The document summarizes the author's extensive consulting experience in capacity building, organizational development, project design and implementation, market research, product development, and agricultural finance for organizations in Afghanistan, Ghana, Rwanda, India, and other countries from 2005 to the present. Some of the projects included strengthening financial sector associations in Afghanistan, designing agricultural finance trainings in Ghana and Rwanda, conducting social and poverty audits of microfinance institutions, and providing advisory services to agricultural cooperatives.
Bal-Mahila Vikas Samiti : VAMA impact study of Micro Finance initiatives by S...Nishant Doorwar
VAMA is a non profit organisation started in 1988 in gwalior by Mr. Indra Bhushan Verma and this is a major organisation working in the field of women empowerment, micro finance and rural health services.
Bal-Mahila Vikas Samiti : VAMA impact study of Micro Finance initiatives by S...Nishant Doorwar
VAMA is a non profit organisation started in 1988 in gwalior by Mr. Indra Bhushan Verma and this is a major organisation working in the field of women empowerment, micro finance and rural health services.
Developing an inclusive policy on Microinsurance Regulation: The Kasagana-ka ...ICMIF Microinsurance
This presentation was delivered by Ms Maria Anna Ignacio (Executive Director at KDCI/ KMBA, The Philippines) at the ICMIF-AOA Development Network Seminar (18-20 September 2013; Manila, The Philippines)
Developing an inclusive policy on Microinsurance Regulation: The Kasagana-ka ...ICMIF Microinsurance
This presentation was delivered by Ms Maria Anna Ignacio (Executive Director at KDCI/ KMBA, The Philippines) at the ICMIF-AOA Development Network Seminar (18-20 September 2013; Manila, The Philippines)
1. CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
Capacity Building and Organizational Development
2011-2016 Connexus Corporation (formerly AZMJ), Afghanistan: Responsible for leading Banking
Capacity Component for Chemonics’ USAID-funded Financial Access for Investing in the
Development of Afghanistan (FAIDA) project, which is enhancing the capacity of financial
system support institutions and market infrastructure in Afghanistan with interventions to
build human resource and organizational capacity. Recent results include:
Strengthened the Afghanistan Bank’s Association’s ability to play a serious advocacy and
coordination role for the banking sector, especially related to Anti-Money Laundering
(AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) laws; ABA also joined the
ABA–DAB Joint Committee to Standardize Checks, joined the Steering Committee of
the Afghanistan Center for Dispute Resolution (ACDR), and, facilitated the
implementation of the Public Credit Registry (PCR) with banks.
Revived the Afghanistan Microfinance Association and helping it to become a more
sustainable network of development finance institutions in Afghanistan, by improving its
human and financial resources, including the offering of fee-based services;
Successful passage of DMFI Regulation, allowing for microfinance institutions to move
towards becoming regulated deposit-taking institutions;
Customized support to financial institutions, FINCA and OXUS to strengthen their SME
lending, raise funds and expand outreach and enhance financial inclusion by increasing
access to finance for women and youth, and provide technical support to Islamic
Investment and Finance Cooperatives (IIFC) Group to improve its operational processes,
management information systems and profitability;
Oversaw implementation of the Afghanistan Institute of Banking and Finance’s grant
agreement and achievements related to training and capacity building of banks and MFIs.
Develop Communications Strategy for Afghanistan Banks Association, Afghanistan
Microfinance Association, Afghanistan Insurance Personnel Association, Afghanistan
Institute of Banking and Finance, and, Islamic Investment and Finance Cooperatives
Group.
Oversaw capacity building trainings to banks and MFIs on regarding products and
policies to develop youth loan products, and, provide related advice, "Credit Risk Rating"
to SME borrowers and "Credit Scoring" methodology.
Oversaw training, presentation and advice to FIs regarding renewable energy finance,
microinsurance, and various aspects of insurance -Basics & Fundamentals of Insurance,
Principles of Insurance, Insurance Reserves, Governance & Compliance, Insurance
Underwriting, Reinsurance, Innovative Products and Microinsurance, Marketing and
Communications, and, Claims Management
Oversaw training on Risk Management to MFIs focusing on credit and operational risks,
and loan products to FIs on SME Finance and Trade Finance.
