Hi All,
Please email Savinay Chandrasekhar at savinay@global.t-bird.edu if you are interested to go to Nepal to visit microfinance organization and recepient on August 23-29.
From: Savinay Chandrasekhar [mailto:savinay@global.t-bird.edu]
I apologize in advance for the unannounced email, but I found your names as chapter leads for Net Impact at Marshall, Stern, Stanford GSB, Haas, and Graziado. My name is Savinay Chandrasekhar and I’m an MBA student at Thunderbird School of Global Management (www.thunderbird.edu) with a strong interest in poverty reduction and global development.
As such, I was immensely excited to hear that Thunderbird was offering a field trip to Nepal for a course on microfinance taught by a Wharton professor, Dr F Gerard Adams. This trip will also involve meetings with global microfinance organizations (such as Grameen Bank), NGOs (such as Winrock), local banks (such as Bank of Kathmandu), government entities (such as Central Bank of Nepal), and of course, the actual end recipients of microfinance themselves, the villagers of Nepal.
The only problem is, as with many events such as this, we need to get more people interested in the trip for it to be financially viable. This should be easy if we promote this opportunity to as many people as possible with our shared interests, which is why I figured socially conscious students such as yourselves at other fantastic B-schools might be able to help get the word out.
The cost will be $1,500 for all ground expenses (food, accommodation, ground transportation), not inclusive of whatever airfare the participants incur to get to Kathmandu. In addition, visas can be purchased at Kathmandu airport itself for a small fee (it’s currently $30 for a single-entry visa, but there may be some minor service fees as well).
I’ve attached a document that has the basic information for the program. Please note that the dates are currently scheduled for 17-26 Aug on this document, but there’s a likelihood the trip will be delayed to 23-29 August. If any of your friends/classmates are interested, please have them let myself (savinay@global.thunderbird.edu) and Lisa Adams (lisa-adams@global.thunderbird.edu) know. In addition, if they have any questions, they can get in touch with Dr Jane Ives at ivesj@thunderbird.edu.
Thanks in advance for spreading the word!
Savinay
SCHEDULE:
Nepal.08.17.09.doc
Global Microfinance Leadership & Field
Study in Nepal
August 17-26, 2009 – maybe changed to Aug 23-29
- Faculty Leaders
Dr. F. Gerard Adams, Prof. Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Jane H. Ives, Director, Thunderbird Global Microfinance Leadership Program
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Dr. Keshab D. Thapaliya, Coordinator
Overview
initiatives in today’s global marketplace. The trip will expose students to traditional and local village microfinance lending institutions, loan recipients, and programs. There will be visits to NGOs, international organizations, global financial institutions, village banks, and relevant credit and village microfinance program recipients (loans are typically not more than $100). The group will engage in conversations with villagers in Kathmandu and indigenous villages of Nepal. It will meet local social entrepreneurs and learn about activities at local microfinance learning centers.
Objectives
- explore the roles of domestic, national, and global public and private organizations;
- learn about economic growth and self- sufficiency in impoverished areas of the world, especially the role of rural women entrepreneurs;
- understand the principles of microfinance and rural village marketing and their applications;
- know the unique aspects and implementation of developing a
- business and marketing products at the rural village level.
Topics
- 1. Nepal country analysis: How microfinance initiatives provide financial opportunities for the underserved. Grameen Bank and Foundation, Citibank, etc. cases.
- 2. Sustainable institutions and mechanisms for delivery of financial services.
- 3. Evaluation and analysis of global microfinance partners, banks, NGOs, and other financial institutions.
- 4. Revenue models of microfinance and overview of business planning in micro-finance.
- 5. Web-based resources and publications in microfinance.
Who should attend this program?
This program will be valuable to graduate students and business people with career interests in global finance and international development. Limited to 25.
Cost: $1500.00 (Inclusive of accommodations, meals and local transportation in Nepal). Travel to/from Nepal on your own.
Itinerary
Aug. 16 Sunday: Arrive in Kathmandu – Airport welcome; transfer to Kathmandu Guest House; welcome dinner. Evening discussion – Asian political, economic, microfinance and social environment.
August 17, Monday: Seminars – Impact of economic recession on Nepal and South Asia; diversity and history in Nepal; women’s literacy and savings-led microfinance program; meetings/lectures with The Education Curriculum Training Associates (ECTA).
August 18, Tuesday: Meet with SAP Nepal on overview of microfinance development and village banking. Grameen model in Nepal and Bank of Kathmandu
August 19, Wednesday: Field Study: DEPROSC (Grameen-led session on challenges), Center for Microfinance, political and economic development in Southeast Asia
August 20, Thursday: Field trip to Manushi focusing on role of traditional savings and credit groups. Holistic Development Service Center
August 21, Friday: Neighborhood Society Service Center, Nepal Rural Development Organization, NEFSCUN Cooperative.August 22, Saturday: Bhaktapur municipality, Swayambunath, and other major historical locations.
August 23,Sunday: Field Visits, meetings and lectures – to Kathmandu - Visit Durbar Square, markets and other UNESCO World Heritage sites.
August 24, Monday: Meetings and lectures Visit groups at Central Bank of Nepal (role of government). Meetings with CSD Grameen on establishment of Swabalamban Bank. Seminar on microfinance services and profitability
August 25,Tuesday: Meetings and lectures: Meetings with Winrock Int’l, NGO Samjhauta, Plan Nepal, and Poverty Alleviation Fund
August 26, Wednesday Departure
Contact Dr. Jane Ives:
