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| L-R Mr. Fatajo, PS Ada Gaye and Dr. Oley Njie Mbye |
As part of Rural Finance Project (RFP) objectives of strengthening Micro Finance Institutions towards creating an enabling microfinance industry, RFP handed over motobikes, and management information system equipments worth D2,838,637 to implementing agencies.
The handing over ceremony was held on Friday 30 March,
2012 at the Rural Finance Project office, Cape Point in Bakau.
The items handed over include 13 motobikes, 38 solar
panels, computers and accessories including printers.
The beneficiaries were NACCUG CUs, GAWFA branches and
4 VISACAs as part of RFP 2011 implementation activities
Speaking on-behalf of the Minister of Agriculture,
Madam Ada Gaye permanent secretary said the handed over of the items came as a
result of RFP response to lack of transparent and reliable information within
the framework of the RFP monitoring and evaluation activities.
“Provision of information facilities to collect first
hand data and establish a network of focal points will offer easy-access to
updated and reliable information that will encourage and promote a new
collaborative sharing of information for consultation and planned activities of
RFP,” said PS Gaye.
This cooperation framework between the RFP and
partners formalising support for the implementing agencies in charge of managing
the RFP activities through interface with beneficiaries is timely.
Moreover, this is a strategy for promoting economic
growth, reducing poverty by building and strengthening private enterprises and
membership organisations, representing them [implementing agencies] to be more
responsive to competitive markets that are stronger and more inclusive.
The management information systems, PS Gaye state that
would provide real time information on Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs)
operations and performance indicators.
The equipment, she continued, would not only provide
timely information for evidence based decision-making but also improve the
quality of work as reflected on the ground as accurately as possible.
The motobikes, Agriculture PS said is to address the
loan recovery issues that rendered the operations of most MFIs particularly
VISACA less than desired even to closure of some of the VISACAs in the country.
The closure of some of the VISACAs, she went on is as
a result of long distance and limited follow ups on clients owning the MFIs
adding that with the motobikes, the works of the implementing agencies has now
become easy for them to mobile and recover loans.
“These are public capital investments that does yie;d
returns in quality of life and social well-being of the rural populance.”
Therefore, it is prudent to state that a positive
relationship between RFP and their implementing agencies should be made to be
effective in creating or promoting values, she advised.
The partnership relationship, PS said must be an
integral part of the management processes, be embedded in the culture and
practices of the organisation, be tailored to the business of the organisation
and comply with the guiding principles of the RFP .
In her words, these, she alluded includes but not
restricted to creating an appropriate organisational innovation including
business advisory and support services, finance skills development, business
technology and extension services.
The overall aim of the handing over the items to the
beneficiaries, she disclosed, is to create more understanding of how rural poor
interact with market systems which, she noted can be used to change or improve
their livelihoods through a well coordinated value chain and cluster approaches
to microfinance.
In concluding her speech, PS Gaye said sustainability
is key to all the equipments that are given to the implementing agencies of
RFP 2011 activities.
Hear her further: “the long term responsibility to
maintan the equipment and the approach to the management of the information
largely gained from the implementing process would need to be secured for the
sustainability of implementing agencies, beneficiaries and above all RFP.
“Each of you as per project activity has a defined
role and responsibility, I therefore call upon you all to abide by in the
interest of economic development,” she concluded.
For his part, Mr. Lamin Fatajo Coordinator Rural
Finance Project, said that with the handing over of the items, the implementing
agencies would be recover loans in their respective places of operations.
He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the
items and use the item for carrying out the implementation of RFP 2011
activities.
Dr. Oley Njie- Mbye chief executive officer GAWFA,
speaking onbehalf of the beneficiaries, thanked RFP for providing them
(beneficiaries) with motobikes, computers and accessories saying that it has
now make their job easy for them.
Mr. Noah Kujabi delivered the vote of thanks and the
handing over ceremony was graced by beneficiary institutions.
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