Well versed in Process Mapping with focus on improving efficiencies and reducing risk,
developing and defining the procedure to be adapted for risk assessment. Also skilled in
monitoring the functioning, output and variations if any, of different processes to assess
the least expected, yet potentially harmful risk factors, creating committees and
appointing members for the committees involved in investigating fraudulent practices of
the employees and customers – potential and existing, studying about the background of
different clients, recruiting and instructing risk management staff for different
departments, including legal, operational, financial, etc., based on risks identified.
2. L.B. Prakash – Sr. Rural & Agricultural Finance Specialist
Page 2
Proficient at suggesting appropriate investment schemes for the finance department by
conducting detailed analysis of short term and long term investment opportunities in the
market.
USAID/Ghana FinGAP (2014-15).
Provided short-term technical assistance to design and deliver two successful trainings on
“Agricultural Finance Product Development” to 37 partner financial institutions in Accra
and Tamale, which received high ratings by participants and contributed to the expansion
of agricultural loans in northern Ghana.
Provided customized technical assistance support programs to design financial products
and delivery mechanisms with the aim of expanding access to finance for the targeted
value chains of rice, maize and soy in northern Ghana - for two partner financial
institutions (PFIs) of FinGAP Ghana - Fidelity Bank, Accra and First Allied, Kumasi;
Provided customized technical assistance support programs to create agri-financial
products with the aim of expanding access to finance for the targeted value chains of rice,
maize and soy in northern Ghana;
USAID/Rwanda PSDAG (July – August 2016).
Provided short-term technical assistance to design and deliver a successful training on
“Agricultural Finance Product Development” to partner financial institutions in Kigali.
2009-2011 MISFA, Afghanistan: Management Support to Mofad – Managing the Institution
and Advisory Services to MISFA (ongoing)
2010-2011 AIBF, Afghanistan: Develop Basic Microfinance Course Training Module
2010-2011 AWC, Afghanistan: Develop Savings and Loan Portfolio MIS (ongoing)
2010 MISFA, Afghanistan: Coordinate the Sector Consolidation activities
2009-2010 Mofad, Afghanistan: Develop Loan Portfolio MIS
2010 MISFA, Afghanistan: Mentoring Support to Hope for Life
2009 MISFA, Afghanistan: Mentoring Support to MADRAC
2009 Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Canada: Training in
Business Planning Concepts for preparing realistic Business Plans
2009 READ, India: Development of Operations Manual
2009 BWDA/BIDFin, India: Business Plan and Financial Projections
2008 MEDA, Canada: Training in Microfin and finalization of 5-year Business Plan
for micro finance program of WWI, Afghanistan.
2007-2008 MicroSave, India:
Lead the team in development of Process Maps and MIS, facilitation of
Strategic Business Planning and conducted Market Research, in addition to
facilitating Trainings.
Developed/revised toolkits on Social Performance Management, Internal
Audit and Controls, Delinquency Management, MIS, Governance, Financial
Management and Basic Accounting for rural MFIs.
Lead the team in developing videos on the various processes in the Joint
Liability Group, Individual Lending and SHG methodologies and play a key
role in the MFIOOAB (MFI Out Of A Box – a set of organizational
processes and manuals for MFIs) development.
3. L.B. Prakash – Sr. Rural & Agricultural Finance Specialist
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Delivered several successful trainings at Applied Microfinance Institute
(AMI) India, AMI West Africa (in Ghana), AMIDA Indonesia and to
MISFA partners in Afghanistan and other retail courses in India.
2005-2007 Grameen Mahila Swayamsiddha Sangha (GMSS), Rajgurunagar: Advisory
Services to GMSS (rural SHG Federation - 25,000 members - Maharashtra) –
ongoing support on Institution Building aspects
2005-2006 Sa-Dhan, India:
Co-facilitated the Microfinance Education Program for rural and
agricultural MFIs.
Developed MIS for rural SHGs and rural SHG Federations.
Developed a technical-cum-user manual for using the SHG Performance
(Rating) Tool developed by Sa-Dhan.
2006 MISFA, Afghanistan: Developed and computerized Partner MIS
2006 M-CRIL/SIDBI, India: Credit Rating of Ankuram Sangamam Poram (ASP), a
rural cooperative.
