The certification training was organized by the joint project of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) "Support to microfinance sector development". The training will last until 18 June 2010.

The certification training is being conducted in Uzbekistan for the first time, and is aimed at creating a national base of accredited microfinance trainers from MFIs in Uzbekistan.

The training is organized within the framework of the Project's initiative to contribute to the strengthened capacity of the microfinance sector and better performance of local microfinance institutions that provide savings, credit and other financial services to the population of Uzbekistan, as well as to assist their sustainable development.

Many of the certification programs in microfinance offered worldwide are either online or one-time modules concentrated on separate specific areas of microfinance, and in this case one needs to complete several such courses or training modules to embrace most of the microfinance related issues.

In contrast, MMW course is a complete and adapted to local context course, covering almost all areas of microfinance activities and specifically designed for the managers to equip them with skills for effective management of microfinance programs.

It is necessary to note that the training is being conducted for two groups – trainers, for whom the given certification is first out of three phases of a comprehensive certification process, and managers for whom this training represents a good opportunity of learning and capacity-building.

The trainers who receive a ILO certification become eligible to conduct trainings on microfinance in the future in cooperation with such inmstitutions as the National Association of microfinance organizations and credit unions, Association of credit unions of Uzbekistan, and other training centers, thus contributing the financial literacy of population and their awareness of the existing opportunities for a start up of a small and individual entrepreneurship.

The training seeks to broaden participants' understanding of the functions that contribute to successful performance, and to supply an arsenal of tools that can assist managers to strengthen the performance of their unit, branch or institution.

Moreover, over the course of the certification process the participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences and strategies for meeting current challenges with each other.

In addition, the trainers will pay a particular attention to exposing managers to microfinance experience from other parts of the world and inspiring more innovative thinking about what might be possible in the local environment.