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February 13, 2012 - February 18, 2012
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April 16, 2012 - April 20, 2012
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June 18, 2012 - June 21, 2012
CML Newsletter
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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.
Mission & Background
Mission
The mission of the WWB Center for Microfinance Leadership is to support the development of a diverse set of principled, visionary leaders and high performing, meritocratic organizations for the microfinance industry.
Background
WWB’s commitment to supporting principled leaders at the helm of gender diverse microfinance providers (MFPs) dates to its establishment as a global network in 1979. Today the WWB network includes some of the most celebrated leaders in the industry, representing a global commitment to responsive, sustainable microfinance. WWB founded the Center in 2009 in response to critical changes in the industry—increased commercialization, decreased presence of women staff at all levels of MFPs, and rapid growth—that threaten the quality of leadership. WWB is committed to ensuring that diverse, principled and highly-skilled leaders continue to set the vision, the principles and the practices of the industry. The Center’s programs reinforce WWB’s fundamental belief that by addressing one of the most serious risks facing the sector, that of leadership and management capacity, MFPs will be better equipped to achieve their dual objectives of financial stability and poverty alleviation.