WAM international

Mission

• To advance the provision of financial services to the poor
• To advance and support women’s leadership in the microfinance industry through education and training, by promoting leadership opportunities, and by increasing visibility of their participation and talent while maintaining a work/life balance
• To extend economic opportunities to women globally
• To continue to raise gender issues with a collective voice

How We Began

WAM began in 2003 after women professionals in the microfinance industry, most of them based in Washington, DC, began meeting, at first informally in each others' homes. This growing group of WAM Founders came together to discuss areas of common concern, to decide if a more formal organization made sense, to explore what such an organization might do to support women who work in the microfinance industry and, ultimately, to support the development of the industry itself. After several months of planning and program design, WAM was formally launched in October 2003. Membership has grown steadily since.

WAM's membership consists of microfinance professionals at all stages of their careers. Although most members are women, membership is not restricted to women only.

How We Work

WAM advances its values by serving as a network for women in microfinance all over the world and as a platform for communication and collective action.

WAM pursues this activity by supporting the establishment of  chapters worldwide that share a commitment to WAM's values and mission statement. WAM has chapters in Washington, DC (established 2003), Uganda (2004), Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States (2004), Kenya (2005), New York (2005), Northern California (2006), Pacific Northwest (2007), Ecuador (2007), Chicago (2007), Atlanta (2008), the Middle East (2008), Canada (2008), India (2009), and the Netherlands (2009). Other chapters both within the US and internationally are in formation.

The networking activity is also advanced through our website which serves as a platform to inform members and other interested parties about WAM's mission and activities, as well as to recognize the accomplishments of WAM members throughout the world.

In addition, WAM sponsors or leads workshops at premier microfinance industry conferences each year and publishes an annual directory, highlighting members' areas of technical expertise as well as country experience, that serves as a valuable networking tool. 

Building the skills of women to assume leadership roles in the industry, including offering financial assistance to women from developing countries to attend specialized programs that aim to expand their skills and advocate for women’s placement in those roles.

WAM has begun developing workshops aimed at growing the skill base of existing and emerging leaders in the microfinance industry. This work will continue and is likely to focus on both growing management and governance skills.

WAM expects to develop mentoring opportunities (to be mentored and to mentor) for women professionals in microfinance. Initially this mentoring will be focused on WAM members, but it could expand over time to include women more generally in the microfinance industry or those seeking to join the industry.

As WAM’s financial base grows, we hope to offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships to women from developing countries to enable them to take part in courses focused on advancing their skills as microfinance professionals. This financial assistance will not be limited to WAM members, but WAM chapters are expected to assist in the selection and nomination of candidates for such support from their respective countries of operation.

Sponsoring educational programs that assist women working in microfinance to grow professionally and to balance personal and professional obligations.

Each WAM chapter is responsible for developing programs that respond to the needs and wishes of its members. WAM International will support these programs by sharing information about the range of activities and programs being offered to WAM members, but it is up to each chapter to design the programs.

To date, activities have varied greatly from chapter to chapter. WAM DC programs have ranged from workshops on improving public presentation skills, developing better PowerPoint skills, organizing home and offices more efficiently, growing leadership skills and mentoring women in microfinance. WAM Kenya, by contrast, has led workshops on coping with the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workplace and in the home.

Conducting surveys to assess the current state of the microfinance industry as a place for professional women to work and to highlight those microfinance institutions that are female-friendly in their policies and advancement of female professionals.

In fall of 2005 WAM concluded its first survey to assess the current state of women in microfinance. This survey is expected to be repeated on a regular basis to benchmark changes occurring in the composition of professionals working in the microfinance industry and to highlight microfinance institutions that are committed to advancing women.

Raising public and industry awareness about the challenges women face in the microfinance industry.

WAM International will publicize the results of its WAM surveys and will use a variety of media to highlight stories of women working in microfinance so as to increase public awareness of the microfinance industry in general and of the valuable role that female professionals have played in its success. Where obstacles to women’s achievement have been identified, WAM will call attention to them and will assist, where appropriate, with developing strategies to support needed changes.