What Microfinance Association does

The Microfinance Association is a UK-registered non-profit professional membership organisation founded in 2008 that serves the global microfinance industry through training, certification, consulting, and capital-advisory services. Its core offerings include two professional certificate programmes (Microfinance and Financial Analysis) developed with Guglielmo Marconi University and delivered as distance learning programmes at $1,000 each, a tiered individual membership programme (Graduate Academy £100/year, Associate £150/year, Fellow £250/year), and corporate membership at £1,000/year.

The association operates training centres in London, Dubai, Kenya, and Washington, supported by a franchise-style partnership model with local training partners across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its most distinctive service is the Investors Matching Service, a financial advisory offering through which the association has raised over $50 million for African microfinance institutions by connecting them with a panel of debt and equity investors. The association also runs a Microfinance Acceleration Programme for institutional strengthening in markets like Myanmar, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia, a 1000 Youth Initiative pilot in Nigeria and Ghana, and a Development Ratings Programme that has rated over 150 institutions.

The association's most technology-oriented asset is FinScore, a predictive analytical tool incubated within the organisation for credit scoring of microfinance clients at the bottom of the economic pyramid where traditional credit scoring systems are absent. The organisation serves a diverse customer base spanning microfinance institutions, central banks and regulatory bodies (including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Central Bank of Indonesia, Bank of Ghana), commercial banks, development agencies (World Bank, IFC, IFAD), and individual practitioners across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. The business model is a hybrid of subscription (membership), per-programme fees (certifications and training), and bespoke professional services (consulting, investor matching, regulatory advisory).

Name

Microfinance Association

Legal name

Microfinance Association

Website

https://microfinanceassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Microfinance Association is a UK-registered non-profit (founded 2008) that provides professional training, certification, consulting, and investor-matching services to microfinance institutions, central banks, and development agencies across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Microfinance, Financial Inclusion & Inclusive Markets (BPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Microfinance training
• Professional certification
• Financial inclusion consulting
• Credit scoring analytics
• Capacity development services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Programmes: Revenue from delivering professional training programmes on microfinance, financial analysis, risk management, and related topics through international training centres and in-house delivery.
2. Certification Programmes: Revenue from professional certification programmes including Professional Certificate in Microfinance and Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis, offered at $1000 per programme.
3. Corporate Membership: Annual corporate membership fees at £1000 per year, providing access to training discounts, networking, investor introductions, and other benefits.
4. Individual Membership: Tiered individual membership fees: Graduate Academy (£100), Associate (£150), and Fellow (£250) annually, offering career support and professional development resources.
5. Investors Matching Service: Financial advisory service connecting microfinance institutions with international investors, assisting in sourcing debt and equity finance. The association has raised over $50 million for institutions in Africa.
6. Outsourcing and Consulting Services: Consulting services provided to microfinance institutions, regulators, and development agencies including strategy consulting, capacity building, and operational support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Microfinance Association delivers professional certification, training, membership, and consulting services for the global microfinance sector. Its core offerings include two distance-learning Professional Certificates (Microfinance and Financial Analysis), tiered individual and corporate memberships, the Investors Matching Service that connects microfinance institutions with international debt and equity investors, and FinScore, a proprietary predictive analytical tool for credit scoring in unbanked markets.

Product overview

The Microfinance Association offers a portfolio of professional certification, training, and consulting services for the microfinance industry. The core offerings include two professional certificate programmes in Microfinance and Financial Analysis delivered as distance learning programmes, alongside membership tiers (Graduate Academy, Associate AMA, Fellow FMA). Key supporting services include FinScore (predictive analytical tool for credit scoring), the Investors Matching Service for sourcing debt and equity finance, the Microfinance Acceleration Programme for institutional strengthening, Outsourcing and Consulting services, the 1000 Youth Initiative Pathway Program, Training of Trainers, Policy and Regulatory Design, Digital Finance Practice, Executive Search, Financial Linkage Services, and Youth and Apprentice programmes. The company operates training centres in London, Dubai, Kenya and Washington.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FinScore: A Predictive Analytical tool developed and incubated within the Microfinance Association UK. It addresses credit scoring needs for microfinance institutions serving those at the bottom of the economic pyramid where credit scoring systems are typically absent.

