Citigroup
Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) Programme
Implemented by PKSF and Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh:
1. Background of Citigroup Microentrepreneurship
Awards (CMA) Programme:
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Citigroup
Foundation, and the Global Microentrepreneurship Awards (GMA)
Student Alliance joined together in 2004 to promote and illustrate
how microfinance strengthens the entrepreneurial spirit in impoverished
communities around the world. The GMA was launched as a pilot
in 2004 in 8 countries as one of the key events to mark the United
Nations’ 2005 International Year of Microcredit. The success
of the GMA pilot resulted in the program’s expansion in
2005 from 8 to 30 countries including Bangladesh. Much leadership
support of the 2005 GMA came from the excellent local microfinance
networks and organizations, academic institutions, and NGOs as
Council of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in Bangladesh.
PKSF was the secretariat of that GMA Programme 2005.
The Microentrepreneurship Awards programme, which Citigroup implemented
in partnership with the U.N. in 30 countries last year, was a
resounding success. More than 4,500 microentrepreneurs applied
to the programme and more than 300 microentrepreneurs took home
awards worldwide. In Bangladesh only, more than 460 microentrepreneurs
applied and 4 winners were awarded at the culminating event. But
the programmes greatest success was increasing global awareness
of the important role that microentrepreneurs play in their local
economies and the significance of microfinance as a tool in poverty
alleviation. As the Year of Microcredit has concluded, and the
UN is no longer participating as a funder of the awards, the Citigroup
Foundation is pleased to take on complete responsibility for the
program in 2006 as its sole funder. From this point forward the
program will be called the Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards.
Citigroup Foundation thanked PKSF & its Managing Director
as the Chairperson of National Advisory Council for the generous
commitment of time on behalf of the 2005 Microentrepreneurs Awards
programme. Citigroup Foundation has proudly invited PKSF to participate
in this year’s programme, renamed as Citigroup Microentrepreneurs
Awards and was hoped that PKSF’s Managing Director will
consider joining the Council again as the chairperson this year.
The Advisory Council will be proposed to guide and advise the
award process to align it with its goals. So CMA programme financer
Citigroup Foundation encourage again PKSF to act as the secretariat
and the local NGO Partner for implementing the CMA program in
Bangladesh for 2006.
2. Goals of this Programme:
The programme seeks to raise awareness about microfinance, particularly
among microentrepreneurs who could benefit from it. Highlighting
award winning microenterprises should inspire the poor to start
their own businesses, as well as publicize best practices in microentrepreneurship.
By encouraging the poor to emulate effective products and processes,
the program will facilitate the creation of more sustainable microenterprises.
It will also help support microfinance where it already exists
and introduce it to communities, which have no prior experience
with it. The programme seeks to build awareness of the important
role microentrepreneurs play in their local economies. One of
the Program’s goals is to reshape the societies’ perception
of the poor from unfortunate victims to capable entrepreneurs.
Another programme’s goal is to generate as much media attention
around this issue as possible through communications initiatives
and events that highlight the program. Additionally, generating
recognition of the MFIs affiliated with each of the winners will
highlight the microfinance industry’s high loan repayment
rate of 98% and vast unmet demand, as well as demonstrate that
MFIs can be operationally and financially self-sufficient. The
program aims to inspire donors to provide self-sufficient MFIs
with capacity-building and technical assistance, and to provide
nascent MFIs with such services, as well as with needed capital.
The Program aims to create the next generation of microfinance
networks, comprising political and financial leaders, opinion
shapers, students, practitioners, and communities. It is important
that the members of the public sector who participate in this
network spur policymaking that builds more inclusive financial
sectors and lays the foundation for a flourishing microfinance
industry. In addition, linking existing microfinance networks
to the program will facilitate communication and collaboration
between established and developing networks and organizations.
3. Press Release about CMA Programme:
(a) Major contents of press release on Citigroup
Microentrepreneurship Awards launched dated 30 May, 2006
Bangladesh: Citigroup Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of Citigroup, for the second consecutive time today launched
the Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards program in Bangladesh
to recognize and honor leadership, entrepreneurial skills and
best practices of individual microentrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
The program was announced today at a press conference by a high-level
advisory council chaired by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed where all important
partners and stakeholders were present.
