Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) conducted a training on Financial Analysis with Abuyog St. Francis Xavier Credit Cooperative (AFCCO) on September 18-19, 2012. The training, which was held in Abuyog, Leyte, aims to teach participants various ways of understanding and measuring the financial performance of microfinance institutions. A total of 25 participants from AFCCO attended the training. This includes top and middle management officers, field agents and support staff.
Financial analysis is among the key functions of people working in the microfinance industry. To enhance the participants’ knowledge on how to perform these functions better, financial statements, record adjustments, and financial ratios were discussed. Participants also learned how to compute for various measures used in assessing portfolio quality, efficiency, profitability, and financial structure.
The training focused on case studies and workshops which allowed participants to practice their financial analysis skills. Actual financial records of AFCCO were used to discuss the topics. This allowed participants to understand and appreciate the topics better. It also gave them a chance to review their financial performance in the past five years and see the financial implications of the changes implemented under the technical and mentoring assistance (TAMA) program of SEDPI.
Representatives from the People’s Development Trust Fund (PDTF) were also present in the training. The trainers, Ms. Florence Adviento and Ms. Cherryl Si, received excellent evaluations in terms of knowledge, delivery, and overall skills as trainer. Participants were very thankful for the training. They described the training as “challenging” and “interesting”. They also appreciated the training for being useful in achieving the cooperative’s social mission and financial sustainability.