Membership – Rim Initiative

Who can apply?

Membership is open to individuals and organizations committed to RIM’s mission and interested in implementing, promoting, or advocating for appropriate risk management in the microfinance industry.

Interested parties may include:

Consultants
Consulting firms
Investors
Technical assistance facilities
Regulators
National microfinance networks
International microfinance networks
Microfinance holding companies
Microfinance rating agencies
Universities
Commercial banks (with CSR unit focused on microfinance)
Financial sector development programs
Foundations
IT security firms
Core banking system providers

Join Now!

Membership Benefits

	PUBLIC	INDIVIDUALS	ORGANIZATIONS¹
Publications	✓	✓	✓
RMGM Framework	✓	✓	✓
RMGM Assessment Tool & How-To Video	✓	✓	✓
Working Groups²		✓	✓
Online Risk Management Knowledge Base		✓	✓
Restricted-access website content (including RMGM Assessment Toolkit and associated tools)		✓	✓
Priority within RIM’s consultant database		✓	✓
Participation in RIM-organized conference sessions			✓
10% discount on RIM consultant daily rates			✓
Exposure and recognition on RIM website, publications, and presentations			✓
Complimentary introductions to risk management experts (for projects under $25k)			✓
Steering Committee eligibility			✓

Membership fee waived for organizations with a representative serving as Steering Committee Chairperson
Organizational membership provides working-group access to multiple individuals per organization

MEMBERSHIP PLANS	INDIVIDUALS²	ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDES 4 MEMBERSHIPS)¹
1-year	$500	$1,500

For organization memberships greater than four, contact info@riminitiative.org
Single-year individual membership granted to participants of RIM Graduation Model Assessment methodology training

PAMIGA is very honored to be a member of RIM. This is an opportunity to be part of an unprecedented initiative and an industry-wide partnership which provides concrete benefits to the microfinance sector, and has potentially, a transformational effect to the rural African MFIs that are members of PAMIGA’s network. Best practice sharing in risk management is what the industry needs the most these days.

Renée Chao-Beroff

General Manager, PAMIGA

Microfinanza Srl is delighted to be at the forefront of this paramount initiative. It allows our consulting company to gain specific know-how on risk management for MFIs and apply lessons learned from industry experts into the development or improvement of our tools. RIM will enable us to have effective training and TA interventions in MFIs.

Massimo Vita

Partner, Microfinanza Srl

RIM allows MFX to be a key participant in the development of risk management standards for microfinance. As a dedicated currency hedging facility and technical service provider, MFX finds value in collaborating with other risk management professionals as well as keeping abreast of the challenges and approaches of risk management implementation within a variety of global contexts.

Brian Cox

CEO, MFX Solutions

Active Members

Access Microfinance Holding AG

Access Microfinance Holding AG (AccessHolding) was established in 2006 by a group of international shareholders from the public and private sectors. The business purpose of AccessHolding is to build up and control a network of commercial banks in developing and transition countries (the AccessGroup) with a target group focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The AccessGroup currently comprises ten financial institutions located in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus and South America. Further members will be added to the group successively in these and other regions. The head office of AccessHolding, the parent company of the group, is located in Berlin, Germany. For more information, visit www.accessholding.com.

Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM)

Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) is one of the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), dedicated to advancing financial inclusion. It was established in 2005 as a non‐profit Swiss foundation to formalize microfinance initiatives within AKDN. AKAM has a mission to affect demonstrable, measurable, and lasting improvement in the quality of life of its clients by delivering innovative, client‐centered financial services to diminish the vulnerability of the disadvantaged and enable economic and social inclusion. AKAM currently operates in ten countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Pakistan, Syria, and Tajikistan. AKAM is a Swiss Foundation headquartered in Geneva. For more information, visit www.akdn.org.

Alexandria Business Association (ABA)

The Alexandria Business Association (ABA) is a non-profit founded in 1983 as a supporting institution to the private sector to promote the interests of the business community through the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. ABA’s primary goals are to develop and promote existing small and microenterprises, raise the income of SMEs, help the transformations of SMEs from the informal sector to the formal sector, and contribute to solving the problems of unemployment. ABA assists over 300,000 clients through 64 locations in seven governorates. ABA has also developed and positioned the Middle East Training Center (METC) as a regional training center to develop capacity and promote best practice in the region. ABA’s efforts have not gone unnoticed; they are regularly awarded for their results on social performance, sustainable growth, and transparency. For more information, visit aba-sme.com.

Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA)

Over the past 20 years, ADA has been dedicated to building and catalysing the financial inclusion of populations excluded from conventional banking channels in developing countries. ADA empowers microfinance institutions and networks. Through the Luxembourg Microfinance and Development Fund (LMDF), ADA also helps them obtain the funding necessary for their sustainable growth. ADA focuses on the development of innovative inclusive financial services, capacity building, and action research. ADA puts expertise to use in areas including youth financial inclusion, access to green energy through microfinance, microinsurance, and reinvested savings through remittances for migrants as well as collaborating with individual states to support their inclusive finance expansion strategies. ADA is a non-governmental organisation approved and cofinanced by the Luxembourg Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and is placed under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. For more information, visit www.ada-microfinance.org.

Calmeadow

Calmeadow has a deep history in risk management promotion, technical assistance, and capacity building. As early as 2002, Calmeadow started sponsoring research into the topic of Foreign Exchange Risk in the microfinance industry resulting in initiative such as LocFund and MFX Solutions. Ten years ago Calmeadow was at the forefront of the creation of the Emergency Liquidity Facility (ELF). This last-resort facility created to provide emergency liquidity to worthy MFIs in the wake of an external shock. As part of the program a technical assistance facility was created to provide support to the member MFIs in how best to manage their exposure to external shocks. Through this facility (and a parallel project created to service the Caribbean), close to 70 MFIs in LAC have received technical assistance on how best to deal with the risk of an external shock. Calmeadow also co-funded the Risk Management Facility (RMF), which was managed by Omtrix who also manages Calmeadow. The RMF has supported the development of microfinance risk management tools and has worked on their implementation in 30+ MFIs in Latin America. During 2012, Calmeadow launched a pilot project with MFIs in West Africa aimed at exploring the possibility of replicating the RMF experience in Latin America within the African context. Furthermore, Calmeadow has sponsored many publications touching on risk-related issues including: Failures in Microfinance, Experiences with Credit Bureaus in LAC, and Cautious Resilience. For more information, visit www.calmeadow.com.

Credit Access Asia

CreditAccess Asia N.V. (“CreditAccess”, “CAA”, the “Company” or “Group”) is an innovative operator of integrated credit institutions across Asia, offering loans and other financial products and services to self-employed, micro enterprises and small enterprises in India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Company started its operations in 2006 under the leadership of a group of private investors/promoters. Since its founding, CreditAccess’ objective has been to invest in the most promising Micro Finance Institutions (“MFIs”) and to start up new credit institutions targeting micro enterprises and small enterprises, with a strong focus on India and Southeast Asia. By the end of the financial year 2016 (“FY 2016”), which ended March 31, the Group had a total loan portfolio of around €360 million, and approximately 1.5 million active clients and employed some 6,200 people worldwide.

Inspiring Development

Inspiring Development is a management and consulting company for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and banks oriented towards micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Through extensive practical experience in management and line functions, our team members have acquired a thorough understanding of the banking business in emerging markets, which they now draw upon in their work for our clients. In addition to carrying out specific assignments at executive or operational level, we can also manage, and provide support services to, entire institutions. In our work, we have a strong people focus, and our highest priority is to promote local capacity building and sustainable improvements in performance. https://www.inspiring-development.com/

IPC

From its origins in 1980, IPC – Internationale Projekt Consult GmbH has evolved into one of the leading consultancy firms specialized in development co-operation. IPC pursues its objectives by carrying out consulting assignments, assuming management responsibility and making selective investments. Our long-standing experience and expertise is concentrated in three main areas:

MSME Finance: IPC advises financial institutions all over the world on how to establish innovative financial services geared towards stimulating the economic development of the private sector as well as providing access to finance for the under-served population. After conducting in-depth market surveys and feasibility studies, IPC accompanies clients to develop and implement effective business and risk strategies.
Environment and Energy: IPC conducts feasibility studies and provides support in designing international development programs. IPC provides strategic consulting to enable financial institutions to systematically design their operations in an environmentally sound manner.
Training and Skill Development: IPC develops vocational preparation programs to help equip young graduates and professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their area of specialisation. At the same time, IPC assists partner financial institutions in building capacity by establishing training programs for their staff to increase productivity and efficiency.

http://www.ipcgmbh.com/

Islamic Relief Worldwide

As an independent humanitarian and development organization Founded in 1984, with our presence in 40 countries Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) have helped millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people irrespective of ethnicity, political affiliation, gender and belief.

