2012 Q1 Board Book (Staff)

The March 26-27th, 2012 Board Meeting, discussed the Foundation's commitment to expanding access to microfinance and education, with a focus on strategic partnerships, signature programs, and rigorous evaluation. The Board also reviewed the Foundation's dedicated efforts to building its reputation, internal capacity, and refining its program strategies.

Key initiatives and developments in the first quarter include:

1) Strategic Program Development: The Foundation conducted a "deep dive" strategic review of its microfinance and youth learning strategies, highlighting the importance of these two focus areas. It also developed "signature programs" in microfinance capacity building and workforce development, as well as a global Scholars Program.

2) Grant Making and Partnerships: The Foundation considered grants totaling over $17 million for projects with GSMA, SEEP Network and the Talloires Network, all of which were previously presented in pipeline reviews. The Foundation also continued its work with existing partners, including Equity Group Foundation, BRAC, and TechnoServe.

3) Microfinance Initiatives: The Foundation is developing a signature program focused on capacity building and workforce development within the microfinance sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative addresses the need for qualified staff and aims to improve human resource quality and reduce costs for microfinance institutions.

4) Youth Learning Programs: The Foundation is also developing a global Scholars Program to support disadvantaged young people in completing secondary and university education. This program involves partnerships with organizations like BRAC, Equity Group Foundation and CAMFED.

5) Focus on Evaluation and Learning: The Foundation is implementing a regular cycle of evaluations, aiming to make data-informed decisions and improve continuously. This includes mid-course project reviews, thematic reviews, and board program updates. It is also implementing a new IT system to improve data monitoring and reporting.

6) Reputation Building: The Foundation commissioned a reputation audit to understand how stakeholders perceive its work. It actively participated in various global forums and events, including the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and the Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly event.

7) Internal Development: The Foundation is focusing on staff development by hiring new team members, launching a learning forum, and completing annual development plans. The Foundation is also working to improve its internal information and collaboration systems.

8) Project Pipeline: The Foundation's project pipeline includes a variety of initiatives in both microfinance and youth learning. These projects involve organizations such as ACCION, ChildFund, Habitat for Humanity, Samasource, and The Boulder Institute.

The Foundation's activities during this quarter reflect its commitment to strategic, impactful, and innovative initiatives that benefit youth and communities around the world, with a clear emphasis on scalability, sustainability, and learning.