200 EUR if in their village rice could only be sown in less than 25% of the
rice growing area because of too little or too much rain.</span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">  <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2017-09-spotlight2.aspx" target="_blank">>> entire press release</a></span><br></p> Project highlights in May to mid-August 2017<p>Please read the most interesting brief summaries on the <b>completed projects</b> (Zingsure Zimbabwe and KiWi Morocoo) and the <b>newly approved projects</b> (<span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">approved projects: KiWi Mexico, Grameen Crédit Agricole RMCR Mali, Biashara na Fedha Kenya, Habitat FUDEMI & FUNDENUSE Nicaragua, Lead Foundation Egypt). <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2017-09-spotlight1.aspx" target="_blank">>>here</a></span></p><p><br></p> 2 new microinsurance specialists join SCBF<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><div>SCBF has had the pleasure to welcome new representatives of 2 current member organisations:</div><div><b style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Martin Hintz</b><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"> (Allianz) previously worked in Jakarta for 7 years where he had grown microinsurance from 0 to 500,000 customers. Since 2011, he has been overseeing 12 active markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia, growing the customer base from 4 mil. to over 50 mil.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"><strong>Bilal Mughal</strong></span><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;"> (Zurich Insurance Group) recently joined Blue Marble Microinsurance on secondment from Zurich Insurance as a Head of Ventures with responsibility for venture design and operations and brings a plethora of expertise for SCBF. </span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing:0.4px;">Both Martin and Bilal strongly reinforce SCBF´s expertise in inclusive insurance services. </span></div></div> SCBF General Assembly Meeting at Swiss ReOn June 27, SCBF held its bi-annual general assembly meeting, with a thematic window on financial education, featuring two panellists: Juan Vega Gonzales (financial education specialists) and Alexandre Berthaud (SCBF vice-chair and in charge of a financial education campaign related to savings in Mexico). Furthermore, the <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2016-Annual-Report-FINAL.compressed.pdf" target="_blank">SCBF annual report</a> 2016 was presented.  News from SCBF<div><b>Project highlights in March to May 2017</b></div><div><b>Approved Product Upscaling Projects:  </b><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2017-01_FactSheet_Cambodia-Amret.pdf" target="_blank">Enhancing client value through microinsurance offerings by AMRET in Cambodia</a> and <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SCBF_FEW-11-EMI-Laos-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">Ekphatthana Microfinance Institution in Laos: Financial education on Credit Life Plus</a>. There are also several <strong>projects in the pipeline</strong> in Tunisia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Kenya, Nicaragua, Haiti, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe/Malawi, Madagascar and Mali.<br></div><div><b>SCBF General Assembly Meeting at SDC on March 2nd<br></b>SCBF held its bi-annual General Assembly meeting on March 2nd at SDC in Bern. The morning session included a thematic window with Marc Tison (MD ZingSure), Jason Perthel (Zing Founder & CEO) and Alex Mion (Zing CTO), with highly relevant presentation on their current and planned activities in Zimbabwe and Malawi. <br></div><div><strong>InsureCo</strong> <br>SCBF supported ZingSure initiative in setting up an insurance company “InsureCo”, a partnership between ZingSure Limited and the Apostolic Council of Churches of Zimbabwe to increase insurance penetration and stimulate wealth creation. The partnership is in line with financial inclusion vision of the Zimbabwean government as contained in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset – 2013). </div><div><br>>> <a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/SCBF-news-from-programmes-and-projects.aspx" target="_blank">what is SCBF? </a><br></div> Swiss Microfinance Funds and savings accounts for our beneficiaries<p>Listen to our colleagues Rochus Mommartz (responsability) and Annette Kraus (Center for Microfinance, University of Zurich) being interviewed on the issue of Microfinance Funds. The 5 minutes long interview was aired on Swiss National Radio on March 15th 2017. It is in German. Among other highlights of this interesting interview, please don’t lose the moment (at 59 seconds) when Rochus gets all exited about <strong>2017 being the first year ever that Microfinance beneficiaries in India have the possibility to open a savings account at their Microfinance Institution</strong>: <a href="https://www.srf.ch/play/radio/popupaudioplayer?id=af14b82b-0811-461e-b883-c010dae48b41" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong> </a></p><p><img style="margin:5px;vertical-align:middle;float:right;" alt="" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Radio%20Swiss%20Microfinance%20Funds.PNG" /></p> Savings and Credit Forum on Social Performance <p>On March 16th we held a Savings and Credit Forum on:</p><p><strong>What are Social Performance Management and Reporting Practices of Financial Institutions and Microfinance Impact Investor?