AMFIU entered a bilateral agreement with Strathmore Global Institute to drive financial inclusion in Uganda. This was during the signing of a memorandum of Understanding between two institutions at the Strathmore Global Institute offices in Kampala.
During the event, Strathmore Global Institute Country Director, Anita Asiimwe noted that today was really a very special day because they were starting an important journey. ‘We are starting a journey of transformation because I believe when you transform a sector as important as the financial sector, you actually transform families, you transform people, you transform economies, you transform the continent, which really is at the heart of what we are Strathmore.
The Executive Director of you indicated that AMFIIU works through partnerships and the signing of the MOU was a great opportunity to address the skills gaps in the sector. She indicated that AMFIU works with huge SACCO and some of them started as small institutions but they have grown beyond thier governance and this has caused challenges. She noted this was good to help in uplifting the skills of individuals in some the cooperatives because some of the still work with individuals whose caliber of skills do not match the size of the institutions.
She thanked the Strathmore indicating when you look at the programs that are run it is evident that they will help in addressing the challenges that the institutions face. Government has tried to build the skills of the sector especially the SACCOs through different programs but leadership and governance skills still continue. It is our hope that this partnership will bring a transformative change that is required in this sector, she said.
Kevin Rwanyarare who works as the Business Development Manager highlighted the different programs that are run by the institution and noted that based on the discussions, it was evident that the two institutions can cooperate and address the governance and leadership skills that are still lacking especially in a number of cooperatives. He noted that the two institutions can match their technical capacities to create impact in the financial sector. I am convinced that two institutions can even develop an AMFIU Academy that would be a centre to gaps highlighted and create an everlasting impact in the sector. This can be achieved by riding on the reputation of the two institutions.
This partnership will be implemented in collaboration with the AMFIU Business Consult, the commercial wing of the Association and the Strathmore Research and Consultancy Centre Uganda, a subsidiary of Strathmore University.