A training program on "Micro-enterprise Financing" was organized in Kathmandu, Nepal, from September 13-14, 2011, by Grameen Trust, Bangladesh, and Rural Microfinance Development Centre (RMDC), Nepal. 25 participants from 15 organizations attended the training program. The participants are microcredit practitioners, who work as Branch Managers, Area Managers, Credit Officers and Finance and Administration staff in their respective organizations. Mr. Shankar Man Shrestha, Chief Executive Director, RMDC inaugurated the program on September 13, 2011. Mr. S. M. Musa, Deputy General Manager, Grameen Bank, and Mr. Mir Hossain Chowdhury, Assistant General Manager, Grameen Trust, conducted the training program as resource persons.

During the 2-day training program the resource persons from Bangladesh covered various topics related to Micro-enterprise Financing, such as, Basic Principles of Micro-enterprise Financing, Methodology and Approach of Micro-enterprise Selection Process, Clients and Enterprise Selection Process, Design and Fixing of Repayment Plan, Assessing Credit Risk, Impact and Challenges of Micro-enterprise Loan and Monitoring and Supervision of Enterprise Loan.

The participants found the training extremely useful. They stated that prior to participating in the training they had faced various problems with Micro-enterprise Financing, but following the training they were confident about being able to solve the problems.

Report by: Mir Hossain Chowdhury

Grameen Trust (GT) initiated Project Dignity in Bangladesh in April 2006 with financial support from Citigroup Foundation. The program, designed exclusively for beggars, has been implemented in order to replicate Grameen Bank's Struggling Members' Program.

Project Dignity has been implemented through 12 partner organizations in Bangladesh. The project presents an alternative option to begging for its members so that they can quit this disgraceful profession. Following the example set by Grameen Bank's Struggling Members' Program, Project Dignity offers beggars interest-free loans with flexible repayment terms. The beggars use their loans to invest in small businesses, for example, selling peanuts, chocolates, eggs, milk, etc. Besides receiving loans to invest in businesses, just like the Struggling Members' Program, members of Project Dignity also receive various utility items (e.g. blankets, umbrellas, mosquito nets etc.) and they gradually repay the value of these through repayments that are small and flexible. No member of Project Dignity is forced to make any decisions against their wishes, but it is hoped that they will voluntarily quit begging after they feel comfortable to do so.

Till June 2011, Tk. 13,282,444 (approximately US$ 189,749) has been disbursed as loans and utility services through Project Dignity. The members have cumulatively repaid Tk. 8,911,628 (approximately US$ 127,309) for the loans and utility services. Of the 4,619 members of Project Dignity, 227 have already quit begging and 193 have joined the mainstream microcredit programs of the partner organizations. There are many potential members who are using their loans effectively and have a high likelihood of also quitting begging soon.

Grameen Trust has organized monitoring visits, workshops, training programs, review meetings, innovation dialogues etc. to ensure that the project is being implemented properly.

Grameen Trust has compiled case studies on some of the members of Project Dignity. These are available in English and Bengali at Grameen Trust's library.

Report by: Mir Hossain Chowdhury and S. M. Nizam