Hanoi: Brainstorming The Premise

After 2 months in Vietnam, I am starting to gain a better understanding of how things work here. I came here with the intention of starting up a microfinance project, without knowing how or where to begin. I have spent the first two months learning about the microfinance environment in Vietnam as well as meeting people who could help me set up a new project here. I am still in the ‘envisioning stage’ trying to see how I can make the most impact here – what projects work well, what doesn’t work here, what type of support do the microfinance organizations need, what type of methodology may work well here, how can we be innovative using local resources? Working here is not easy and it is very important to understand how to do things and maybe more importantly, to have the right contacts and strategies. I am currently trying to put together a proposal outlining EDM’s and my activity over the next couple of years. While I am still brainstorming, I envision several sorts of activities. Initially, I intend to support a local microfinance institution named Binh Minh by providing technical support and loan capital and by launching an individual loan pilot project in Hanoi and surrounding regions. At this time, I am also brainstorming the establishment of an innovative job creation project for larger sized entrepreneurs coupled with a vocation training center (more on this later...). As I came here with the intention to start up microfinance activities, I am also very excited about a new microfinance project that I am starting in a very poor ethnic village in Dien Bien Phu.