What We Do

We provide the MFI sector and Russian government the tools, expertise, and leverage to better accomplish our shared goals of alleviating poverty, empowering small business, and enabling entrepreneurs nationwide.

Public Policy Advising and Advocacy

We advocate for the greater Russian microfinance community, informing regulatory and legal progress at a federal level to ensure an environment that is conducive to a flourishing microfinance sector. As of 2013, we act as the collective voice for over 3,200 organizations across Russia, representing over X million USD (Y rubles) and Z customers. Almost every piece of MFI-related legislation that has been signed into law since the RMC’s creation has been informed in part by our organization’s counsel.

We also organize a wide selection of national and regional conferences to bring together stakeholders. Through these events, we increase the visibility of Russian microfinance organizations at a regional, national, and often international level. These events also allow us to continually sharpen our understanding of the various constituents that we serve-- so that we may better serve them in the future.

Consulting

We offer a wide range of professional consulting services to our MFI clientele, specializing in microfinance-specific legal consulting in areas such as corporate, tax, and labor law. We share our experience and insight with both existing and prospective MFI leaders, staff, and investors to ensure they are fully equipped to tackle the challenges of navigating the microfinance market.

Maintaining our commitment to affordable access of our resources, we offer our basic services free of charge to any existing or potential MFI.

Microfinance Promotion

The RMC’s holds regular international conferences every year, seeking to promote microfinance in and outside of the Russian Federation. Besides acting as an educational event, these conferences serve as forums for brainstorming and networking, bringing together leaders from across the globe to solve the complex problems often endemic of the MFI sector.

Through these events, we increase the visibility of Russian microfinance organizations at a regional, national, and often international level. These events also allow us to continually sharpen our understanding of the various constituents that we serve-- so that we may better serve them in the future.

Training

The RMC puts on frequent workshops to help enhance the skills and intellectual capital of MFI staff and potential MFI start-ups.  To date, we have given over X training sessions, providing critical expertise to over Y individuals. Our trainings deal with everything from how to better protect client data to how to effectively train loan officers, and offered in a variety of mediums—hands on, on-line, and webinars. Many of our courses are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

In 2012, the RMC delivered 57 training events - including 21 open-access consulting courses, 18 corporate consulting courses, three training of trainers (ToT) courses, 10 webinars, and five distance learning courses - attended by 825 experts from 238 MFIs.

Research & Publication

The RMC has established itself as the go-to provider of academic and professional research for Russian microfinance, working with a number of renowned international organizations such as CGAP, World Bank, and the EU. Whether alone or in collaboration with other organizations, the RMC has a proven track record of effectively gathering and disseminating accurate and well-developed insight. As of 2014, the RMC has been a primary or co-author of over 70(?) publications.