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June 18, 2012 - June 21, 2012
CML Newsletter
Why Gender Diversity Matters
Gender diversity matters in microfinance. WWB champions gender diversity because we believe that diverse perspectives lead to stronger decisions and healthier, more vibrant organizations. Incorporating women’s voices when designing and delivering microfinance products is particularly important when a majority of clients are women. Equally as important, microfinance clients often speak of the inspiration they derive from seeing powerful women leaders in the organizations that serve them. How best to achieve diversity? The answer lies in leadership and technical skill development of individual, high-potential leaders as well as in organizational transformations to ensure that all women and men work in environments where they can perform, excel and lead.
Featured Publication
“Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women” introduces WWB’s new methodology for helping MFIs support gender diversity at all levels of their institution. WWB has expanded its Women’s Leadership Development Program, which works with individuals, to include a tool that focuses on the challenges and opportunities microfinance institutions face in the attraction, retention, and promotion of qualified women staff members - the Organizational Gender Assessment. Now available in English and Spanish.
Center for Microfinance Leadership program graduate Essma Ben Hamida named "Social Entrepreneur of the Year" at the World Economic Forum On The Middle East
WWB network leader Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder and executive director of enda inter-arabe (Tunisia), was recognized as a leading social innovator during a plenary session at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, on October 26th. Enda inter-arabe was co-founded by Essma Ben Hamida and her husband, Michael Cracknell, in 1990. Today it is the first and only best-practice microfinance institution in Tunisia with a staff of 750 across 60 branches. Enda serves 140,000 active clients with a US$ 48 million loan portfolio and a repayment rate above 99 percent.
The award was presented by The Schwab Foundation, which works with media and corporate partners to select the most accomplished social entrepreneurs every year. A jury then elects “The Social Entrepreneur of the Year.” The criteria include innovation, sustainability and social impact.
Ms. Ben Hamida attended the 2010 Advanced Leadership Workshop co-hosted by the Center for Microfinance Leadership and the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Click here to read the press release