Increase efficiency in project work, promote exchange of experience between project partners, simplify project management! These were the objectives on the basis of which Sparkassenstiftung incorporated different individual projects in the Latin American and Caribbean region into one regional project to secure sustainable access to financial services by strengthening training and association structures way back in September 2014.
Almost 100 representatives from all partner institutions involved in this comprehensive project spanning 11 countries and representatives from Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation) came together in Mexico at the end of last year to discuss about successes, requirements and goals within the scope of the regional project.
The interim project result was highly positive: In total, Sparkassenstiftung and its various project partners have reached more than 100,000 people with financial literacy, education and advanced training measures. Gerd Weißbach, Sparkassenstiftung’s Head of Division for Latin America, and Project Manager Inka Rank presented numerous cases of successful project activities to the participants of the regional meeting: Sparkassenstiftung together with the Ostdeutscher Sparkassenverband (East German Savings Banks Assocation – OSV) and the Cuban project partner Banco Popular de Ahorro, for example, supported the advancing reform process in Cuba by executing the “Micro Business Game”. This haptic business simulation game, developed by Sparkassenstiftung, promotes the entrepreneurial skills of the various new start-ups of micro and small businesses in the Caribbean island country.
In El Salvador, Sparkassenstiftung is successfully running the pilot programme to introduce dual vocational training for bank clerks. The currently some 25 trainees will successfully conclude their apprenticeship in March 2016, followed by the next generation of bank trainees in El Salvador starting in April 2016. After that, the pilot training project will also be launched in other project countries.
In Colombia and Ecuador, Sparkassenstiftung cooperates with the local savings banks association. The project module here targets to expand the member institutions’ service offers in the field of financial literacy. To achieve this goal, the institutions affiliated to the associations (in most cases savings and credit cooperatives) will get stronger and more sustainable support in the field of financial inclusion of poorer population groups.
Many project partners and a shared vision
But also the representations from the institutions involved in the regional project had a lot to report: Thanks to the manifold lectures and expert panels on topics such as new technologies, innovations and tendencies in various microfinance sectors or models of integration to promote financial inclusion, the participants got an extensive insight into the project work of their colleagues. In working groups, the participants enlarged upon their new perceptions, inspirations and impulses and worked on a shared vision. The central goal for the regional project’s first main project phase until 2019 set out by all participants is to establish a sustainable network allowing a direct exchange between the various project partners in the different countries. In particular, the associations involved are to be enabled to exchange experience and synergies on a sustainable basis.
Further information about the Regional Project Latin America can be accessed <link http: www.sparkassenstiftung.de en projects projekt regionalprojekt-zur-verbesserung-des-nachhaltigen-zugangs-zu-finanzdienstleistungen-durch-die-staerk _blank>here.
Contact partners:
Inka Rank / Carina Lau
Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation
Simrockstraße 4
53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: +49 228 9703 -6631 /-6608
Fax: +49 228 9703 6613