Our vision

Inspired by our Islamic faith and guided by our values, we envisage a world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled and a world where all poor people have access to real virtuous micro financial services.

Our mission

Exemplifying our Islamic values, we will mobilise resources, build partnerships and develop local capacity as we work to lead the fight against global poverty by providing ethical finance to create lasting social and monetary well-being. 

Enable communities to mitigate the effect of disasters, prepare for their occurrence and respond by providing relief, protection and recovery.
make money work for positive economic, social and environmental change
Support the marginalized and vulnerable to voice their needs and address root causes of poverty.
 support innovation in alternative financial products
 help create a financial system in which everybody is stakeholder

The Islamic Microfinance Business Unit (IMF BU) brings to the fore a sustainable, high social impact and livelihoods intervention within IRW’s poverty reduction strategy. The IMF BU provides centralised corporate governance for IRW’s microfinance operations and applies social investment industry best practice. For more information, visit http://www.islamic-relief.org.

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. MEDA’s Inclusive Financial Services support projects through employing an integrated risk management approach beginning with institutional objectives, risk environment, and institutional risk appetite and limits. MEDA’s Risk Management Framework helps financial institutions identify what the risk management framework is, how to integrate the framework to MFI’s strategy and who should be involved. Using step-by-step process, this approach guides financial institutions through the understanding of how to manage risk from a strategic and corporate governance level all the way to operations and personnel, instead of seeing risk management as an isolated activity. MEDA takes risk-based approaches to building capacity of financial institution partners across all inclusive financial services projects in product development, branchless banking and technology, rural finance, and transformation readiness. By integrating the risk-based approaches, MFIs are able to institutionalize a system that identifies risks, evaluates impacts, and implements mitigation plan. MEDA has conducted hands-on trainings with financial institutions’ board and senior management to build understanding of FI’s risk appetite, definition, and language as well as to apply risk management framework into organizational management in Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria and Haiti. For more information, visit www.meda.org.

MFX Solutions

Founded in 2008, MFX Solutions Inc. (MFX) is an initiative of more than 30 microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs) created to support lending to entrepreneurs in low-income countries with affordable hedging products and risk management education as an avenue to reduce risk and catalyze investment flows within the global financial sector. The founders and shareholders of MFX are major global MIVs, rating agencies, networks, and foundations currently managing over US$ 2.5 Billion in financial sector investment. MFX brings a wealth of expertise on issues related to currency risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, balance sheet and financial risk management, including asset/liability management (ALM). As recipients of the G-20 SME Finance Challenge Award in 2010, MFX has been able to provide institutional capacity building and technical advisory services in the area of ALM to 30+ MFIs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Similarly, MFX is recognized for its specialized Comprehensive Asset/Liability Management (CALM) Tool, a balance sheet stress testing model which assists MFIs in stress testing their balance sheets against macroeconomic shocks. For more information, visit mfxsolutions.com.

Microfinanza Srl

Microfinanza Srl offers consultancy and training services in the areas of risk management and corporate governance. Microfinanza’s approach is to focus on the microfinance institution’s ability to identify, measure, monitor and manage its institutional risks. Specifically, Microfinanza evaluates the institution’s governance, strategy, internal control and information flows and then coach the Institution in setting up a tailored and effective risk management framework. Microfinanza has been involved since 2001 in the appraisal and rating of microfinance institutions (this part of the business was spun off in 2006 with the creation of Microfinanza Rating). Therefore, Microfinanza’s risk assessment tools are based on a proven methodology with a long track record of implementation (more than 500 ratings worldwide). Additionally, Microfinanza carried out a number of TA assignments on risk management implementation contracted by different TA Facilities (e.g., Promifin Cosude in Central America, Fintech in Africa and Triple Jump Advisory Services in Latin America). Finally, as TA Advisor for the TA Facility of the Regional MSME Investment Fund for sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA), Microfinanza has developed and will be developing TA projects on risk management for the REGMIFA partner institutions. For more information, visit www.microfinanza.com.

