Senior management in the field

Chikonzero is certainly being kept very busy! This last week he’s taken part in the 3-day internal training course on PRA (see previous post) which also included going to the field to try out his new research skills. In addition, he’s been out doing more business assessments to hone his PRA skills and get more insights into the issues that clients face in running their businesses.

Members of MicroLoan Foundation (MLF) Malawi’s senior management have been coming along to the business assessments to get a feel of what the issues are on the ground for their clients. It was a great opportunity for clients to meet management staff, and for management to reconnect to the charity’s clients, and understand in more detail the ways in which they use the MLF loans. So far we’ve had the CEO, Finance Manager and HR Manager attend the assessments, with more planned.


Chikonzero with James Kajamu (CEO) with a client



Chikonzero with Julius Kamanga (Finance Manager) interviewing another client

Welcome our new SPM officer!

I’m very pleased to report that we have found my replacement! His name is Chikonzero Undi and he comes to us with lots of relevant experience and bags of enthusiasm for making sure MicroLoan Foundation is achieving its social mission. Chikonzero’s background is in research and monitoring & evaluation, and he’s also set up his own community based organisation working on a voluntary basis with vulnerable people.

Chikonzero is being kept extremely busy not only learning the ropes of what MicroLoan Foundation does on a day to day basis – all the way from clients and Loan Officers up to management at Head Office – but also shadowing me on my various SPM activities. He’s already taken on an active role in carrying out some social assessment questionnaires and a business assessment. Next week there’s a 3-day internal Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) course taking place for him, the internal audit staff and regional managers. He’ll use the people-centred research skills he learns in his ongoing work with clients, ensuring that MLF’s operations are always working hard to meet their needs. Just as well he’s able to soak information up like a sponge! When I leave (in just over a month) I know that Chikonzero will keep the momentum up on the SPM activity.



Picture: Chikonzero interviews a client as part of MLF’s social assessment work