The awards will be presented in five categories - `Best Innovative
Microenterprise of the Year', `Best Woman Microentrepreneur of
the Year', `Best Microentrepreneur of the Year', `Best Microfinance
Institution (MFI) of the Year' and `Best Program for the Hardcore
Poor' -- at the end of the selection process from June through
September.
The Advisory Council formed for
the awards include:
· Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed-Managing Director
of PKSF and Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank;
· Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud -Eminent Economist and Former Advisor
to the Caretaker Government;
· Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury-Executive Director of BRAC and
Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government
· Ms. Rokia A. Rahman - Former Adviser to the Caretaker
Government;
· Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Governor of Bangladesh Bank;
· Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin - President, Board of Governors,
East West University & Former
· Governor of Bangladesh Bank;
· Mr. Matiur Rahman-Editor of The Daily Prothom Alo, Ataus
Samad- Advisory Editor,
· The Daily Amar Desh
· Professor Abu Ahmed-Chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank
· C.Q.K. Mustaq Ahmed, Additional Secretary & Director
General of the NGO Affairs Bureau;
· Dr. Mohammad Tareque - Additional Secretary, Finance
Division, Ministry of Finance;
· Mr. Nasimul Ghani, Director General - Bangladesh Television;
· Ms. Shireen Scheik Mainuddin - Managing Director, Asaan
& Ex- Senior Banker and
· Stacey Morse - Eminent Social Worker.
Also remaining present at the press conference were Mahfuz
Anam - Editor, The Daily Star, Shykh Seraj - Director and Head
of News, Channel i and Mamun Rashid - Citigroup Country Officer,
Bangladesh.
The Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards is being supported
by Citigroup Foundation and managed by Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh
and Palli-Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) as the local partner.
The grant from the Citigroup Foundation will be used toward implementation
of the award program as well as the prize money.
Four eminent organizations - The Daily Star, Daily Prothom Alo,
Channel i and Dhaka Sheraton -- have joined this program in Bangladesh
as partner organizations.
The Microentrepreneurship Awards program, which Citigroup implemented
in partnership with the U.N. in 30 countries last year, was a
resounding success all over. In Bangladesh, more than 460 microentrepreneurs
applied and 4 winners received awards and Shamima Khatun - winner
of the most innovative business of the year award -- represented
the winners at the culminating event of the International year
of Microcredit in New York. The program's greatest success was
the increasing global awareness of the important role that micro-entrepreneurs
play in their local economies and the significance of microfinance
as a tool of poverty alleviation.
The goal of this award is to promote microenterprise and increase
awareness about their financial service needs. More importantly,
the aim of this initiative is to recognize the success stories
of the entrepreneurs and put the spotlight on local microentrepreneurs
who are helping lift the economic fortunes of their communities,
and bringing more capital into their developing economies.
At the launch of the awards, Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said, "This
award program is a good initiative as last year to create awareness
for financial mainstreaming of microcredit programs. Poverty alleviation
is not an easy task and microfinance is a globally proven tool
to help in poverty eradication and we are deeply committed to
encouraging and recognizing its role in Bangladesh's social development
through this program".
Announcing the program, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed mentioned, "Microcredit
and microfinance will however serve the diverse financial needs
of maximum number of poor clients when it is mainstreamed and
integrated into the financial sector. We need to establish linkages
to bring the microentrepreneurs to the next level and that calls
for larger financial services to be provided to a larger group
of clients."
Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, said, "Issues relating to poor
and under privileged are central to the health of a nation's progress.
Addressing their problems cannot be done by any one individual
or organization and microcredit effect would have its result when
the overall economy of the nation will grow with a collaborative
effort".
Added Mr. Ataus Samad- Advisory Editor, The Daily Amar Desh "I
am delighted that a major private enterprise like Citigroup has
taken the lead in recognizing the efforts of individuals at the
grassroots level through a collaborative approach."
Mamun Rashid, Citigroup Country Officer, Bangladesh said, "We
are delighted at the encouraging response we have received from
the eminent citizens of Bangladesh to participate in the Advisory
Council and the valuable partners in progress to make this award
program a more meaningful and successful one through our collective
effort."
In the last five years alone, the Citigroup Foundation has awarded
nearly $20 million in grants to 145 microfinance partners in more
than 50 countries.