Musoni

Musoni Kenya envisions to be the most efficient microfinance institution in Kenya by being cashless, paperless and data-driven to offer the best value, most flexible and most customer-oriented financial services in the market.

Oikocredit

Oikocredit is a worldwide cooperative and social investor, providing funding to the microfinance sector, fair trade organizations, cooperatives and small to medium enterprises. With operations in over 60 countries, Oikocredit encounters various types of risk, including currency risk, equity risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. As well as mitigating its own risks, Oikocredit also supports its partner organizations in mitigating theirs. As part of its capacity building programme, Oikocredit focusses on training its partners on how to address major risks in areas such as credit, governance, markets, exchange rates, agricultural production and internal auditing. Oikocredit’s training in risk management has spanned across Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia, with a focus on reducing portfolio at risk and strengthening client services for microfinance institutions. For more information, visit www.oikocredit.coop.

The Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN)

The Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) is a national association for retail players in the Pakistan microfinance industry. The network operates in three broad areas; to serve as an information hub, promote an enabling environment and build the capacity of the sector, with an overall objective to enhance scale, quality and sustainability of microfinance providers. For more information, visit www.pmn.org.pk.

PAMIGA

PAMIGA provides financial and technical assistance to 16 MFIs in 10 countries in rural Africa reaching more than 1,000,000 clients. Its action focuses on scaling up its partner MFIs through mergers/acquisitions, institutional transformation, and building strong governance and efficient systems. PAMIGA also assists its members to implement technology platforms as well as the development of new products and services, especially payments and money transfers. PAMIGA innovates in developing new products, especially in financing rural water and energy projects, to improve the productivity and mitigate climate related risks in agricultural activities, and increase incomes. Similarly, PAMIGA assists partner MFIs to strengthen their financial and social performance, by developing their risk management framework, monitoring social performance, and building capacities to provide high quality financial education for them to be more client-centric and improve positive impact on their clients’ lives. For more information, visit www.pamiga.org.

Individual Members

Founding Members

Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA)

Calmeadow

Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion (CFI)

The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion (CFI) is an action-oriented think tank working toward full global financial inclusion. Constructing a financial inclusion sector that reaches everyone with quality services will require the combined efforts of many actors. CFI contributes to full inclusion by collaborating with sector participants to tackle challenges beyond the scope of any one actor, using tools that include research, convening, capacity building, and communications. Through its Investing in Inclusive Finance program area, the CFI addresses the challenges and opportunities of investing in financial inclusion. Investing in Inclusive Finance focuses on strengthening governance and risk management capacity among investors, boards and management of MFIs, and on fostering responsible investments. It has produced numerous publications on governance and risk including the recently completed three-part Running with Risk project, which aims to create a common framework and language for MFI board members to better execute their roles in managing risk. The CFI is now the institutional home for the Microfinance Banana Skins report, a yearly report reflecting perceptions of risk in microfinance. The report aims to reveal shifts in risk perception and to highlight both emerging and long-term risks in a rapidly changing field. For more information, visit www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org.

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

MFX Solutions

Microfinanza Srl

Oikocredit

Triple Jump

Triple Jump manages and advises funds that aim to invest responsibly in developing countries. Our focus is on the bottom of the pyramid, where we improve livelihoods by managing and advising on responsible investment funds. Micro and small & medium sized enterprises are at the centre of our continual development and improvement of an inclusive financial sector. Triple Jump re-invests a portion of its earnings, through Triple Jump Advisory Services, in technical assistance projects for its investees, with the objective of contributing to a solid, social, and innovative microfinance sector. The core of our work consists of providing hands-on advisory services to financial intermediaries. Our expertise areas are clustered around three main topics: (1) Product/channel development, to help serve the underserved, like up-scaling MFI to the SME market and introducing branchless banking. (2) Risk management, focusing on both financial and social risks. (This includes the strengthening of the foundations for solid risk management, like adequate governance and IT/MIS). (3) Social performance management, with cost effective approaches to assess impact. In 2010 we launch the risk management pilot in Guatemala to develop an appropriate approach for smaller financial institutions. The results have been scaled in cooperation with Redcamif in the Central American region. We have directly supported more than 40 MFIs in building the foundations and strengthening their risk management. For more information, visit www.triplejump.eu.

