The MicroStart Programme, provides technical and capital support to local organizations that are entering the field of microfinance, and brings new products to microfinance clients, even within older and well-established organizations. MicroStart provides start-up capital and technical assistance through experienced practitioners from around the world to nascent and fledgling organizations or organizations that are entering the microfinance market for the first time. The capacity building strategy centers on the belief that young organizations can benefit from a three year technical partnership with an experience practitioner. MicroStart country programmes are managed by UNDP Country Offices and local advisory boards. The MicroStart country programmes have received strong support from the Finnish Government, the UNDP Regional Bureaus, and the Dutch Government.
Collaborative efforts are underway with other bilateral and multilateral agencies.
MicroSave MicroSave is a programme to promote secure, appropriately regulated, supervised, and flexible savings systems. MicroSave West Africa is the Francophone arm of the initiative for West African countries. Collaboration with the UNV During 1998, SUM began a pilot using UNV as a means to provide technical assistance to a MicroStart programme in one Country Office. In 1999, SUM plans to investigate the feasibility of establishing a special corps of microfinance advisors together with the United National Volunteer Programme. This corps will provide a unique opportunity for experienced MFIs to make their own staff available to efforts in other parts of the world.