RURAL& MICRO FIN SVC

closed

The Rural and Micro-Financial Services Project will achieve quality, and, enhance the returns on governmental and donor's investments in the sector. In addition, related industrial skills will be enhanced, and a systematic tracking program will be instituted to analyze common criteria initiatives. Within the strategic context, the project will contribute widely to broad-based growth and poverty reduction, through the expansion of financial inter-mediation to small-scale rural and urban clients. The project components will include: 1) formulation and approval of a national micro-finance policy, to endorse international best practices, and direct the Government's activity in the sector, diffusing inappropriate political interference; 2) design of legal, regulatory, and, supervisory frameworks, focusing on institutional strengthening. Recommendations for revisions in the law and regulations will be developed, for final review by stakeholders; 3) preparation of operational guidelines, covering: banking; cooperative financial institutions; non-governmental organizations; and, capacity building initiatives; 4) institutional strengthening of the Bank of Tanzania, to improve coordination, monitoring/evaluation of micro-finance activities, and develop its Cooperative Department; and, 5) technical workshops/conferences, to enhance micro-finance knowledge and skills.