Objective study AMFIU

The overall objective of the study is to better inform AMFIU and the donors that support the association:

(i) on its strengths and weaknesses
(ii) how the association is positioned in the microfinance landscape currently and
(iii) scenarios for the future.

With this information, management of AMFIU will have a tool at hand to strengthen their organization and results of the study will assist donors to more effectively and efficiently support AMFIU. In detail the study should provide an answer to the following issues:

1. The impact and management challenges of a very diverse membership on the policy directions of the association.

o How can an association represent the interests of both big and small financial intermediaries?
o How can the association balance member needs in terms of size, financial and capacity needs and how can it simultaneously deal with the needs of members located in rural and urban locations?

2. The role or influence of donors and governments on policy setting of the association.

o How do they influence the directions of AMFIU than their own members?
o Do they induce directions that are (partly) against the interest of the members or are these influences complimentary?
o In particular, the profile of the association as a network/umbrella vis-à-vis a project/multi-purpose NGO should be established and tested.

3. Prospects of financial sustainability of the association.

o How can or are members willing to finance the operational budget of an association?
o What other sources of income can be identified? In that context, which ways of income generation do systems within the association focus on/support (with regard to previous point)?
o What are meaningful indicators for financial sustainability of an apex?

4. How can the value-added of an association like AMFIU within the Ugandan microfinance industry be assessed and (continuously) measured?

o Among others this may be ascertained through a survey of members, donors and government agencies working in the microfinance industry.

5. Prospects or future scenarios of the association with recommendations.

o In particular this should be tied in closely with AMFIU’s current strategic plan. To make these recommendations very concrete and beneficial for AMFIU, the listed recommendations should assist AMFIU to focus and implement its strategic plan and to strengthen their capacity to achieve their goals.