As the light of the moon is a reflection from the sun, so is the power of the MoonLight lantern coming from the heat of the sun. Moonlight is one of the practical and multi-functional solar-powered tools developed by Kamworks. It can be used as a lantern when farmers go out to their farms early…
One of the main services of PFTAS is focused on the promotion of social performance management (SPM) as a tool for microfinance institutions. Part of these technical advisory services is the conduct of social performance assessment to determine if the institution has translated its social mission into operational policies and actual practices. In Vietnam, PFTAS…
Adult education requires more innovative methodologies relevant to the absorptive capacity and the culture of the participants. PFTAS has developed practical materials that can be used by MFIs to introduce new financial concepts, effect change in attitude and reinforce financial discipline among its clients. One of the main materials developed by PFTAS was the flipchart. …
More than thirty people huddled under the house of the village chief to listen to the presentation of the Cambodian SUN marketing staff. Using a flipchart, they discussed the technical aspects of the product and after sales support to the solar home system (SHS). It was fast, within fifteen minutes and the presentation was finished….
The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) just released documents from the concluded annual meeting of the task force this year in Panama. Reviewing the issues raised and discussed at the meeting, we at PFTAS can claim that we are advanced in our approach in SPM mainstreaming. We not only shared the concepts of SPM but…
At present, only 24% of the total households in Cambodia have access to electric power. Those outside the main grid are using wood, kerosene and batteries as sources of energy. These energy sources claim a substantial amount on the income of an ordinary household, not to mention its effect on the environment. Promoting clean energy…
The rolling hills looked like a manicured green in a golf course. As we came nearer, terraced slopes revealed the rows of tea shrubs. The village is 85 kilometers from Hanoi, and can be reached in a two-hour leisurely car ride. Despite the short distance from the main market, farmers in the area earn less…
Interest rate and its determination is one of the trickiest issues in microfinance. Most people say MFIs are charging too much, and some government agencies are even putting cap on the lending rates of financial institutions. Mission drift is an increasing phenomenon as more MFIs are shifting to bigger loan sizes and catering to the…
One of the main problems for researchers is the generating the right data that they can use. Since you have a hypothesis before you start, the design of the research is towards the validation or the rejection of the hypothesis. There are times when researchers are becoming too hard (too irritating!) on the respondents or…
Market research is now an indispensable tool for MFIs in enhancing their products and services. The emerging trend is now far from the previous one-size-fits-all financial products that has been the cornerstone of microfinance success for several decades. Group loans are basically reserved for first time borrowers that have yet to establish track record of…
