The plenary presentation/discussion addresses a theme or topic that is presented via a keynote speech or panel presentation with working groups or a Q&A following the presentations. The content of these sessions are theoretical, policy-based, food for thought, global or macro in nature. These sessions are designed to broaden participants’ perspective on the industry, its possibilities and its challenges. Plenary session topics are likely to include:

• Current challenges in microfinance
• Commercialization of microfinance
• e-banking – will it transform microfinance?
• Banks to self-help groups: the microfinance continuum
• The future of microfinance
• Trade-off between sustainability and a poverty focus
• Key issues in microfinance regulation and supervision
• Accessing capital markets finance
• HIV/AIDS and microfinance

The technical training sessions are the core of the course. These sessions are, as the name suggests, more technical, detailed and above all practical with a focus on “how-to” rather than just “it would be nice to”. We organize these sessions into modules that are offered during the mornings and afternoons for a period of one week so that participants attend a total of four courses over the course of two weeks. This means that graduates from SAM have the ability to apply four practical tools to improve the performance of their organizations upon their return.

The technical training sessions are the core of the course. These sessions are, as the name suggests, more technical, detailed and above all practical with a focus on “how-to” rather than just “it would be nice to”. We organize these sessions into modules that are offered during the mornings and afternoons for a period of one week so that participants attend a total of four courses over the course of two weeks. This means that graduates from SAM have the ability to apply four practical tools to improve the performance of their organizations upon their return.

The participants’ moderated presentations/discussions at the end of the day are informal opportunities for them to share their thoughts and experiences. These discussions have specific themes; participants or faculty could present case studies from their own institutions; or the floor could simply be opened for questions, comments and discussion about the implications and application of the material covered during the day. Examples of themes that could be covered (depending on participants) include:

• IT: what works and what doesn’t
• Managing growth and change
• Experiences with specific products or category of products, such as leasing, insurance, savings, emergency loans, etc
• Developing new products
• IT/TA providers present the services they offer
• Serving remote rural areas
• Microinsurance services