Using ICT in Capacity Building for Poverty Reduction in Asia: Lessons Learned from the Microfinance Training of Trainers Course

Abstract

The need for capacity building in Asia is enormous, particularly for pro-poor development strategies. In recent years, developments in ICT have made possible capacity building through distance learning modalities as an alternative to conventional face-to-face training. In the Asia Pacific region, interest in distance learning has been vigorous, with over 70 open virtual universities (UNESCO, 2004) and more than 500 million potential participants of distance learning courses (Jung, 2005, citing Shive & Jegede, 2001). As the use of ICT in capacity building in developing countries is relatively new, knowledge on what works and does not work in different development contexts remains limited. Systematic documentation and evaluation of pro-poor distance learning initiatives to extract lessons learnt would be useful for future development. Microfinance is a development intervention which has been recognized as a powerful instrument for poverty reduction. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) provide low-income households and enterprises with access to a wide variety of financial services, which in turn has enabled the poor to build assets, increase incomes, and reduce their vulnerability. Nevertheless, there are still relatively few financially sustainable MFIs with significant breadth and depth in outreach in Asia. It has been widely recognized, however, that the main constraint for the sector is not the lack of funds but the lack of capacity in operating sustainable institutions