Khushhali Bank Limited (KBL) has signed a contract under United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project of ‘Widening Harmonized Access to Microfinance’ (WHAM) implemented by Shore Bank International Limited (SBI) to acquire SBI’s services for customized mid-level staff training program for the bank.

The training program is supported by USAID in latter’s effort to develop the human resource capacity for microfinance sector in Pakistan. USAID’s support for WHAM is part of the $1.5 billion in aid that the US Government is providing to Pakistan over a period of five years to improve economic growth, education, health, governance and reconstruction of earthquake affected areas.

As a consultant, SBI will develop and deliver customized trainings on Staff Management and Financial Analysis & Management for Khushhali Bank’s branch management. These training programs will be rolled out throughout the bank’s vast network of branches across different regions.

As part of the agreement, Shore Bank will initially evaluate and assess the diverse needs and skills sets of Khushhali Bank’s vast network of employees across Pakistan to design training content and material that is relevant and thus effective. After ensuring a fit between the training material and the related needs of the bank’s staff, SBI will deliver training following a high impact-oriented methodology and practices tested and institutionalized within its Human Resource Development Initiative (HRDI) for microfinance.

The objective of the training program is to enhance Khushhali Bank’s staff capacities through focused sessions emphasizing on balancing multiple performance targets; customized design and exclusive delivery of training to the staff. SBI will also work hand in hand with the bank’s management to ensure suitability of training material and provide technical assistance to further enhance and develop Khushhali Bank’s internal staff development systems and capacity to track the impact of the training program.

Stressing on the importance of this development, Ghalib Nishtar, President Khushhali Bank Limited said “we understand the need for consistent training and development to address the immediate human resource capacity building needs of Khushhali Bank Limited. Through this partnership, we therefore hope to provide market-led, high quality and cost-effective training to our employees.”

The SBI has launched HRDI to augment the capacity of microfinance middle level management, specifically the branch level management to undertake greater delegation from senior management and to manage further decentralization of quality control and decision making, necessary to achieve sustainable scale.

Shore Bank International (SBI) has vast experience through national and international initiatives of providing training and development for the sector’s human resources. This has allowed SBI to develop a process of preparation, delivery and follow-up, and continuous improvement that helps to ensure the effectiveness of training organized under HRDI.

About Khushhali Bank Limited: Khushhali Bank Limited (KBL) is rated as Pakistan’s largest and fastest growing retail microfinance bank operating under the Central Bank regulations. Established in the year 2000, the bank is funded by leading international financial institutions as a partnership between public, multinational and private sector commercial financial institutions. KBL’s mission is to market financial services tailored for the low income segment in line with international microfinance practices through an extended network operating across the country’s rural and urban divides.