United Nations Capital Development Fund and the State University of New York Sign Agreement to Expand Education on Microfinance
New accord seen as opportunity to expand knowledge of inclusive finance to new generation of leaders
Henriette Keijzers, UNCDF Executive Secretary a.i. and John M. Thomas, Dean of the School of Management at the University of Buffalo, sign an agreement to expand UNCDF's microfinance distance learning programme to the SUNY network - the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. Photo by Adam Rogers/ UNCDF.
NEW YORK – 5 March 2008: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the State University of New York (SUNY) today signed an agreement to expand and extend a microfinance training programme that explores why and how microfinance operations grow to provide financial services to poor and low-income people on a sustainable basis.
The Microfinance Distance Learning (MFDL) course, which was developed by UNCDF for web, distance learning and classroom delivery, brings together advice and best practices from successful practitioners and institutions around the world, from Latin America to Africa to Asia and the Arab States.
With the signing of the Agreement, SUNY, through its University at Buffalo (UB) School of Management, the Center for International Development (CID) of the Rockefeller College, University at Albany (UA) and SUNY’s Levin Institute, will further develop and deliver the MFDL to a broad audience.
“The Microfinance Distance Learning programme represents a significant innovation for organizations engaged in the critical work of creating opportunities for building entrepreneurship and small business in emerging economies,” said UB School of Management Dean John M. Thomas. “It is also a unique opportunity for the UB School of Management to apply our expertise in management education to this important goal. We look forward to working with our SUNY partners and the UN Capital Development Fund to make this project a long term, sustainable success.”
UNCDF Executive Secretary, a.i. Henriette Keijzers said the partnership with SUNY to upscale, replicate and expand the MFDL presents another boost for building inclusive financial sectors. “Our UNCDF microfinance colleagues invested a lot of time, energy and resources into developing this programme,” she said. “The intention was to promote knowledge of microfinance to as broad an audience as possible, which is now happening through partnerships like this one with SUNY.”
A similar partnership was established with the Boulder Institute of Microfinance, the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs, and the Asian Development Bank Institute.
The Levin Institute, the Center for International Development and the UB School of Management will further develop strategic partnerships to expand the implementation of the training programme - in the U.S. and internationally. Possible partnerships may include NGOs, governments and development agencies, with the goal of offering training programmes on microfinance using the UNCDF materials. As well, symposiums on microfinance for academics and businesspeople are being planned.
“The opportunity for SUNY and the Levin Institute to work with the United Nations in helping to inform a new cohort of business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs about the world of micro-finance represents an exciting educational opportunity for us,” said Dr. Denis Simon, provost of the Levin Institute. “By assisting in the diffusion of knowledge about microfinance, we hope to spark new pockets of growth and development in countries that will benefit greatly from being able to access these new channels of capital."
Dr. Jeffrey D. Straussman, Dean of the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, noted "We are delighted that the Center for International Development has this opportunity to support microfinance institutions throughout the developing world. Through improved skills of their personnel, these small institutions will be able to reach more people with opportunities to better their lives. Offering this course complements CID's practical achievements providing micro-loans and leases."
More information: UN News Centre
About UNCDF
Established in 1966 by the UN General Assembly with a unique mandate to invest in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is affiliated with UNDP and contributes to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the local level through a unique combination of investment capital (grants, credits and guarantees), capacity building support and technical advisory services within its two practice areas: (i) Inclusive Financial Sectors and (ii) Decentralization and Local Development. UNCDF currently has active programmes valued at approximately US$ 125 million in 39 LDCs. More information is available at www.uncdf.org.
About SUNY
The State University of New York (http://www.suny.edu) is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 413,000 students in 6,688 degree and certificate programmes on 64 campuses. SUNY's continuing education enrollment is more than 1 million. As part of this network, the University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the SUNY system that is its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Established in 1986, SUNY’s Center for International Development has implemented more than $170 million in international development projects on five continents in the areas of democracy, governance, and civil society; economic development; and environmental policy. The Levin Institute, based in New York City, serves as a specialized global platform for SUNY and its campuses, providing a broad array of unique and innovative academic opportunities – degree and non-degree – to enhance global awareness and understanding among students, faculty and working professionals.
