PROGRAMS / Microfinance Training

We train Barefoot Bankers. "Barefoot Bankers" are microfinance workers - loan officers, accountants, and managers who deliver financial services to poor people in China .


Target beneficiaries

We coined the term "Barefoot Bankers" to describe the men and women who work on the front lines, at county-level microfinance institutions in China . They are the most important "troops" in the army of people fighting poverty with the microfinance methodology. Barefoot Bankers are typically 25-45 years of age, with a high school or vocational college education, but generally with little formal job training and almost no knowledge of the international microfinance movement and its lessons. At the same time, these people are always natives of the local region in which they work which means they have key insight into the livelihoods and the needs of the poor people in the areas that they serve. As one barefoot banker said, "of course I understand the needs of the farmers I serve¡­ I used to be a farmer myself!"

If Barefoot Bankers can be trained to manage and distribute their loans effectively, they will serve greater numbers of poor beneficiaries and build strong long-lasting institutions. Alternatively, if Barefoot Bankers lack skills or discipline, experience shows that their institutions will fall subject to fraud and misallocation of funds-and the poor continue to suffer.

Training experts and staff

A number of organizations have established Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in China . These organizations have accumulated a decade of experience in planning, designing, implementing, and managing microfinance institutions. These experienced organizations have knowledge and experience to offer that is true to the characteristics of the Chinese context. PlaNet Finance China has set out to draw upon the experience of these microfinance "practitioners" ¨C people who implement microfinance services ¨C and to create ways of sharing knowledge and experience with emerging microfinance efforts.

Training Methodology

We hold 2-5 day training sessions for specific organisations depending on their need and the level of experience of their staff. We offer interactive classroom-based training facilitated by knowledgable trainers. A combination of training materials, exercises, and PowerPoint presentations are adjusted before each training session.

Our Training Modules
Basic Microfinance

  1. Introduction to Microfinance
  2. Client Selection
  3. Institution Building
  4. Human Resources
  5. Products and Services
  6. Basic Loan Management
  7. Supervision and Monitoring

Operational Microfinance

  1. Daily Loan Operations
  2. Profitable Microfinance Management
  3. Accounting and MIS (Manual Bookkeeping)
  4. Computer Basics for Microloan Officers
  5. Computer Maintenance
  6. Accounting Software Selection and Use
  7. Making Use of Email, Search Engines for staff

Microfinance Training Track Record
PlaNet Finance China has trained barefoot bankers from the following institutions:

  • Funding the Poor Cooperative
  • the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation
  • the PATRA (Poverty Alleviation of the Tumen River Area) program of Mercy Corps in Jilin
  • Plan International - Shaanxi Women's Federation
  • Tianjin Women's Federation
  • UNDP and governmeent programs in Guangxi
  • Salvation Army China
  • World Vision Hebei
  • the Ningxia Center for Environment and Poverty Alleviation (Microfinance for Ningxia)
  • the Harbin City Commercial Bank