</strong></p><div>please have a look at the different inputs from our colleagues. You can find the programme and the presentations<br>>> <a style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="/site/EI/Pages/FSD/Events/SC-Forum/SC-Forum-2017-03-Social-Performance.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br></div> Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF)<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p><em>The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF) is a public-private development partnership dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of low-income people and micro-entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. It is a grant-making organisation with the objective to promote financial inclusion as a strategy for alleviating poverty.</em></p><p><em>SCBF currently unites 19 Switzerland-based member organisations, including SDC as the public partner and core funder. The members greatly contribute through their expertise, ensuring SCBF stays focused and selects high-impact projects for capacity building support. This creates a unique partnership working to help partner financial institutions to enhance their outreach to financially excluded populations, as part of social and economic development work.</em></p><p><strong>Project highlights in Product upscaling </strong>(November 2016 to February 2017)</p><p><img alt="" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07719.02_SCBF%20Swiss%20Capacitiy%20Building%20Facility%20Mexico_2017.png" class="fr-fil fr-dii" /></p><p><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-PU-2016-01-KiWi-Mexico-Final-Report-edited1.pdf" target="_blank">KiWi </a>– making fintech work for micromerchants in Mexico: How technology can transform the microfinance industry</p><p>“KiWi card payment solution for micromerchants in Mexico“ ©Courtesy of KiWi<br> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>  </p><p><br>Optimising claims under the <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Final-Report-2016-03-Stonestep-Myanmar-edited.pdf" target="_blank">PGMF Beneficiary Welfare Programme</a> in Myanmar: <img style="width:288.4px;height:320.6px;" alt="" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_%20Project%202017%20SCBF%20Myanmar%20Village.png" class="fr-fir fr-dii" />“PGMF borrower impacted by a high-wind event.  The loan officer conducting a damage assessment“ (picture to the right) © Courtesy of Stonestep</p><p> There are several projects in the pipeline in Tunisia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Kenya, Colombia, Nicaragua, Haiti, Zambia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>  </p><p><strong>Opportunity International Switzerland joined the SCBF</strong></p><p> <img style="width:131.84px;height:76.5px;" alt="" src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Logos/logo%20opportunity%20international%20schweiz.PNG" class="fr-fil fr-dii" />SCBF has cordially welcomed Opportunity International Switzerland as a new member, which joined in the second half of 2016. With that, SCBF´s membership base has grown to 19 organisations.</p><p>Opportunity International Switzerland (charitable Swiss foundation) is associated partner of the Opportunity International Network. Since 1971, OI has provided access to loans, savings and insurance to help women grow small businesses; teachers build local schools and smallholder farmers to increase their crop yields. Opportunity is actively serving 12 million hardworking entrepreneurs in 25 countries around the world.</p><p> </p></div> SCBF<p> <img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Logos/Logo_SCBF.PNG" height="88" width="467" alt="" style="height:65px;" /> </p><p style="text-align:right;"> <br style="text-align:right;"></p><p>  </p><p style="text-align:left;">The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (<a href="http://scbf.ch/" target="_blank" style="text-align:left;">SCBF</a>) is a public-private development partnership dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of low-income people and micro-entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. It is a grant-making organisation with the objective to promote financial inclusion as a strategy for alleviating poverty.