2006 EDA: Delivered CGAP trainings on Micro Finance to senior MFI staff (of BRAC
and CARE supported partner NGOs) in Bangladesh and Afghanistan
2005 Chaitanya, Pune India: Developed SHG Rating Methodology for use by over 75
rural NGOs in Maharashtra
Program Design, Implementation, Review and Evaluations
2010-11 Oxfam GB – Afghanistan: Project Proposal for UNDEF (ongoing)
2010-11 GTZ – Afghanistan: Tracer Study to assess the effectiveness of the training
interventions, implemented by GTZ NaWi and GFA (ongoing)
2010 ACF – Afghanistan: End of Project Evaluation - Water, Sanitation and Health
(WASH) Project, funded by ECHO
2009-10 MISFA, Afghanistan: Financial Systems Review of Mofad
2009-10 MISFA, Afghanistan: Assessment of Operational Processes and revise them for
greater Efficiency and lower Risk– MADRAC, Mofad, Hope for Life
2009 Chaitanya, India: External Evaluation of the Chirag Project
2009 India HIV/AIDS Alliance: Andhra Pradesh: Team Leader for Performance
Evaluation of Community Committees in project districts.
2009 Cooperative Development Foundation: Review of the performance of the Dairy
Cooperative and provide the road map for it to become viable.
2009 Basix: Designing the study tools for the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt
Relief Scheme (ADWDRS) Study being conducted by Basix for GTZ.
2009 MicroSave: Pilot Test Review of the Individual Lending IL Product in TSPI,
Manila and ASKI, Cabanatuan – Philippines.
2008-09 MISFA, Afghanistan: Institutional Assessment for feasibility of partnership
continuation of two MFIs – AMFI, promoted by CHF International and Sunduq,
promoted by MADERA.
2007-2009 MicroSave, India:
4. L.B. Prakash – Sr. Rural & Agricultural Finance Specialist
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Lead the review of Operational Processes and developed the Process Maps
for rural and agricultural institutions including Arohan, Bullock-cart
Workers Development Association (BWDA), SWAWS, and Chaitanya.
Review the Internal Audit and Control areas and indicators, redesign the
Internal Audit System for Arohan, a microfinance institution in Kolkata.
Lead Loan Portfolio Audits and Rapid Institutional Assessments of potential
partner organizations.
Lead the team in developing Strategic Business Plans for rural MFIs –
SWAWS Hyderabad, Bullock-cart Workers Development Association
(BWDA) Villupuram and Mandal Samakhya Pochampalli.
2005-2008 Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA), Afghanistan:
Review and finalization of 5-year Business Plans for micro finance programs
of partner organizations - SUNDUQ, MADRAC, OXUS, Parwaz and CFA.
Review of the scale-up strategy of the micro-finance project of CARE-
Afghanistan.
2007 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva
(IFRC): Feasibility study on micro-credit as a component of Red Cross Red
Crescent Programming in Africa
2006-2007 Financial Analysis of Rural Handloom Weavers’ Cooperatives in Andhra
Pradesh
2006-2007 ABN AMRO Bank, India: Developed Business Plan for proposed MFI by
DISHA, India based on SHG methodology.
2006 EDA/SKS India: Team Leader for conducting market research
2006 SIDBI, India: Conducted Credit Rating of ASP, cooperative federation.
2005-2006 CGAP, USA: Team Leader of study ‘Financial Analysis of SHGs in India: Value
for money?’
2005-2006 APMAS/EDA: Participated in the Study Design and Report Finalisation of the
study ‘Self Help Groups in India A study of the lights and shades’
2005-2006 EDA/UNDP-UNOPS, Myanmar:
Strategic Review (Scoping study) of the micro finance program in delta area
of Myanmar.
Project implementation of Microfinance Delta (MIFIDA), the UNDP-
UNOPS micro-finance project in delta area of Myanmar and develop local
capacities
2005 International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD):
Business Plan for the Women Training and Resource Centre of Chaitanya,
Pune, India.
