Outstanding partners 2010

Mrs. Mariama Katambé Chair of the Board of Directors of the Mutuelle d’épargne et de Crédit des femmes (MECREF) women’s savings and credit mutual in Niger

Fully devoted to advocating equal rights for women in Niger, Mrs. Mariama Katambé demonstrated her commitment and solidarity towards promoting the rights of women by becoming involved in several associations after her retirement, in particular, CONGAFEN, (Coordination des ONG et Associations Féminines Nigériennes) an agency focused on defending and promoting the rights of women.

Through her leadership, skills and indomitable commitment, Mrs. Katambé achieved top-level national and international recognition for MECREF in which the members of her mutual express great pride. She has distinguished herself through her integrity and honesty, which are clearly demonstrated through the sound management practices instituted across her network. Mrs. Katambé gained the confidence of her community resulting, after her arrival, in an increase in membership for MECREF. Her extraordinary qualities, both professional and personal, established her sound credibility with the authorities in Niger and with financial and technical partner agencies

Mr. Adolphe Issa Thiombiano Chair of the Board of Directors of the Réseau des caisses populaires du Burkina (RCPB) network of financial cooperatives

A teacher by training, Mr. Adolphe Issa Thiombiano has been involved for seven years as an administrator of the Fada N'Gourma financial cooperative located 220 km east of Ouagadougou in an area that is recognized as highly challenging. He is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina, an important part of the system as the initial and most widely established institution in the Burkina Faso microfinance sector.

Mr. Thiombiano distinguished himself through his commitment to RCPB reconfiguration and the building of its new head office in which he played a central role. He won the admiration of his colleagues and collaborators through his integrity and thoroughness which were called on to manage an internal crisis related to governance within the network.

Fully devoted to serving cooperative values, Mr. Thiombiano helped promote the values of cooperation in organizing financial cooperative weeks across his region. His involvement also extends beyond his own community and network and he was decorated in December 2010 with the prestigious Burkinan title of Chevalier de l’Ordre de Mérite by the President of Burkina Faso.

Mr. Nathan DeAssis Chair of the Board of Directors of Pulse Financial Services Limited (Zambia)

Because of his innovative ideas, involvement, presence and in-depth understanding of the financial world and banking in Zambia, Mr. Nathan DeAssis is a model for the staff and managers of Pulse Financial Services (PFSL), a financial centre for entrepreneurs. He has over 20 years of professional experience in financial and business management and administration. During his career, he has demonstrated a wide range of exceptional skills that has allowed him to fulfill several career paths.

Proud to be an ambassador for Zambia's PFSL financial centre for entrepreneurs, Mr. Nathan DeAssis has also earned recognition through his active participation in the Proxfin association, sitting on its management committee.

As the PFSL Chair, Mr. Nathan DeAssis remains available and takes an open approach. He is recognized for the solidarity and the support he provides for decisions made by the PFSL management team and board of directors. He especially enjoys visiting PFSL managers and staff to offer his encouragement and recognition of their efforts, promote innovation as well as deliver a a few fresh vegetables from his own garden.

Outside of the PSFL, Mr. DeAssis is actively involved in several charitable organizations such as fundraising activities for sick children and business training activities in rural communities in Zambia

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong Associate Director General of the Central People’s Credit Fund of Vietnam (CCF)

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong quickly made his mark within the Central People’s Credit Fund of Vietnam (CCF). Results-oriented, he has played a major role in the development of the CCF and greatly contributed to advancing the cause of the People’s Credit Funds (PCF) network in Vietnam.

His involvement in the Rural-Urban Interconnectivity to Help Fight Poverty project led, in particular, to the development and activation of the technical, technological and human resources needed to interconnect services across the pilot project PCFs. He has been able to inspire confidence using his project management skills within the CCF and has seen that all units involved in the project work together to achieve its goals. Because of his quick understanding of the issues and challenges related to this project and his vision and commitment to action, he was able to assemble a highly skilled team.

The holder of several awards for service, Mr. Cuong was named the CCF model employee for six years in a row and was awarded a certificate of achievement by the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on five occasions. He also received the 2010 certificate of achievement awarded by Vietnam's cooperative alliance, the Alliance coopérative du Vietna