</p><p>SCBF currently unites 18 Switzerland-based member organisations, including SDC as the public partner and core funder. The members greatly contribute through their expertise, ensuring SCBF stays focused and selects high-impact projects for capacity building support. This creates a unique partnership working to help partner financial institutions to enhance their outreach to financially excluded populations, as part of social and economic development work.</p><p> <br></p><h5 style="text-align:left;"> <b style="text-align:left;">Project highlights in September & October 2016</b></h5><p> <b>Approved projects</b></p><p> <span style="font-size:1.1em;">Product up-scaling: </span><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_Factsheet_2016-09-FINCA-Haiti.pdf" target="_blank">Strengthening outreach to rural clients <span style="font-size:1.1em;">with e-wallets by FINCA Haiti: Integrating disbursements and improving delivery channels structure</span></a><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20Group%20of%20agri-loan%20clients%20in%20Gros-Morne%20Haiti.png" alt="" style="margin:5px 0px;vertical-align:middle;" /> </p><p> <i style="font-size:1em;">Caption for the attached image: “A group of agricultural loan clients in Gros-Morne (Artibonite) in Haiti, about an hour inland from the FINCA branch on a dirt road. These clients repay their loans using mobile money.”</i><br></p><p> <span style="font-size:15.4px;">There are also several projects in the pipeline in Kenya, Colombia, Zambia, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.</span></p><p> <span style="font-size:15.4px;"><br></span></p><p> <b>Closed projects</b><br></p><p> <span style="font-size:1.1em;">Product up-scaling: </span><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2013-13_Final-Report_CIH_Morocco_edited1.pdf" target="_blank">CIH Bank in Morocco – Downscaling to target small enterprises</a><span style="font-size:1.1em;">.<br></span></p><p></p> Unlocking Blended Finance for Social Entrepreneurs, Savings and Credit Forum in Bern<p>This Savings & Credit Forum was organized by SDC in partnership with Ashoka - the largest network of social entrepreneurs and Obviam, manager of the SIFEM, the Swiss development Finance Institution. We looked at the topic of blended finance (also called hybrid finance by Ashoka) for social entrepreneurs and how to bridge the gap between public sector/ philanthropy and social impactor investors and investees. >><a href="/site/EI/Pages/FSD/Events/SC-Forum/SC-Forum-2016-09-Blended-Finance.aspx" target="_blank"> find out more</a> </p> Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF)<p align="center"> <img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Logos/Logo_SCBF%20Swiss%20Capacity%20Building%20Facility.JPG" alt="" style="margin-top:5px;margin-right:5px;margin-left:5px;" /> </p><p>The SwissCapacity Building Facility (SCBF) is a public-private development partnershipdedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of low-income people and micro-entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. It is a grant-making organisation with the objective to promote financial inclusion as a strategy for alleviating poverty.</p><p>SCBF currently unites 18 Switzerland-based member organisations, including SDC as the public partner and core funder. The members greatly contribute through their expertise, ensuring SCBF stays focused and selects high-impact projects for capacity building support. This creates a unique partnership working to help partner financial institutions to enhance their outreach to financially excluded populations, as part of social and economic development work.</p><h3 style="text-align:center;">Project highlights in Q2 & Q3 2016</h3><h3 style="text-align:center;"> <b>Approved projects</b></h3><p class="col-sm-4"> <img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20SCBF%20Agriculture%20NL%202016%2009.jpg" alt="" style="width:200px;height:302px;" /> </p><p class="col-sm-8"> <i style="line-height:1.4285;">Product up-scaling:</i> </p><p> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2016-05-Factsheet-Jordan-WWB.pdf" target="_blank">Gender-focused savings-linked insurance for Microfund for Women in Jordan</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2016-06_Factsheet_PUW_Acre-Kenya-amended.pdf" target="_blank">Phone ergonomics for improved uptake of Acre Africa´s mobile microinsurance in Kenya</a>  <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2016-07-WWB-Egypt-Factsheet.pdf" target="_blank">CareGiver insurance roll-out at Lead Foundation in Egypt</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2016-08_FactSheet_MFW-RefugeePilot.pdf" target="_blank">Expanding