(b) Major contents of press release on Nomination
Wanted for Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards dated 6 June,
2006
Citigroup Foundation, for the second consecutive time recently
launched the Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards program in
Bangladesh to recognize and honor leadership, entrepreneurial
skills and best practices of individual microentrepreneurs and
micro enterprises in Bangladesh.
As announced, the awards will be presented in five categories
- `Best Innovative Microenterprise of the Year’, `Best Woman
Microentrepreneur of the Year’, `Best Microentrepreneur
of the Year’, `Best Microfinance Institution (MFI) of the
Year’ and `Best Program for the Hardcore Poor’.
The award program now seeks nomination starting from 7th June
2006 (Wednesday) and the submission deadline of sending nominations
for the award is July 7, 2006. All nominations for five categories
of awards with complete information are to be sent to Palli Karma
Shahayak Foundation (PKSF).
The Citigroup Microentrepreneurship Awards program is locally
managed by Palli-Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Citibank,
N.A. Bangladesh. For more information and to get an application
form, please contact Akond Md. Rafiqul Islam – Assistant
General Manager - Operations, PKSF at 9126240 ext: 1115 or visit
the website at www.asia.citibank.com/bangladesh/corprate or www.pksf-bd.org
.
4. Award Screening Committee:
An award screening committee is also working in this regard. The
members of the Screening Committee are:
· C.Q.K. Mustaq Ahmed – Additional Secretary &
Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau (Convener – Screening
Committee)
· Dr. Mohammad Tareque – Additional Secretary, Finance
Division, Ministry of Finance
· Ms. Rokia A. Rahman – Former Adviser to the Caretaker
Government
· Ms. Shireen Scheik Mainuddin – Managing Director,
Asaan & Ex- Senior Banker
· Mr. Shykh Seraj – Director & Head of News -
Channel I
· Ms. Parveen Mahmud - Deputy Managing Director, Palli
Karma- Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)
· Mr. Mosharraf Hossain Khan - Deputy Managing Director,
Palli Karma- Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)
Besides, Mr. Akond Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, AGM, PKSF is nominated
as a member secretary of the SC committee.
5. Secretariat of the Programme:
PKSF will act as the national secretariat for the Citigroup Microentrepreneurship
Awards (CMA) programme. PKSF, as the apex microfinance body would
help in identifying the MFIs in different districts across the
country and help collect nomination/screening/selection of finalists.
PKSF will help to assist informing MFIs through sending invitation
with application forms. PKSF will act as the local NGO Partner
for this programme to receive and manage the fund. A CMA operation
committee has also been made in PKSF consisting five members.
6. Application submission:
Application submission deadline is 7th July, 2006. Any competent
may submit application through MFI or District Commissioner. The
application forms along with selection criteria for award programme
are attached herewith. Candidates are requested to send their
applications within 7th July, 2006 to the following address:
Akond Md. Rafiqul Islam, Assistant General Manager (Ops.)
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF),
PKSF Bhaban, Plot : E-4/B, Agargaon Administrative Area
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207
PABX No. : 880-2-9140056-59 (Ex: 1115), Fax No. : 880-2-9126244,
9134431
E-mail : pksf@pksf-bd.org, Website : www.pksf-bd.org
Bangladesh
The application forms and selection
criteria
01) Form-Most
Innovative Microenterprise of the Year (doc file)
......Form-Most
Innovative Microenterprise of the Year (pdf file)
02) Form-Best
Woman Microentrepreneur of the Year (doc file)
......Form-Best
Woman Microentrepreneur of the Year (pdf file)
03) Form
-Best Microentrepreneur of the Year (doc file)
...... Form
-Best Microentrepreneur of the Year (pdf file)
04) Form-Best
MFI of the Year (doc file)
......Form-Best
MFI of the Year (pdf file)
05) Form-Best
Programme for the Hardcore Poor (doc file)
.....Form-Best
Programme for the Hardcore Poor (pdf file)
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Palli Karma-Sahayak
Foundation (PKSF), PKSF Bhaban, Plot : E-4/B, Agargaon Administrative
Area, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207
PABX No. : 880-2-9140056-59, Fax No. : 880-2-9126244,
E-mail : pksf@pksf-bd.org, Website : www.pksf-bd.org, Bangladesh
Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh:
109 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka-1212. Tel: 880-2-8855139-41; Fax:
880-2-9899126.
Website: ww.asia.citibank.com/bangladesh/corporate
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