NIC Asia Microfinance Holds Review Meeting and Training Program
20th August 2025, Kathmandu
NIC Asia Microfinance recently held a two-day progress review and strategic planning meeting, combined with a capacity-building training program, for 47 of its staff members.
NIC Asia Microfinance Review Meeting
The event was held to enhance the skills of its field-level officers and to set a clear strategy for the current fiscal year, focusing on improving loan quality, strengthening recovery mechanisms, and embracing digital transformation.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting
The meeting was a comprehensive initiative that went beyond a simple performance review. It included active participation from the board, executive leadership, and field-level staff, ensuring that strategies were both top-down and informed by on-the-ground realities.
Training and Knowledge Transfer: The core of the event was a practical training program. The Board Chairman, Prakash Raj Sharma, shared insights on international best practices and strategies for maintaining loan quality, a critical issue in the microfinance sector. Director Balaram Paudel provided motivational examples and explained methods for effective branch-level monitoring. These sessions were designed to equip monitoring and loan recovery officers with the tools needed to face daily operational challenges effectively.
Executive Guidance: The institution’s executive team, including CEO Cholraj Sharma Joshi and Deputy CEO Mesh Bahadur Basnet, shared their perspectives on operational challenges and departmental strategies. They emphasized the need for innovation in loan mobilization and customer engagement to ensure sustained growth.
Strategic Planning for the Future: A key outcome of the meeting was the formulation of a clear strategic roadmap for the current fiscal year. The main objectives include strengthening loan monitoring systems, enhancing recovery mechanisms, and expanding outreach to underserved communities to promote financial inclusion. The institution also plans to invest in staff capacity-building through continuous training and leverage technology to streamline operations.
Relevance to Nepal’s Microfinance Sector
The initiative by NIC Asia Microfinance is particularly relevant given the current state of Nepal’s microfinance industry. The sector is grappling with significant challenges, including rising non-performing loans (NPLs), increased competition, and public scrutiny. A recent report by FinDev Gateway highlighted that NPLs in the sector have risen significantly, putting pressure on profitability and institutional sustainability.
In this context, NIC Asia Microfinance’s focus on staff training and strategic planning is a proactive step toward building a more resilient organization. By strengthening its loan monitoring and recovery teams, the institution is directly addressing the issue of asset quality deterioration. Furthermore, its emphasis on leveraging technology and expanding outreach aligns with the broader goal of making microfinance more efficient and inclusive.
The discussions at the meeting also touched on the need for the Nepali microfinance sector to adapt to a dynamic environment, similar to its global counterparts. This forward-looking perspective, combined with a focus on practical, on-the-ground solutions, positions NIC Asia Microfinance to navigate the challenges ahead and continue its mission of providing access to finance for marginalized communities.
For More: NIC Asia Microfinance Review Meeting
