The given training is the second phase of the international certification program, and is aimed at creating a national base of accredited microfinance trainers from MFIs in Uzbekistan. Previously the first phase of the certification program was conducted on June 7-18 within the framework of the UNDP “Support to microfinance sector development” Project, and engaged the representatives of microcredit organizations and credit unions, as well as the specialists of Microcreditbank. Based on the results of the first phase the participants passed tests, all administered and evaluated by the ITCILO staff, based on Turin, Italy. In fact, 7 candidate trainers from across the country, including Ferghana valley, Surkhandarya, Tashkent, and other regions, were selected to go through the second phase of the training.

Ms. Cheryl Frankiewicz – ITCILO internationally accredited Master trainer, the leading author of the course, and an author and co-author of a number of international microfinance publications visited Uzbekistan to conduct the 5-day training. One of the major advantages of the MMW course is that it is a complete and adapted to local context course, covering almost all areas of microfinance activities and specifically designed to prepare microfinance trainers.

The first phase of the training was primarily targeted at delivering the major aspects of microfinance (24 learning modules) and supplied an arsenal of tools that can assist managers to strengthen the performance of their unit, branch or institution. Whereas, the second phase was focused on delivering the concept and methodology of the training course, and aimed at the improvement of the adult teaching skills and interactive teaching abilities of the participants. Besides, the trainer candidates had the chance to improve their presentation, listener motivation skills, as well as their ability to deal with challenging learning situations. The participants have also learned the gender mainstreaming techniques, and time and discussion management tools.

The trainers who successfully complete all three phases of certification program and receive a ILO certification become eligible to conduct trainings across the country, thus contributing to the institutional capacity building of the microfinance sector across the country. The training was organized within the framework of the “Support to microfinance sector development” Project’s initiative to contribute to the strengthened capacity of the microfinance sector and better performance of local microfinance institutions that provide savings, credit and other financial services to the population of Uzbekistan, as well as to provide assistance to their sustainable development.

Ms. Cheryl Frankiewicz has been working in microfinance for seventeen years, eleven of which have been spent living in Mozambique, Tanzania, Indonesia, Peru and Bolivia, where she helped to launch the Microenterprise Policy Institute in 1997. She is a Master Trainer for the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization and led the design of the Centre's Making Microfinance Work trainer certification process.

She is the co-author of both volumes of the Making Microfinance Work curriculum: Managing for Improved Performance and Managing Product Diversification. She has authored and co-authored other microfinance publications, including MicroSave toolkits on product marketing and customer service. She holds master's degrees in international affairs from Columbia University and business administration from the University of Ottawa. At present, she is an independent consultant based in Maputo, Mozambique.