Emeritus Members

Giovanni Calvi
Ligia Castro-Monge has more than 30 years of professional experience in the economic and financial fields, with areas of concentration in regulation of financial intermediaries, risk management and microfinance. Ms. Castro-Monge holds university degrees in Economics from the University of Costa Rica, and a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Chicago, U.S.A. Since 2000, she has provided consulting services for numerous organizations, and has participated in the development and implementation of methodologies for exogenous risks diagnostic and management (business continuity and contingency planning), and for financial and operational risk management in MFIs under the Basel II and Basel III frameworks.Ms. Castro-Monge has provided technical assistance, training and coaching in financial and operational risk management to numerous MFIs in Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub- Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and Luxembourg. She was the Chairman of the Technical Working Group that developed the Risk Management Graduation Model (RMGM) under the Risk Management Initiative for Microfinance (RIM), and has extensively applied the RMGM in different geographies.
Kevin Fryatt served as RIM’s first Director from 2014-2018 and is responsible for the initiative’s initial visionsetting. Early in his leadership, Kevin led governance development and an initial branding and strategic planning process which prompted the name change from the Risk Management in Microfinance Task Force to the Risk Management Initiative in Microfinance (RIM) that we know today. While Director, his achievements include the initial website launch, introducing individual membership and doubling organizational membership, increasing annual revenues to over $300k, unveiling and gaining global uptake of the Graduation Model, co-authoring RIM’s Institution Assessment Guides and launching of associated Institution Assessment Courses for Independent Assessors and Internal Staff, launching RIM’s Institution Assessor Directory and developing a framework for and growing RIM’s working groups from one to four.Kevin’s global experience in governance and risk management of financial institutions and knowledge within financial inclusion spans the past 13 years and includes technical and senior leadership positions with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, MFX Solutions, and World Relief. He has served with the SEEP Financial Services Working Group on the development of the Microfinance Reporting Standards and on the Board of Directors of several microfinance institutions in Kosovo, Burundi, DRC, and Liberia. Kevin also serves as subject matter expert in risk within Accion’s Africa Board Fellowship program.Kevin has an MA in International Development from Eastern University, a BBA from the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada, specialized Asset/Liability Management training from the IFF in London and is a Certified Expert in Risk Management from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany. Kevin is currently based in Washington, DC.
Evrim Kirimkan is Head of Operations for Latin America with MFR, a rating agency specialized in responsible finance, returning to the company after several consulting projects in the areas of risk management and social performance management, also having co-authored the Graduation Model of the Risk Management Initiative in Microfinance. Previously, he conducted important work in the assessment and development of MFIs with MFR, completing over 70 evaluations worldwide. Evrim has also worked as Treasurer and Account Manager in the Brussels office of BNP Paribas. In recent years, he has led various training workshops on risk management, financial and social indicators, and social performance management, including as Faculty at the Boulder Institute’s Microfinance Training Program since 2012. Evrim has a degree in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Nottingham, a Masters in Financial Management from Vlerick Business School and a Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Economics from SOAS – University of London.
Marnix Mulder
Massimo Vita is Partner of Microfinanza Srl, and a management professional with over 20 years of experience spanning more than 40 countries worldwide. With a dedicated focus on microfinance and banking, his main fields of expertise include consultancies in corporate governance, risk management, internal control and business planning. He is a skilled financial analyst, having carried out more than 100 ratings during his time as Founding Partner and Operations Director of MicroFinanza Rating, international rating agency. He has also worked for five years as technical assistance specialist with the Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (REGMIFA) managed by Symbiotics SA. Prior to this he collaborated with Unido at the SME department and worked for Arthur Andersen Spa in the provision of audit and risk consulting services for financial institutions. Massimo joined CreditAccess Asia (CAA) in January 2016 as Group Head of Operations Support Team, then in 2017 he became Group Chief Risk Officer of CAA and Managing Director of the regional headquarters in Thailand, focusing on improving governance, strategic direction and risk management of the MFIs’ affiliates which are located in South and South-Eastern Asia. Massimo is also chairs the Steering Committee for the Risk management Initiative in Microfinance (RIM) and a faculty member at the Microfinance Training Program for the Boulder Institute since 2018. Massimo has a Master’s equivalent in Economics and Commerce from the University of Verona (Italy) as well as a Master diploma in Development, Innovation, and Change from the University of Bologna (Italy). He is fluent in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

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