Signing of the microfinance investment and technical assistance facility (Mitaf) project document Amendmemnt.

Summary: Since 2003, the Government of Sierra Leone is cooperating with KfW, UNDP, UNCDF and Cordaid in a 5-year programme on eIuDeveloping a Sustainable Pro-Poor Financial Sector in Sierra LeoneeIN. The programme is implemented by the Microfinance Investment and Technical Assistance Facility (MITAF). Its overarching objective is to increase sustainable access to financial services for poor and low-income people in Sierra Leone.

Signing of the microfinance investment and technical assistance facility (Mitaf) project document Amendmemnt

Since 2003, the Government of Sierra Leone is cooperating with KfW, UNDP, UNCDF and Cordaid in a 5-year programme on eIuDeveloping a Sustainable Pro-Poor Financial Sector in Sierra LeoneeIN. The programme is implemented by the Microfinance Investment and Technical Assistance Facility (MITAF). Its overarching objective is to increase sustainable access to financial services for poor and low-income people in Sierra Leone.

The program focuses on the following four outputs:

- Potential leaders of the microfinance industry have reached sustainability and have considerably increased their outreach;- Strategic partnerships are built with other donors in joint support of a sustainable pro-poor financial sector;- A professional microfinance unit has been established in the Bank of Sierra Leone (BoSL) to ensure an optimal enabling environment for the development of the microfinance industry and its eventual integration into the financial system; and- Sound microfinance principles have been disseminated and are widely accepted and adopted.

Until the end of March 2008, the following main results have been achieved:

- An increase in microfinance loan clients from 21,473 to 60,491;- Increased geographic outreach;- Improved staff capacity;- Enhanced access to grants/credit;- Access to relevant technology;- Establishment of new MFIs and increased professional management of their operations;

Despite the progress made, much more support is needed for the development of a prop-poor financial sector. To facilitate these efforts, the Government of Sierra Leone, KfW, UNCDF, UNDP and CORDAID signed an amendment to the Project Document related to this programme on Monday, July 14 2008 at the Bank of Sierra Leone in the GovernoreIUs office. The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Rolf Saligmann, signed on behalf of KfW, Mr. Bernard Mokam, UNDP Country Director, signed on behalf of UNDP and UNCDF and the Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development signed on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone.

The amended Project Document will be the basis for additional funds provided to the project by different donors. It includes a special focus on increasing outreach to rural areas by introducing innovative rural finance schemes as well as a reorganization of the MITAF structure. It will also facilitate the provision of additional funds for a variety of new project activities, such as the establishment of the Sierra Leonean Microfinance Association.E 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

E 2008 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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