The CABFIN project has always been conceived as a multi-agency partnership. Partner organisations may contribute in a variety of ways:

• Provision of funds to finance inputs required, particularly the recruitment of editorial support and authors and maintenance of the system underpinning the Rural Finance Learning Centre. Partners contributing funds will be part of the CABFIN Steering Group.
• Provision of training materials and other resources to build up the content of the Rural Finance Learning Centre.
• Provision of staff members to participate in the Editorial Team which will oversee the technical development of the Rural Finance Learning Centre and help to identify, review and contribute materials, moderate discussion or perform any other role deemed of value to the project.
• Promotion of selected materials, recommended curricula, etc. to local partner organisations and projects which may be receiving funding from the partner organisation concerned. The Rural Finance Learning Centre will undertake to develop specific materials in response to requests from institutions and projects, provided sufficient financial resources are available.
• Participation in joint initiatives to develop a network of rural finance trainers by providing trainer training courses based on materials hosted in the Rural Finance Learning Centre. The potential for accrediting certain trainers or training organisations to deliver selected curricula in the field of rural finance will be considered in the future.
• Provision of staff member time to act as focal points for the identification and contribution of information on local training opportunities in rural finance and closely allied fields, as well as news and events that are of regional and / or international interest.

Key funding partners meet to review progress and provide guidance on future strategy for the project approximately twice a year. Current members of this informal steering group are:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy and it is an important source of knowledge and information. The Rural Finance Group, which is part of the Agricultural Management, Marketing and Finance Service, is responsible for providing advice on the provision of financial services in rural areas.

FAO have played a pivotal role in the development of the CABFIN Project. They have provided professional staff time, administrative support, server space and funds for software development and system design for the internet platform. They will continue to provide funds as part of their regular programme and one of their Rural Finance Officers will act as project coordinator.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Rural finance is considered by IFAD as a vital tool in poverty reduction and rural development. Two thirds of IFAD’s current projects have a rural finance component. Most of IFAD’s target groups are small producers engaged in agricultural and non-agricultural activities in areas of widely varying potential. IFAD’s interventions in rural finance aim to encourage institutional diversity while maintaining a clear focus on sustainability.

IFAD have provided technical advice throughout the development of the Rural Finance Learning Centre and have now approved a technical assistance grant to facilitate the development of the RFLC over the next two years. They are coordinating the relationship between CABFIN and the donor working group on rural finance.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

German development cooperation provides advice and financing for the development and reorganization of financial institutions and rural financial systems. In many countries, microfinance institutions set up with German financial cooperation and technical cooperation have contributed substantially to the existing financial institution landscape. In the area of rural finance, GTZ offers advice for institution building in rural areas, policy advice, training in rural and agricultural finance, computerisation of small-scale banks and agricultural bank reform and support to networks of agricultural financial institutions.

GTZ has supported the CABFIN Project from its inception and contributed materials, advice and funds to support the development of the Rural Finance Learning Centre.

The World Bank Group

The objective of the World Bank group's strategy for rural finance is to increase the access to financial services by low-income households by improving the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks that allow innovative financial institutions to develop and operate effectively, providing training in best practices that help banks and microfinance organisations to expand their outreach and develop sustainable operations and encouraging innovative approaches and financial products through equity investments.

The World Bank made an important early contribution of funds to the CABFIN Project and is continuing its financial and technical support for the development of the Rural Finance Learning Centre.