outreach of group lending and non-financial services to Syrian women refugees by Microfund for Women in Jordan</a> </p><p> <i> Financial education <br> </i> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FEW-10-Factsheet-Mexico-KiWi.pdf" target="_blank">KiWi – digital platform for micromerchants in Mexico</a> </p><p>There are also several projects in the pipeline in Ivory Coast, Haiti, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><br> <h3 style="text-align:center;"> <b>Completed projects</b> </h3><p> <i> Product up-scaling <br> </i> <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-2012-06-Apoyo-Guatemala-Final-Report-edited1.pdf" target="_blank">Institutional strengthening to scale up financial intermediation and financial inclusion by Apoyo Integral in Guatemala</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2013-03_Pride_Tanzania-Final-Report_edited.pdf" target="_blank">Access to water and energy through microfinance by PRIDE RFW in Tanzania</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_Final-report_2013-07-PAMIGA-Ethiopia_edited.pdf" target="_blank">Access to water and energy through microfinance by Buusaa Gonofaa & Wasasa MFI in Ethiopia</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF_2011-06-2013-12_Tanzania_Swisscontact_Equity-Bank_Final-Report_edited.pdf" target="_blank">Promotion of women-run small businesses by Equity Bank Tanzania: Launch of Fanikisha+ loan product</a> <br><a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/SCBF-Final-Report-2014-04-Ghana-Microfinanza-edited-public1.pdf" target="_blank">Introduction and up-scaling of microloans for the distribution of biochar stoves by ASA in Ghana</a> </p> Swiss Capacity Buildung Facility (SCBF) <div class="ExternalClassF60DD6BB264B43E9AFF9EC84C4E2F196"><p><a href="http://scbf.ch/" target="_blank"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Logos/Logo_SCBF.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;vertical-align:middle;float:right;" /></a> </p><p>The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF) is a public-private development partnership dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of low-income people and micro-entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. It is a grant-making organisation with the objective to promote financial inclusion as a strategy for alleviating poverty.</p><p> </p><p>SCBF currently unites 18 Switzerland-based member organisations, including SDC as the public partner and core funder. The members greatly contribute through their expertise, ensuring SCBF stays focused and selects high-impact projects for capacity building support. This creates a unique partnership working to help partner financial institutions to enhance their outreach to financially excluded populations, as part of social and economic development work.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://scbf.ch/about-scbf/annual-reports/" target="_blank"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Covers/SCBF%20Annual.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:101px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /></a>On June 28, SCBF had its general assembly meeting, welcoming two new Swiss members: Venture South and responsAbility. Both joined in the first half of 2016 and reinforce SCBF's expertise in inclusive financial services. Furthermore, the <a href="http://scbf.ch/about-scbf/annual-reports/" target="_blank"><strong>annual report 2015 </strong></a>was presented. With this publication SCBF marks its first step towards reporting consolidated outreach figures. You can expect more on this very soon.</p></div> Summit on Sustainable Finance<div class="ExternalClass7DD62429353D4925A0EEDC1A73BAADA9"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Geneva%20Summit%20on%20Sustainable%20Finance_2016-03-22.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:90px;height:104px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />The programme and the presentations of the 3rd Geneva Summit on Sustainable Finance can be downloaded <a href="http://www.geneva-summit-on-sustainable-finance.ch/program-2016/">here</a>. The event took place on 22nd March 2016.</p></div> S&C Forum <div class="ExternalClass2A7B5ECA52464CE9927241D213C325FB"><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-05829.02_PAMIGA%20Water%20and%20Microfinance%20Initiative%20West%20Africa.JPG" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:144px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />The Savings and Credit Forum on: <strong>Inclusive finance promoting high impact solutions for low income populations in rural communities:</strong><strong>The PAMIGA model for improved access to water and energy</strong></p><p>was held on March 3, 2016. All the presentations can be downloaded <a href="/site/EI/Pages/FSD/Events/SC-Forum/SC-Forum-2016-03-Inclusive-Finance.