CUNA Mutual Group Foundation Grants $50K to SWAMI Program

SWAMI participants listen attentively at a training session.

CUNA Mutual Group Foundation recently renewed its funding for the Strathmore-WOCCU African Management Institute (SWAMI) program, granting $50,000 to support the program's 2006-2007 cycle. The funds are matched by World Council's Cooperative Development Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

CUNA Mutual Group Foundation's financial support will help strengthen the SWAMI program in a number of ways. In the upcoming year, World Council plans to work through SWAMI to develop a student network of opportunities throughout Africa, develop an alumni program, assess the institutional impact of SWAMI participation and evaluate the program's objectives of developing SWAMI as a model credit union training program.

Sue Albrecht, Senior Vice President, International Division, CUNA Mutual Group.

"The SWAMI program has really come a long way in a short time," said Sue Albrecht, Senior Vice President, International Division, CUNA Mutual Group. "Strathmore and the World Council have worked hard to make sure that the students stay accountable and connected throughout and beyond their studies. We're proud to contribute to this important professional development program."

Thanks to the volunteer support of the Louisiana Credit Union League, World Council and Strathmore University of Nairobi launched SWAMI in 2004 to prepare senior SACCO (credit union) management staff, aspiring managers and board members to handle the challenges SACCOs face in today's changing environment. This three-tier program intertwines training and practical application. In 2005, 38 students from Kenya, Seychelles, Uganda and South Africa were the first to graduate from the program.

CUNA Mutual Group is the leading provider of financial services to credit unions and their members worldwide.

El Consejo Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito es la asociación gremial y agencia de desarrollo para el sistema internacional de cooperativas de ahorro y crédito. El Consejo Mundial promueve el crecimiento sustentable de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y otras cooperativas financieras en todo el mundo a fin de facultar a las personas para que mejoren su calidad de vida a través del acceso a servicios financieros asequibles y de alta calidad. El Consejo Mundial realiza esfuerzos de defensa activa en representación del sistema global de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito ante organizaciones internacionales y trabaja con gobiernos nacionales para mejorar la legislación y la regulación. Sus programas de asistencia técnica introducen nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para fortalecer el desempeño financiero de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y profundizar su alcance comunitario.

El Consejo Mundial ha implementado 290 programas de asistencia técnica en 71 países. A nivel mundial, 51,000 cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en 100 países atienden a 196 millones de personas. Obtenga más información sobre el impacto global del Consejo Mundial en www.woccu.org.