The Philippine Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), one the pioneer microfinance wholesalers in the Philippines, commissioned SEDPI to develop and lead its trainings in various key cities in the country.

After sending two of its staff members to attend Financial Analysis training at the Ateneo, PCFC saw it fit to contract SEDPI as trainers for its MFI clients. Two trainings were delivered to PCFC’s MFI clients: 1) Strengthening Internal Controls and Management Information System, and 2) Strategic Credit and Risk Management (SCRM).  As it was important for PCFC to bring the trainings near its clients, each course was conducted twice in Luzon and Mindanao, and once in the Visayas.

From July to October 2007, a total of ten trainings were conducted in the cities of Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.  More than 130 participants from over 60 microfinance institutions attended the training events. The variety of organizations attending such as cooperatives, rural banks and non-government organizations, made the trainings further enriching as experiences ideas were shared.

The tiring schedule did not deter the speakers to provide pleasant and informative sessions to the participants. The trainings were met with good evaluations and positive comments. At the end of the day, the participants look forward to seeing SEDPI at front of their future trainings with PCFC.

The Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages Project Phase 2 (Pearl2) is a Private Sector Development project of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Project’s goal is to contribute to reduction of poverty in the Philippines through equitable and sustainable development. PEARL2 works directly with Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and Investment Promotion Centers (IPCs) to support the development of Small and Medium Enterprises that create meaningful jobs for both men and women. 

SEDPI was tasked to evaluate the performance of the project in delivering capacity building services to BSOs. The evaluation showed that in PEARL2’s provision of capacity-building interventions, PEARL2 has achieved considerable level of success in strengthening the financial performance and management capacity of BSOs. Majority of the SMEs assessed reported improvements in their business operations and most of them attributed such progress to the assistance, services, or programs of their respective BSOs. On the side of SME employees, majority of those interviewed revealed a sustained or improved income level and also citing improved living conditions in terms of nutrition, water, sanitation, lighting, and housing.

PEF is a non-stock, non-profit organization that provides financial support to projects that respond to the problems of poverty and marginalization. The Foundation envisions empowered communities that: have basic needs of life; are engaged in sociocultural and economic activities; and participate meaningfully in local governance. PEF addresses the needs of the urban and rural poor by providing civil society organizations that help them with development financing and technical assistance, and promoting appropriate technology and networking with all relevant stakeholders.

Through PEF’s support, SEDPI implemented a Training and Mentoring Assistance to four organizations in Southern Luzon. Also, a subsector research to identify the appropriate interventions needed to support coastal-based microenterprise was also implemented through SEDPI in Iloilo, Bohol, and Eastern Samar. SEDPI social entrepreneurs were instrumental in crafting project proposals to CORDAID and UNDP. PEF eventually won the bids and ended up with USD1 million from CORDAID to fund microfinance institutions in Mindanao and PhP20 million from the United Nations Development Programme to fund communities that adopt renewable energy. PEF also commissioned the services of SEDPI to conduct impact assessment to clients of three microfinance institutions that they have supported all over the Philippines.