AFI capacities enhanced with Sida’s RBM Training

Improving how we design our results chain and measure the impact of policies is important not only to understand how they affect gender inclusive finance, but also how best to  improve on them over time, AFI Deputy Executive Director Norbert Mumba noted at the end of the Results Based Management (RBM) training  provided to AFI staff by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

“Thanks to Sida, AFI is now in a better position to further strengthen our capacities in managing projects, with an additionally heightened gender perspective, as our network continues to work on lowering the financial inclusion gender gap,” Mumba said on 27 April 2020 following three weeks of Sida’s RBM training sessions.

Talking from Stockholm, Sida’s Program Manager of the International Organisations and Policy Support Unit, Ola Sahlen, who has been working with AFI on gender inclusive finance, noted that the Swedish cooperation agency appreciates how AFI staff has embraced the training.

“Sida is pleased to be part of the ongoing effort to diversify and strengthen gender mainstreaming in all AFI thematic areas. The RBM program, conducted through a keen gendered lens, will enhance not only how AFI serves its member institutions, but also how it nurtures the personal development and growth of its employees,” said Sida’s Sahlen.

RBM encompass various aspects of project management including planning, the theory of change, logical frameworks, results frameworks, as well as the identification of indicators, baselines, project monitoring, results communication and reporting. The training was facilitated by Dr. Colleen McGinn, an applied research consultant and RBM expert with over 10 years of professional experience.

About 40 AFI staff attended the training held in six sessions, over three weeks and through a virtual video-conferencing platform.

“This training has enabled us to understand both the intrinsic and extrinsic value of each output,” said Chee Soo Yuen, AFI’s Chief Operations Officer. Chee added that this knowledge is important as accurate and timely reporting, especially of donor funded programs, reflects the high level of integrity held by AFI.

Every component of the training incorporated gender-related content including explanations, examples and even homework assignments for the participants, Helen Walbey, Head of Gender Inclusive Finance explained.

“This really shows how gender consideration is essential in every part of policymaking and implementation and in every thematic area,” said Walbey.

Charles Marwa, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation pointed out that many colleagues reached out for assistance in revising their projects in light of the new understanding and appreciation of design, monitoring and learning (DMEL) frameworks.

“The high level of interest and participation is a confirmation that AFI is an organization which is always learning and in constant pursuit of excellence,” continues Marwa.

Head of Capacity Building, Madhurantika Moulick, explains that while RBM is a path well-trodden by AFI, the training was the perfect opportunity to rethink, reset and reposition ourselves as an organization.

“While the training was planned even before the COVID-19 pandemic, its significance was amplified because of the current situation and the challenges that came with it,” adds Moulick.

AFI’s Gender Inclusive Finance workstream is partially financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and other partners.