On April 23, 2013, the Small Business Corporation (SBC) awarded a project to SEDPI to conduct capacity building to two microfinance institutions. The project involves two microfinance institutions under the Rural Microenterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP). RuMEPP is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to promote entrepreneurship by developing existing microenterprises and developing new ones.
A component of RuMEPP is the Microenterprise Financing facility for Rural Development which is a nationwide wholesale financing program for microfinance institutions with focus on the 19 poorest provinces of the Philippines. SBC is a major stakeholder in the program as the wholesale lender of funds to qualified microfinance institutions.
The two microfinance institutions included in the project are Fatima Multipurpose Cooperative in Leyte and Bibak Multipurpose Cooperative in Kalinga Apayao. The two organizations will undergo capacity building under SEDPI. There will be two components of the capacity building – organizational appraisal; and technical and mentoring assistance