The JASMINE (Joint Action to Support Microfinance Institutions in Europe) Project was launched in 2008 by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank Group to develop microcredit in the EU. It comprises of a technical assistance program in addition to a funding facility. Microfinance Centre (MFC) is the implementing partner for this project. (Read JASMINE new brochure).
The training courses offered to JASMINE beneficiaries are developed based on an initial assessment or rating of MFIs’ activities and performance by Microfinanza Rating and Planet Rating. After the completion of the evaluation phase, MFC’s experts provide customized trainings to the staff and management of the MFIs, with particular attention to the weaknesses observed in the evaluation/rating reports. The trainings are organized around four focus areas: good governance, strategic planning, IT and risk management.
In October 2010 MFC started its technical assistance activities for 14 MFIs which play an important role in providing access to finance to micro and small businesses in Europe. Among the selected MFIs were: FAER, LAM, Opportunity Microfinance (OMRO), Express Finance from Romania, PRIMOM, Mikrohitel, FEA (Foundation for Regional Enterprise Promotion for the Town of Székesfehérvár) from Hungary, Nachala, Mikrofond, USTOI from Bulgaria, PSYBT (Prince’s Scottish Youth and Business Trust) from the UK, CP’AC (Fundación Privada per la Promoció de L’Autoocupació de Catalunya) from Spain, PerMicro from Italy and Créa-sol from France.
In 2011 the following European microfinance institutions have been selected to receive technical assistance under the JASMINE Project: Nachala, Mikrofond and Bulgarian Development Bank JOBs MFI from Bulgaria, Patria credit, ROMCOM and The Agency for Implementing Projects and Programs for SMEs from Romania, Manchester Credit Union and Business Finance Solutions from the UK, Qredits from the Netherlands, Credal from Belgium and Fondazione Risorsa Donna from Italy.
To learn more about the MFC trainings provided for JASMINE MFIs please contact:
Aldona Rutkowska, Project Manager: aldona@mfc.org.pl or Yuliya Chumachenko, Project Assistant: jchumachenko@mfc.org.pl.
For additional information about the JASMINE Project please visit:
http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/microfinance/JASMINE/index.htm
