Microfinance Institution
Management Information System for MFIs
1.0 Background
A good Management Information System (MIS) is the heart of any organization and this is true for MFIs as well. For e.g. MFIs may have capable and motivated staff, but if they lack systematized information, they will be unable to perform up to their potential. A sound MIS is the key to achieve sustainability as it helps in providing the right type of information in achieving sustainability. It helps in reducing default, optimal rotation of portfolio, establishing sustainable interest rates, improving operational efficiency, generating reports at various levels for various stakeholders and review the progress. (Box 1).
Common Shortcomings observed in the Information Management Practices:
1.) The basis formats are not comprehensive of them could be combined. 2) The flow and logistic aspects of transfer of information from Society to Federation to HQs and vice versa is not very efficient. 3) The reports produced by the MIS are not in line with the best practices information required. 4) There is no accurate aging analysis of all loans including the past due loans. At best, the aging analysis is approximate and there is no proper asset classification backed up by provisioning. 5) Clients are not classified as good, delinquent and defaulting borrowers based on (international best practices) criteria. 6) Credit history of the borrowers is not available. 7) Clear repayment schedules for borrowers at various levels do not exist. 8) Concise monitoring reports, tailored to the monitoring needs at various levels are not available. 9) There is no incorporation of the accrual system of accounting. 10) Status reports on repayments made by the intermediaries and HQs to semi -wholesalers and wholesalers is not tracked. 11) There is no integration of the network of federation and headquarters through a good and stable client- thin client- serverr mode. A good information to better monitor their portfolio and serve their
1.0 Background
A good Management Information System (MIS) is the heart of any organization and this is true for MFIs as well. For e.g. MFIs may have capable and motivated staff, but if they lack systematized information, they will be unable to perform up to their potential. A sound MIS is the key to achieve sustainability as it helps in providing the right type of information in achieving sustainability. It helps in reducing default, optimal rotation of portfolio, establishing sustainable interest rates, improving operational efficiency, generating reports at various levels for various stakeholders and review the progress. (Box 1).
Common Shortcomings observed in the Information Management Practices:
1.) The basis formats are not comprehensive of them could be combined. 2) The flow and logistic aspects of transfer of information from Society to Federation to HQs and vice versa is not very efficient. 3) The reports produced by the MIS are not in line with the best practices information required. 4) There is no accurate aging analysis of all loans including the past due loans. At best, the aging analysis is approximate and there is no proper asset classification backed up by provisioning. 5) Clients are not classified as good, delinquent and defaulting borrowers based on (international best practices) criteria. 6) Credit history of the borrowers is not available. 7) Clear repayment schedules for borrowers at various levels do not exist. 8) Concise monitoring reports, tailored to the monitoring needs at various levels are not available. 9) There is no incorporation of the accrual system of accounting. 10) Status reports on repayments made by the intermediaries and HQs to semi -wholesalers and wholesalers is not tracked. 11) There is no integration of the network of federation and headquarters through a good and stable client- thin client- serverr mode. A good information to better monitor their portfolio and serve their
References: ∗ Microfinance Institutions - Issues in Sustainability- Chapter 11, Design and Implementation Of MIS for MFIs: Ramesh Arunachalam. ∗ Management Information Systems for Microfinance Institutions: A Handbook, Charles Waterfield & Nick Ramsing. Copy right CGAP/World Bank. 15