Sri Lanka Microfinance, January 4th, 2013
Enabling dialogues: Creating awareness about development
The Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association (LMFPA) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a series of 15 discussion forums, titled Enabling Dialogue, which were held in different towns and cities in Sri Lanka over the course of a year.
The Lanka Micro Finance Practitioners’ Association (LMFPA), as the apex body of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), in its bid to address and create awareness about development and the current status of the industry, including best practices commenced a series of Enabling Dialogues.
The purpose of the Enabling Dialogue programmes was to create awareness among microfinance practitioners in Sri Lanka on the current status of the local microfinance context, its challenges and how to address them effectively.
“Enabling dialogue sessions helped us in many ways, bringing current topics and issues to the table for interactive discussions, understanding the field level, especially the regional level, making stakeholders aware about potential opportunities and changes in the sector.
Further, it was a great opportunity for LMFPA to receive inputs from practitioners for upcoming publications by the LMFPA,” stated Imran Nafeer, Secretary of LMFPA.
Enabling dialogue programmes brought together stakeholders in the MF sector such as microfinance practitioners, technical service providers and facilitators to discuss a range of topics such as gender equality in microfinance, how to avoid over indebtedness, social performance management of MFIs, financial literacy and client protection principles, micro insurance and responsible financing.
These forums not only helped the participants gain greater insight into the status of the MF sector in Sri Lanka, share experiences and lessons learned; but also facilitated the establishment of strong relationships among the stakeholders.
Enabling dialogue programmes were previously conducted only in Colombo but then moved on to areas such as Kandy, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Batticaloa, Badulla and Jaffna. It was felt that these forums would better benefit the MFIs that are operating in the regional level. Five special Enabling dialogues were held in Jaffna alone because it is a newly emerging financial market.
“We felt that Enabling dialogue was a very productive tool for LMFPA in creating and establishing a conducive environment for the microfinance sector in Sri Lanka. We would like to continue similar programmes in the future, especially to make practitioners aware about the upcoming Microfinance Act,” said LMFPA President Channa Jayatilleke.
Sri Lanka Micro Finance 