INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The international activities are intended to encourage the growth of a sustainable financial system using the co-operative credit union model for the developing countries of South East Asia and the South Pacific. The aim is to alleviate poverty, improve education and promote gender equity by providing a sustainable model for affordable financial services and teaching the value of regular saving and the wise use of credit. The AMF plans to conduct these activities through the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU). AMF has agreed to a three-year international partnership program with ACCU and AMF plan to develop sustainable financial Credit Unions/Co-operatives in developing countries in Asia. ACCU presently delivers credit union development programs in Laos and Timor-Leste.

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

The credit union cooperative model aims to provide a structure for the provision of basic banking services and education in the value of regular saving and the wise use of credit. The AMF plans to provide financial support to activities conducted by the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU). The Asian Confederations of Credit Unions (ACCU) represents credit unions/co-operatives which have over 31 million members. ACCU presently delivers credit union development programs in Laos and Timor-Leste.

LAOS

AMF has helped establish twenty-five Savings and Credit Unions (SCU) in Laos to provide affordable banking services and financial literacy skills to some of Asia’s poorest communities. There are 10,000 saving members, with 35% of these being women. The ACCU & AMF project aims to improve financial outcomes and to help lift Laos family’s standard of living, education and assist with SCU staff training programs, policies and processes to ensure a robust foundation for growth and development. The 2017-2020 goals are to establish an Association to represent SCU, provide certified training courses to SCU staff (using ACCU resources), establish a management network between all SCU’s in Laos, standardise Policy and procedures and promote financial inclusion. It is proposed to work closely with the Bank of Laos to achieve these goals.