ASSESSMENT OF THE PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF SAVING MOBILIZATION: THE CASE OF SPECILIZED FINANCIAL & PROMOTIONAL INSTITUTION

Abstract

The objectives of this study was to assess the practice & challenges of saving mobilization of Micro Finance Institutions in the case of Specialized Financial & promotional institution (SFPI). The lending activity of the micro finance institution is made possible by\mobilizing enough funds from their customers. Specific objectives of this study are to assess saving mobilization practices of SFPI, to evaluate the current deposit mobilization performance of SFPI, to identify the major challenges on mobilizing of voluntary saving. The target population for the study include branch managers, operation supervisors and saving& credit officers those having two years and above experience & potential saving clients involved in deposit mobilization. Data collected through primary data such as questionnaire, interview and secondary data from the annual reports of SFPI. The sampling method in the branches staff for the study used census method & the sampling size was 125 from all operational staffs while a multi staged stratified random sampling technique used to select a total of 160 active saving clients. Descriptive method was adopted for the study to analyze the data. The analysis was carried out using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 to accommodate analysis. The researcher used structured questionnaire for employees and customers of SFPI and structured interview discussion for the management of the institution and reviewed five year annual report. The findings have shown that, SFPI has not conducted regular promotion, poor branch expansion trend, poor incentive system to staff and customers, provided of poor training to staff. Challenges that face microfinance institutions are Poor saving habits or cultures in the society, inflation & political instability & unstable economic conditions, unavailability of appropriate organizational structure, competition, Lack of management information system and loan default. The study, therefore, the researcher recommend that the management of the SFPI has to consider expanding of branches, conducting of regular promotion, apply management information system, capacity building for frontline staff, and develop incentive system to staff & potential client to make more saving mobilization.