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></div> News from the Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF)<p class="ExternalClass9F9FC33EF8714E8DB072B2170552B9BB"></p><p>The <a href="http://www.scbf.ch/" target="_blank">SCBF</a> is SDC’s major public-private development partnership with the Swiss financial sector to promote financial inclusion in the South. Activities under management since inception in 2011: </p><p></p><p><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07719.02_SCBF%20Swiss%20Capacitiy%20Building%20Facility_Global.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:100px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /><a href="http://scbf.ch/product-upscaling-interventions/" target="_blank">Product Up-scaling interventions</a>: Approved interventions: 56 / Overall volume: CHF 11.80 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 7.00 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 4.8 mio (41%)</p><p><a href="http://scbf.ch/feasibility-studies/" target="_blank">Feasibility Studies</a>: Approved studies: 15 / Overall volume: CHF 2.15 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 1.39 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 0.76 mio (avg 35%)</p><p><a href="http://scbf.ch/financial-education-campaigns/" target="_blank">Financial Education Campaigns</a>: Approved campaigns: 9 / Overall volume: CHF 1.92 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 1.13 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties CHF 0.79 mio.  (avg 41%)</p><p> </p><p><b>Highlights since the last newsletter:</b></p><p></p><p></p><p>Myanmar: SME lending<br>Mexico: digital payment platform<br>Zimbabwe: microinsurance greenfielding<br>Myanmar: microinsurance claims optimization<br>Mexico: digital ROSCA platform</p><p></p><p></p> Access to finance - A micro credit bank supported by SDC is showing promising results<div class="ExternalClass605BCA8A49BD462C98C2C55D1C45E504"><div><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Image_Project%20MBFM%201%20Workshop.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:100px;height:150px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" />SDC Mozambique private and financial sector domain aims at improving access to finance. Since 2012, SDC has supported an innovative private public partnership to create a rural green-fielding institution called Microbanco Fides Moçambique SA (MBFM) whose technical assistance is provided by Financial Systems Development Services (FIDES). In this context of the PPDP, Swiss Microfinance Holding (SMH) acted as the private sector investor. MBFM is a formally licensed micro bank under the prudential regulation and supervision of central bank. The partnership between SDC, FIDES and SMH was designed to leverage scarce public resources and to reach 15’000 poor clients that could not be targeted through a standard project. In addition to MBFM, and as part of the project, an Inclusive Finance and Insurance Academy (INFINA) was established to train young Mozambican to staff MBFM. SDC is represented by the COOF at MBFM board of Directors.<a href="/site/EI/Pages/News/Newsletter/Spotlights/ei-newsletter-2015-12-spotlight6.aspx" target="_blank"> >> more</a></div></div> News from the Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF)<p class="ExternalClassDF7D0556FD0945B7AD9FC7A5EE78717F"></p><p>The <a href="http://www.scbf.ch/" target="_blank">SCBF</a> is SDC’s major public-private development partnership with the Swiss financial sector to promote financial inclusion in the South. Activities under management since inception in 2011: </p><p></p><p style="line-height:14.93px;"><img src="/site/EI/PublishingImages/Page-Images/Projects/7F-07719.02_SCBF%20Swiss%20Capacitiy%20Building%20Facility_Global.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:100px;height:151px;vertical-align:middle;float:left;" /><b><a href="http://scbf.ch/product-upscaling-interventions/" target="_blank">Product Up-scaling interventions</a>: </b>Approved interventions: 52 / Overall volume: CHF 10.75 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 6.53 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 4.22 mio (39%)</p><p style="line-height:14.93px;"><b><a href="http://scbf.ch/feasibility-studies/" target="_blank">Feasibility Studies</a>:</b> Approved studies: 15 / Overall volume: CHF 2.17 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 1.42 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 0.75 mio (avg 31%)</p><p style="line-height:14.93px;"><b><a href="http://scbf.ch/financial-education-campaigns/" target="_blank">Financial Education Campaigns</a>:</b> Approved campaigns: 8 / Overall volume: CHF 1.75 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 0.97 mio (avg 40%)</p><p style="line-height:14.93px;"><b>Highlights since the last newsletter </b><br><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;">A</span><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;">pproval of one product up-scaling intervention in Haiti and feasibility</span><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;"> studies in Myanmar and Bangladesh. There are also several proj</span><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;">ects</span><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;"> in the pipeline.