Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women

October 7, 2010

“Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women” introduces Women’s World Banking’s new methodology for helping MFIs support gender diversity at all levels of their institution. Women’s World Banking has expanded its Women’s Leadership Development Program, which works with individuals, to include a tool that focuses on the challenges and opportunities microfinance institutions face in the attraction, retention, and promotion of qualified women staff members – the Organizational Gender Assessment.

The publication offers concrete examples of policies and programs that can help institutions achieve gender diversity. Through a study of Women’s World Banking network member Kashf Foundation (Pakistan), it shows that even those organizations with an ingrained commitment to diversity can benefit from an organizational assessment. Based on these findings, Women’s World Banking presents its prescriptions for creating and maintaining a healthy, gender-inclusive microfinance institution. The paper also presents findings from a survey of global participants of Women’s World Banking Leadership Development Program.Download the English versionDownload the Spanish version