Originally published: May 15, 2008
Source: Business Wire India
Microfinance Insights, the quarterly print publication from Intellecap, recently released a survey report on Human Resources Challenges and Solutions in Microfinance. The online survey, open from February through March 2008, revealed that although microfinance has been promoted as a tool to empower women, the presence of women in staff and management positions is not reflective of the client base. 90 respondents from 31 countries participated in the survey.
The survey also found that:
- 51% of MFIs label human resources issues as the most challenging in comparison to financial, technology and turnover issues.
- MFIs and consultants working in microfinance identified finding strategic thinkers with experience in microfinance as the most challenging (63%), in comparison to finding talent with capital markets experience (16%) or basic operations experience (21%).
- Nearly half (46%) of MFIs said that staff turnover is a concern, but not their biggest concern.
- MFI consider local knowledge as the most important criterion while recruiting. They rank it higher than international knowledge, management degrees, capital markets experience and local language proficiency for all levels of MFI staff.
- More than a quarter of all MFIs surveyed have less than 10% women on staff and only 9% of all MFIs have a staff comprised of more than 75% women.
- Nearly half (46%) of all MFIs surveyed have less than 10% women in their management team.
- A surprisingly large number (81%) of institutions in South Asia reported having less than 50% women on staff.
The full survey report can be downloaded from Microfinance Insights website or requested through an email to publications@intellecap.net.
Read the complete article: Microfinance Insights Magazine Releases Survey Report on Human Resource Challenges (Business Wire India)