Products and services

• Professional Certificate in Microfinance A distance-learning certification programme providing comprehensive introduction to microfinance concepts, techniques, and skills required to be a microfinance practitioner, priced at $1,000 including registration, study materials, online support, and assessment.
• Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis A certification programme designed to deepen the economic and financial analysis capabilities of microfinance practitioners evaluating institutional performance, priced at $1,000 including study manual, online support, assessment, and certificate issuance.
• Membership Programme Tiered individual professional membership offering three designations - Graduate Academy (£100/year), Associate of the Microfinance Association (£150/year), and Fellow of the Microfinance Association (£250/year) - providing career support, networking, and professional development resources.
• Investors Matching Service A financial advisory service that assists microfinance institutions in sourcing debt and equity finance by evaluating organisations and presenting investment reports to a panel of microfinance investment funds and social entrepreneurs.
• FinScore A predictive analytical tool for credit scoring in microfinance institutions serving those at the bottom of the economic pyramid where traditional credit scoring systems are absent.
• Microfinance Acceleration Programme An intensive institutional strengthening programme designed to enhance the role of microfinance institutions, currently operating in Myanmar, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia, delivered through local training partners on a profit-sharing basis.
• Outsourcing and Consulting Services Services that mobilize resources and integrate into clients' operational structures to support day-to-day activities, including strategy consulting, capacity building, and operational support for ministries of finance, regulatory bodies, research agencies, microfinance networks, and international development agencies.
• 1000 Youth Initiative (Pathway Program) A pilot programme providing high-quality, practical education and business support to youths aged 18-32 in Nigeria and Ghana to assist them in developing high-growth small businesses and social enterprises.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $50 million for microfinance institutions in Africa through Investors Matching Service
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers45 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• Guglielmo Marconi UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped and designed the Professional Certificate Programme in collaboration with Guglielmo Marconi University. This is a distance learning programme that has trained over 500 students since January 2010.
• FinScorecoreTechnology or IntegrationFinScore is a predictive analytical tool developed and incubated within The Microfinance Association UK. It is designed for microfinance institutions serving those at the bottom of the economic pyramid where credit scoring systems are not present.
• CLS Learning SolutionssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal learning partner providing training delivery support as part of the association's network of delivery partners.
• Future Leaders AcademysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal learning partner providing training delivery support as part of the association's network of delivery partners.
• Financial Inclusion Advocacy CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner working on financial inclusion initiatives. The association works in collaboration with the Financial Inclusion Advocacy Centre on youth entrepreneurship and financial inclusion programmes.
• European Microfinance NetworksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership network providing broader reach and referral opportunities within the European microfinance community.
• Local Training Partners in Asia, Africa, Middle EastflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership programme for Microfinance Associations and Local Training Partners in Asia, Africa and the Middle East through the flagship Microfinance Acceleration Program with profit sharing and covered expenses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grameen Foundation: US-based non-profit that builds digital tools, training, and capital pathways for microfinance institutions serving the poor. Peer because it similarly delivers capacity building, credit-scoring tools (e.g., Progress out of Poverty Index), and global programmatic advisory to MFIs.
• Symbiotics (formerly Symbiotics Investment Fund): Swiss-based investment platform that originates, structures, and advises on microfinance debt and equity transactions globally. Peer because it operates an Investors Matching-style service to MFIs and is listed as a partner/investor on the Microfinance Association's panel.
• Opportunity International: Global microfinance network providing capital, training, and advisory services to partner MFIs in emerging markets. Peer because it is simultaneously a customer of the Microfinance Association and a competing provider of practitioner training and institutional consulting.
• European Microfinance Network (EMN): Brussels-based professional network for microfinance practitioners and institutions across Europe. Direct peer because both organisations convene microfinance practitioners, run training programmes, and provide advocacy and networking services to MFIs and regulators.
• Accion Center for Financial Inclusion: Think-and-do tank focused on financial inclusion serving MFIs, fintechs, and regulators worldwide. Peer because it provides advisory, research, and learning programmes to the same practitioner and supervisory audience as the Microfinance Association.
• Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX): Data and advisory platform for the microfinance industry, providing financial and social performance data, ratings, and benchmarking to MFIs and investors. Peer because it shares the same market intelligence and ratings orientation as the association's Development Ratings Programme and Investors Matching Service.
• Boulder Microfinance Training: US-based training organisation delivering microfinance practitioner courses in person and via distance learning. Peer because it sells competing professional certifications and training programmes to the same practitioner audience at similar price points.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (Frankfurt School Microfinance Programme): German institution offering certified microfinance training, advisory, and consulting to banks and MFIs. Peer because it directly competes for the same international training-and-certification business, including distance learning certificates and regulatory advisory.

Broad incumbents

• Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP): World Bank-hosted global partnership of financial inclusion policy and research. Peer because it produces widely adopted standards, training, and frameworks for microfinance regulation and practitioner capacity — competing for the same policy and advisory mandate.

Regional players

• School of African Banking & Microfinance (SAB&M): Africa-focused training institution delivering microfinance and banking certifications and capacity-building programmes. Peer because it competes for the same African practitioner training business and corporate memberships, with overlapping clients like Cameroonian and Nigerian MFIs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/microfinance-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Microfinance Association