Entries tagged with Plan International

Awais's picture
Awais
• 04/01/11
• 0 Comments

In the Punjab section of Pakistan, just south of Islamabad, is the district of Chakwal—a focal point for an innovative community development effort based on poverty measurement. Since May 2010, no fewer than 68 villages surrounding Chakwal have been participating in a new initiative to help the poorest among them. The program, Plan Chakwal, supported by microfinance network Plan International, has been leading the way in using the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) to guide its community development work.

Led by Shabbir Hussain, Plan Chakwal’s livelihood coordinator, and Aziz Malik, Plan’s community development facilitator, Plan Chakwal over a three-month period (June, July and August, 2010) collected 18,003 PPI scorecards from the 68 villages, using a census approach. Because these villages have local community base organizations (CBOs) to follow through with community development work, they were chosen for PPI data collection.

...Read More >
Awais's picture
Awais
• 01/24/11
• Comments

As the Regional Microfinance Programme Specialist for Plan International in Asia, I have learned first-hand the top challenges faced by microfinance institutions in accepting—and implementing—the PPI as their poverty assessment tool. My observations led me to create the ten challenges I outline here.

...Read More >
Awais's picture
Awais
• 11/09/10
• 0 Comments

Whenever I ask participants in a PPI training if they are interested in establishing a PPI peer learning network, everyone says yes. Then very few follow through.
The purpose of a peer learning network is to further develop MFIs’ understanding of the PPI through knowledge management and experience sharing. I have encouraged the establishment of PPI peer learning networks in three countries:

- Cambodia
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh

...Read More >
franspurnama's picture
franspurnama
• 07/29/10
• 0 Comments

As part of its commitment to measure the social impact of microfinance on the poor, the Indonesia Microfinance Association (IMA) requires all its member organizations to implement Social Performance Management (SPM). And in partnership with Plan International and the Grameen Foundation, IMA introduced the Progress Out of Poverty Index™ (PPI™) as a SPM tool to its members in a PPI Training of Trainer (ToT) workshop on May 25-27 in Bandung, West Java.

...Read More >
Awais's picture
Awais
• 04/13/10
• 0 Comments

More than three dozen village agents from seven different communities were gathered at a training hall in Dakrong district in Quang Tri, Vietnam when I arrived there in February. Along with four project officers, the group would spend three days learning about the Progress Out of Poverty Index™ (PPI™).

...Read More >
PreetiWali's picture
PreetiWali
• 03/10/10
• Comments

“Synergy in action.” “Exhausting but exhilarating and exciting!” These are descriptions by key organizers of a recent PPI Training of Trainers (TOT) in Phnom Penh, where the first Cambodia PPI was rolled out last month.

...Read More >
PreetiWali's picture
PreetiWali
• 03/04/10
• Comments

We’ve learned through our work with MFIs that nothing is more effective at helping them better understand the benefits, uses, and challenges of the PPI than meeting with their peers in region/country. We’ve seen peer learning groups gather in Chiapas, Manila, and now in Bangalore.

The first India PPI Peer Learning workshop gathered 18 participants from three major microfinance networks and nine Indian MFIs. They came to Bangalore to discuss best PPI practices and to identify future opportunities to meet and collaborate on social performance efforts. The networks were:

...Read More >
PreetiWali's picture
PreetiWali
• 02/19/10
• Comments

--Guest blog by Ben Simmes of Oikocredit--

...Read More >