The CARD MRI Support Units

Aside from its Mutually Reinforcing Institutions, it has five support units, working in assistance to the Head Office’s concerns.

The Human Resource/Personnel Unit
The Human Resource Management Unit is created to assist the organization Top Management in developing and in implementing applicable personnel policies, programs and procedures and in coordinating them with the Middle or Line Management in establishing a pleasant atmosphere in the organization so that personnel at all levels contribute his best towards the success of the organization. Specifically, HRD objectives are:

1. To assist Top and Middle or Line Management achieve the organization objective of fostering harmonious relationship with its personnel recognizing them as an investment and a resource.
2. To hire capable people and provide them with opportunities for advancement and self-development.
3. To assist Top Management in formulating policies and programs that will serve the requirements of the organization and administer the same fairly to all personnel.
4. To provide technical services and assistance to the operations personnel in relation to their personnel functions in promoting satisfactory working environment.
5. To assist management in training and developing its people in coordination with the Training Unit.
6. To see that all personnel are treated equally and fairly in the application of organization policies, rules and regulations and in rendering services to them.
7. To help effect organizational development and institution building effort.

 The Personnel Unit scope of functions covers a timely provision of competent personnel, keeping their high morale by developing and motivating them, labor relations and communications and efficient program administration and adequate budget.

As a staff unit adviser, the Personnel Unit helps and assists managers and supervisors in their personnel functions specifically in assisting them in the execution of their responsibilities on personnel administration and maintenance of high morale and discipline of personnel under them.

The Research Unit
Primarily, the Research Unit is tasked to provide data to management about client performance, impact and satisfaction which can allow for improved product design and delivery. As an institution with a culture of listening and learning from staff and clients, the Research Unit acts as management’s “listening ear”. Its fact-finding role in addressing pressing operational issues is accomplished by actively interfacing with the Operations Unit.

The Research Unit’ another major role is the documentation of CARD’s methodologies and experiences, not only for internal learning but for dissemination to the wider microfinance industry. Hence, the Research Unit is responsible for the production of videos, annual reports, client stories, manuals, promotional materials, monographs, occasional papers and books.

SPM Network text for Consortium member websites

The SPM Network connects individuals committed to managing and achieving social performance in microfinance.

The aim of the Imp-Act SPM Network is to connect individuals and organisations who are committed to managing and achieving social performance in microfinance. This is also a space for practitioners to share news, experiences, and lessons learnt around SPM – through blogs, videos and discussion groups. The Network keeps members informed of the latest news, events and debates around SPM through monthly exclusive interviews with key industry stakeholders and weekly news round-ups.

The Internal Audit Unit
Mission: To help maintain better and effective internal control system at all levels of the organization.

Objective: The objective of internal audit unit is to assists all members of management in the effective discharge of their responsibilities, by furnishing them with analyses, appraisal recommendations, and pertinent comments concerning the activities reviewed. The internal auditor is concerned with any phase of business activity where he can be of service to management. This involves going beyond the accounting and financial records to obtain full understanding of the operations under review.

The Resource Mobilization Unit
The Resource Mobilization group manages the preparation, dissemination and fielding of project proposals for external funding. It also forges, develops and maintains institutional relations with partner institutions, here and abroad.

CARD’s emerging programs such as the Wholesale Fund Program in partnership with CORDAID, Microfinance Capacity Development Program for Partner-Organization in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform –BARBD, and Educational Loan Program in partnership with Plan Philippines are housed in this unit.

The unit also enters into contracts for technical assistance in setting-up microfinance operations of interested organizations. Some of these are the San Roque Power Corporation Microfinance Program (Pangasinan), Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (Rizal), and Tao Corporation’s Ican Capital (NCR).

Legal Unit

 The Corporate Legal Unit Provides timely, reliable legal services through advisory on all matters with legal implicatipons, litigation and legal documents review funtions in a cost-effective and responsive manner that enables and assists the CARD Mutually Reinforcing Intstitutions in the furtherance of its mission.

Position in the  Corporate Legal Unit:

1. legal Cousel - Retainers
2. Legal Manger
3. Legal Administrative Staff
4. Legal Assistants

 Treasury Unit

CARD aims to take CARD MRI’s treasury management to the next level by preparing and making treasury departments’ pro-active groups in contributing to the revenues that the MRI generates instead of being passive groups in merely performing support functions.

The idea of making treasury as a profit center dawned a few years ago. And as CARD tried to champion this vision, senior management and staff in the different finance departments went through different treasury training programs and workshops. CARD MRI thinks that perhaps another way of accomplishing its goal is to have a seasoned treasury specialist who will have direct involvement in the financial management of CARD MRI. Notwithstanding the different seminars and workshops that are available on treasury management, if the treasury specialist will directly train via handholding and walk-thru, the people will become more effective treasury specialists in a relatively shorter period of time. CARD believes that this might just be the way for the vision to become reality.

Last June 2006, this idea has been realized with the establishment of the Treasury Unit headed by Anna Lorraine J. Maur as one of the support units of CARD MRI. Treasury Unit is now under the technical assistance of a consultant wherein it is under a work program to establish its operation. The unit is the one who facilitates the ALM monthly meeting with the ALM Committee of CARD MRI; it handled the analysis and recommendation for the Loan Facility offered to CARD Inc. such as Deutsche Bank, CMI and Citibank; providing the Managing Director’s office monthly Consolidated Financial Statements of CARD MRI; made suggestions for the formulation of incentive for the turn-over of NGO branches to Bank; provided the Managing Director’s office analysis on Financial Statement and Operations Update of one of the partners of CARD.

As of now, Treasury unit is tasks to focus on Investment Management as what the original purpose for the establishment of the unit.

The CARD MRI Group for International Services

 In the year 2007, CARD MRI started extending its services to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Hongkong thru its international partnerships. Currently, the CARD MRI International Group is operating outside the Philippines not as a microfinance operator but as a technical resource provider.  The group is serving in two ways: the provision of technical assistance and the remittance program.

 On August 9, 2007, CARD Inc. was registered as an International NGO in Cambodia thru a Memorandum of Agreement with the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.Through its liaison office, CARD is sharing its best practices in microfinance and microinsurance technologies in Cambodia and the Indochina region.  CARD has two local MFI partners in Cambodia but it is also catering services to other local MFIs, specialized banks, non-government organizations, and other institutions/individuals interested in CARD’s microfinance technologies.  CARD is offering three (3) types of services to these markets such as technical assistance, trainings, and research.  The liaison office is located at St. 502, Chamkarmorn District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

On the other hand, the International Remittance Program of CARD MRI in partnership with UAExchange commenced in Hongkong in September 2007.  A full-time Marketing and Research Officer was assigned in the country to focus on the setting-up and program promotions.  The program caters to the demand on remittance services of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).  Further, the OFWs are also encouraged to put up savings at CARD MRI in preparation for their homecoming as a fund should they decide not to leave the country and embark on entrepreneurial activities; as well, CARD MRI hopes to offer them loans in the future.

In 2008, CARD MRI will expand its services to Dubai and Indonesia.  Another international remittance program will be set-up in Dubai by March 2008, also in partnership with UAExchange.  Meanwhile, CARD MRI has entered an 18-month contract to provide technical assistance with Triputra Persada Rahmat (TPR) of Indonesia.  Three (3) CARD Managers will stay in Indonesia for 18 months for the hands-on training of TPR staff on CARD’s system and for setting-up of 21 branches.

 

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