Transparency & Efficiency
A Shared Goal

Together with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme strives to improve access to finance in ACP countries. The EC endorsed CGAP's new five year strategy pdf - 201 KB [201 KB] for 2008-2013. 

Areas of joint CGAP-EU/ACP collaboration

CGAP contributes to making ACP microfinance markets more efficient and transparent by supporting sound and deep market infrastructure, strong institutions with a diverse product offer and favorable policies. Together with CGAP, the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme works on:

  • Building Transparency by creating financial standards and good information, thereby increasing transparency on financial and social performance.
  • Promoting institutional and product diversity to improve efficiency of the delivery of financial services, thereby bringing costs down and expanding outreach.
  • Enhancing regulatory and policy frameworks to help governments to design and implement policies conducive for sustainable microfinance

CGAP is uniquely positioned as a well-respected, high quality resource centre for the microfinance industry. It provides specialised services such as technical advice, training, research and development, standards promotion, and information dissemination.  Primarily through CGAP’s Africa initiative (but also with its Policy Cadre, Technology Program and Graduation Program), CGAP is actively engaged in ACP countries. CGAP also provides advice and training to the European Commission and other funders to improve the overall effectiveness of their support of microfinance.

Learn more about CGAP's aid effectiveness work

CGAP Activities in ACP countries

Examples of activities carried out between June 2005 and June 2008 per area of joint collaboration:

Building Transparency

  • More than 200 ACP MFIs report to the Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX); more than 1000 globally.
  • Eight of 34 MFIs reporting on social performance are in ACP countries.
  • More than 80 investors and donors report to the MIX.
  • 26 ACP MFIs received Information System Fund support.
  • Six ACP MFIs received honourable mention for the 2006 Financial Transparency Award.

 

Promoting institutional and product diversity

  • Three African banks received technical assistance for business planning development from CGAP’s Retail Advisory Service.
  • Two savings assessments were done in Benin and Uganda; and a cost-of-savings exercise was done in Ethiopia.
  • Three ACP MFIs received a CGAP grant for development of pro-poor innovation of financial services.
  • Two Kenyan institutions participate in CGAP’s technology innovation program.
  • A pilot commenced in Haiti to graduate the poorest into microfinance, linking safety nets and financial services.
  • 478 ACP MFI managers were trained by CGAP-supported initiatives.

 

Enhancing regulatory and policy frameworks

  • Eight African countries and the Central Banks from West and Central Africa received technical advice on their regulatory and legal framework for microfinance.
  • 12 ACP regulatory frameworks are included in the Regulation and Supervision Resource Centre.
  • More than 30 policymakers were trained by CGAP staff in the policy track in Boulder.
  • 16 national microfinance strategies of ACP countries were analysed.

For more information on CGAP activities in ACP countries in the course of the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme, see the overview of activities in ACP countries per fiscal year:

2008 Overview of CGAP activities in ACP countries in fiscal year 2008 pdf - 288 KB [288 KB]

2007 Overview of CGAP activities in ACP countries in fiscal year 2007 pdf - 161 KB [161 KB]  

2006 Overview of CGAP activities in ACP countries in fiscal year 2006 pdf - 94 KB [94 KB]

2005 Overview of CGAP activities in ACP countries in fiscal year 2005 pdf - 51 KB [51 KB]