Formulation Mission member for Rural Women’s Empowerment Project in
Madhya Pradesh, India
Market Research and Product Development
2009 Cooperative Development Foundation: Conducted market assessment for
improving the thrift cooperative functioning by refining and developing new
5. L.B. Prakash – Sr. Rural & Agricultural Finance Specialist
Page 5
savings and loan products (Thrift Cooperatives promoted by CDF, India were
having problems of excess savings and low credit off-take).
2009 Krushi Financial Services: Develop an Individual Loan Product and Customer
Service Strategy
2008-2009 Hindusthan Microfinance: Lead Market Research for urban microfinance in
Mumbai, India and develop Loan Products based on Market Research for
potential clients.
2007-2009 MicroSave, India
ASKI, Philippines: Pilot Test Review of the Individual Lending Product in
Alalay sa Kaunlaran, (ASKI).
TSPI, Philippines: Finalized the Individual Lending Product and the Pilot
Test Plan in Tulay Sa Pag-unlad Inc. (TSPI).
Avahan, India (BMGF project): Lead the Market Research and Piloting of
Savings Product for Key Population (Sex Workers) of Avahan Project in
Andhra Pradesh.
2005-2007 EDA Rural Systems Pvt Ltd, India
SKS, India: Conducted market research of existing clients of one of the
largest MFIs in India – SKS microfinance, to improve its loan product
offering, customer satisfaction and service.
UNOPS/MIFIDA, Myanmar: Lead Market Research in proposed expansion
areas of MIFIDA in Myanmar having different landscape and livelihood
options as compared to existing operational area
Social Performance and SPM
2009 MicroSave: Develop Social Performance Management Assessment methodology
in MFIs and pilot in India.
2005-2007 EDA Rural Systems Pvt Ltd, India
EDA/M-CRIL: Team Leader for developing the Social Rating methodology
and tool and piloting Social Rating of five MFIs in Asia and Africa.
Completed Social Rating of two MFIs during Feb - May 2007.
ImpAct, UK/EDA: Team Leader for piloting the concept of Social Rating
through desk assessment and local consultants – Rating of 7 MFIs in Asia,
Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America (Jan – June 2007), co-facilitate
the Global Launch workshop.
ImpAct, UK/EDA: Piloting the Social Performance Management Audit
within ASHI, Philippines.
Grameen Foundation, USA/EDA: Piloting the Progress out of Poverty Index
(PPI) Tool with Grameen Koota in Bangalore, India.
SIDBI, India/EDA: Team Leader for conducting Poverty Audit of 9 MFIs.
New Product Design and Piloting
2008-2009 MicroSave, India
Developed Social Performance Management methodology.
6. L.B. Prakash – Sr. Rural & Agricultural Finance Specialist
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Review the existing Internal audit System, Define the Internal Audit and
Control areas and indicators and Develop a revised Internal Audit System for
Arohan, an urban microfinance institution in Kolkata, India.
Review and Improve the Process Monitoring activity and develop an excel-
based monitoring system to increase efficiency for Arohan in Kolkata, India.
2009 Basix/GTZ: Designed the study tools for the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt
Relief Scheme.
2006-2007 EDA Rural Systems Pvt Ltd, India
Ford Foundation: Team Leader for developing the social rating methodology and
tool and piloting social rating of five MFIs in Asia and Africa.
ImpAct, UK:
Team Leader for piloting the concept of social rating through desk
assessment and local consultants – rating of 7 MFIs in Asia, Africa, Eastern
Europe and Latin America, co-facilitate the Global Launch workshop.
Piloted the concept of Audit of Social Performance Management (now
known as QAT) within ASHI, Philippines.
Grameen Foundation, USA: Piloted the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) Tool
with Grameen Koota in Bangalore, India.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), India: Team Leader for
conducting Poverty Audit of 9 MFIs.
Agricultural Cooperatives and Agriculture Credit Cooperatives
2005-2006 Solidaridad/ICCO-ETC Organic Cotton Program India: Institutional Building
Services for promoting a rural Community Based Organization of organic cotton
farmers.
2005 Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), Uttaranchal, India:
Business Rules for the Agricultural Farmers Service Cooperatives (AFSCs)
promoted by CECI in Uttaranchal.
1990-1998 Cooperative Development Foundation (as an employee): Institutional Building
Services for improving financial performance, service delivery to members,
trainings to Board members and staff, internal audit and member education.