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AMIK, in collaboration with the EFSE, has published a booklet titled Essentials of Microfinance: Your guide to approaching a Microfinance Institution'. Promotion of this booklet was done on the 24th of March, 2009, during the Responsible Finance Conference in Kosovo, which was organized by the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, KFW and EFSE. This booklet aims at providing you with a basic understanding of working with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and shall serve as a guideline when approaching an MFI for its services. Click here to download a digital copy.
From the 2nd to the 6th of February, 2009, AMIK held a training session, "Train the Trainer," aimed at identifying potential trainers among MFIs in Kosovo. Once identified and trained, these individuals will be able to pass their skills on to others within the MFI sector in Kosovo. 9 participants from KEP Trust, Qelim, AfK, FINCA, START, and KOSInvest attended this training session.
In order to facilitate the transition of some MFIs from NGOs to licensed deposit-taking institutions, AMIK organized a training session called "The Fundamentals of Asset-Liability Management." Held from the 9th to the 13th of February, 2009, 9 participants from FINCA, KEP Trust, KOSInvest, KRK and AfK attended.
AMIK facilitated another training, "Introduction to Transformation," to help MFI participants understand the process of transforming MFIs into formal deposit-taking financial institutions. Held from the 20th to the 24th of April, 2009, twenty participants from AfK, KRK, KEP Trust, KosInvest, CBAK, MFE, the Prime Minister's Office, TAK, and BZMF attended to learn of this transformation as well as how to manage the process.
"Loan Officer Training" was offered from the 12th to the 15th of May, 2009. This training covered an array of topics that loan officers should be familiar with to fulfill their duties. 3 local instructors from MFIs in Kosovo taught 17 participants from AfK, KosInvest, and KRK.
From the 8th until the 11th of June, 2009, AMIK organized a "Microfinance Operation Management Training" for mid-level staff working in the microfinance sector in Kosovo. Training was held by Mr. Philip Smith, who has extensive experience working in different countries in microfinance and banking. Fourteen individuals from AfK, KosInvest, AMIK, KRK, KEP Trust, and FINCA attended.
On June 2nd, 2009, AMIK and its members (Beselidhja / Zavet Microfinance - BZMF, Agency for finance in Kosovo – AfK, Islamic Relief – START, KosInvest, Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves – KRK and KEP Trust) contributed €2,500 towards the medical treatment of 9 year old Blinera Kosumi, who is suffering from leukemia.
On July 3rd, 2009, AMIK held its first information workshop for journalists. We had present journalists from the daily newspapers; Lajm, Infopress, Zeri, and Express. AMIK's member MFIs sent 6 of their staff to speak to the journalists. The purpose of this workshop was to inform members of the press about Microfinance Institutions in Kosovo.

The Association of Microfinance Institution of Kosovo (AMIK), in cooperation with the International Real Estate Appraisal Service, a company headed by Mr. Philip W.Smith, is organizing trainings for real estate appraisal in Kosovo. For more information please contact us at: info@amik.org

From 14 - 16 September 2009, AMIK held a training on " Liquidity Management. Training aimed to enable managers and employees of microfinance institutions in Kosovo to understand principles of liquidity management, management of borrowed assets, and classification of borrowed assets.Training was provided by Mr.Philip Smith. In this training attended 6 participants from Institution: AfK, KRK, KEP, KosInvest and QeLIM..

AMIKu facilated another training, "Loan Officer ". Held from 5 - 8 October 2009. Training was provided by 3 local trainers of MFI: Mr. Avni Biqkaj - KosInvest, Betim Gurgule - FINCA and Donat Spahija - AfK. 8 participants attended the training.

Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kosovo - AMIK -organized training on " Market Research and New Product Development". Training was provided by Mr.Philip Smith. In this training were present 6 participants from Institutions:BZMF, FINCA,KEP and KosInvest.

Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kosovo - AMIK - is organizing the Workshop on Transformation of Microfinance Institutions of Kosovo supported by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - EBRD. The Workshop will be held on 12 November 2009, in Hotel Victory, Prishtina. Click for Media Release

From the 18th to the 21st of January 2010, AMIK held a training session "Treasury Management". This course is designed to offer treasury executives in Financial Institutions a thorough coverage of the techniques for modern treasury management.

AMIK held a training session "Treasury Management" 8-11 February 2010. This training aims to teach them to identify and quantify credit, market, liquidity, and operational risks and delinquencies, understand the systems and procedures needed by a MFI to track, monitor and manage these risks, relate the risks to the capital of the MFI, and to understand the importance of legal, reputation, and regulatory risks

AMIK in co-operation with the MIX Market had published the report on Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report of the microfinance sector in Kosovo with other countries in Balkan.

AMIK organized a training "Accounting for non - finance staff" from the 1st to the 4th of March 2010. Training was held by Mr.Philip Smith.The training was held for MFI-s staff and aims to enable participants to understand and apply principles, basic tools, and techniques of the accounting process.

AMIK held a training session "Marketing / Communication" from 17 - 20 May 2010. This training was held for employees of microfinance Institutions to discover what marketing is, how to segment the marketplace, set marketing objectives and marketing strategies, learn how marketing communications works, understand marketing mix, etc.

AMIK held a training session "Business Planning" from 01-03 June 2010. This training was held to help responsible staff to plan the future work and strategy of their microfinance institution, covering all aspects of business planning.employees of microfinance.

AMIK organized a training "Audit and Internal Control" from 14-17 June 2010. Training was held by Mr.Philip Smith.The training was held for MFI-s staff to provide them with practical and theoretical knowledge and skills related to principles of audit and internal control. The training had 7 modules.

AMIK held a training session "Corporate Governance and Leadership" from 20-24 September 2010. Training was held by Mr.Martin Allen.The training was held for MFI-s staff to provide them with practical and theoretical knowledge and skills related to Corporate Governance, Risk Management, Management and Leadership.

AMIK held a training session "Loan Officer" from 04-07 October 2010. Training was provided by 3 local trainers of MFIs. 9 participants attended the training.

Finca Kosovo has been awarded with Silver Category for reporting on Social Indicators.

AMIK's Strategy Plann 2010 - 2015

First organized training for 2011 was Anti Money Laundering Training provided by Mr. Besart Qerimi. The training aim was that staff working in Microfinance sector in Kosovo to learn the avoidance of Money Laundering. The training was attended by 11 participants from KosInvest, KRK, AfK, BZMF,KEP Trust, KGMAMF, START and FI Lesna.

AMIK has organized the Training for Loan Officer from 21 - 24 February 2011. In this training except participants from MFIs members, seeing the quality and success of the training which is organized earlier by AMIK, participated staff from Albania Vision Fund. In this training attended 20 participants from Microfinance Institutions of Kosovo and Albania.

From 21st January AMIK became member of MFC, joining a network that brings together over 100 microfinance members that follow the global standards for the Industry.

From 10 February 2011 AMIK has joined SEEP(the Small Enterprise Education and Promotion Network) in Washington D.C. Today, SEEP members are active in over 180 countries. Most valuable resource is the experience of its members and their commitment to collaboration.

AMIK has organized the Training Risk and Delinquency Management from 08 - 11 March 2011. Its aim was to teach participants to identify and quantify credit, market, liquidity, and operational risks and delinquencies.

From 21st -23rd March 2011 was held the training Effective Communication. Training was dedicated to staff working in IMFs of Kosovo with aim communicating in a professional way, considering the recipient, developing report, developing behavioral flexibility, sharing information, influecing and persuading others also managing difficult situations.