</span></p><p style="line-height:14.93px;"><span style="line-height:1.6;font-size:14px;"><br>Completion of six product up-scaling interventions including one in <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SCBF_2011-07_Final-Report_Egypt_ABA_PlaNet-Finance_19-10-15_final-version1.pdf" target="_blank">Egypt</a>, Morocco, <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2012-11_Nepal_NMB_M-Cril_final-version_27-10-15.pdf" target="_blank">Nepal</a>, Senegal, Haiti and Peru.</span></p><p></p><p><br> </p><p></p> The SCBF is SDC’s major public-private development partnership with the Swiss financial sector<p class="ExternalClass7A863909A79A410AAC0FADFB788D2773"></p><p>The <a href="http://www.scbf.ch/" target="_blank">SCBF</a> is SDC’s major public-private development partnership with the Swiss financial sector to promote financial inclusion in the South.<br>Activities under management since inception in 2011:</p><p> <br> <b>Product Up-scaling interventions: </b>Approved interventions: 50 / Overall volume: CHF 10.5 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 6.4 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 4.2 mio (36%)</p><p> <br> <b>Feasibility Studies:</b> Approved studies: 13 / Overall volume: CHF 1.8 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 1.3 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 0.5 mio (30%)</p><p> <br> <b>Financial Education Campaigns:</b> Approved campaigns: 8 / Overall volume: CHF 1.7 mio / Approved SCBF contributions: CHF 1 mio / Self-contribution by partner financial intermediaries and third parties: CHF 0.7 (40%)<br><b>Highlights:</b></p><p> </p><p>Completion of product up-scaling interventions in <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SCBF-2013-02_Final-Report_Palestina_CAB_GAF_final.pdf" target="_blank">Palestine</a>, <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2013-09_FactSheet_Honduras_Bamboo_Banco-Popular1.pdf" target="_blank">Honduras</a>, <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2013-11_FactSheet_El-Salvador-Honduras_Habitat.pdf" target="_blank">El Salvador/Honduras</a>, <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2012-06_FactSheet_Guatemala_Apoyo-Integral.pdf" target="_blank">Guatemala</a> and <a href="http://scbf.ch/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014-05_FactSheet_Nepal_PlaNetFinance_Manushi.pdf" target="_blank">Nepal</a>. Multiple interventions are currently in the pipeline for fall. </p><p>You might also want to have a look at the <a href="http://scbf.ch/about-scbf/annual-reports/" target="_blank">Annual Report 2014</a>.<br></p><p></p><p></p> Cash transfers to address acute malnutrition in emergency contexts<div class="toAlignListElmntOnPage"><p><em><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#666666;font-family:helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;">[by André Dürr, SDC]</span></em> There are multtiple causes for malnutrition in emergency and transitional contexts. Hence understaing the pre-emergency and emergency-specific causes of malnutrition is essential to plan a sensible intervention. Humanitarian agencies are increasingly using cash transfers to address acute malnutrition. <a href="/site/Agriculture-and-Food-Security/news/Documents/2015_09_cash_transfers_duerr.pdf" target="_blank"> <strong>But what does the evidence say?</strong></a></p></div>
Vocational Skills Dev
VET between Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development“VET between Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development”: The aim of the training course is to strengthen the capacity of the participants in portfolio management for VET, skills development and active labor market policies. More Information <a href="http://www.nadel.ethz.ch/education/Fall2015/VET.html">http://www.nadel.ethz.ch/education/Fall2015/VET.html</a>
Private Sector Dev
Summer Academy on territorial economic development<div>This Summer Academy of Mesopartner will address Local and Regional Economic Development and emphasize on integrating different priorities, perspectives and challenges faced by sub-national regions where industries, communities and government programmes co-evolve.</div>
|
