How Bibiana became SCOPE Assessor trainer of the year
To scale up SCOPE assessments, we rely on SCOPE Assessor Trainers who are from the community and are connected to and knowledgeable of the countries where the assessment is taking place. These Assessor trainees work with PHB Development, a specialized consulting company that supports clients in their efforts to expand and improve financial services for the un(der)banked. Just this year alone, PHB has helped train 270 assessors (and financial specialists) from 19 countries. Assessors are a highly important part of the local infrastructure as they are certified for a year and are an invaluable resource to collecting data/data quality in their countries.
This year we awarded PHB’s French trainer (based in Cameroon) – Bibiana MBUH TAKU – as SCOPE Assessor Trainer of the Year. She earned her nomination by consistently demonstrating an unrelenting dedication, patience with the trainees, and structured timely communications. In her role, Bibiana is a certified trainer for the IFC’s LPI program.
Impressively, she has trained over 30% of all SCOPE assessors this year. As a SCOPEinsight trainer of assessors and financial specialists, she works with SCOPEinsight’s assessment tools, methodology and processes to train assessors and financial specialists, who in turn, assess agricultural organizations to gather data that shows the organization’s strength and weaknesses.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Bibiana Taku to get to know her a bit more. Here is what she said:
- What do you like about your work with SCOPEinsight?
“My work with SCOPEinsight gives me an opportunity to contribute towards the development of Agribusiness in Africa from a very important perspective which is capacity building. This is required to improve professionalism which helps them access the financing of inputs and equipment as well as markets. Furthermore, agribusinesses benefit from improved quality and increased quantity of products.”
- What is a common problem you find with Assessors?
“The most common problem that assessors have is finding enough time for their work as they are torn between attending to programs in the field and while at it being able to attend webinars. This is further complicated with internet connectivity issues and frequent power outages in most locations where they work.”
“If done properly agriculture could positively impact the lives of families, especially rural families. “
- Why agriculture?
“I was born into a peasant family and know the value of agriculture right from birth. Agriculture fed us as well as financed education and health care. I helped my mum at the farm after school as well as sold vegetables and groundnuts on market days. My mum owned a coffee farm and was a member of the village farmers’ cooperative and the founding member and president of the women’s food cooperative. So, I was fortunate to know, from experience, that if done properly agriculture could positively impact the lives of families especially rural families. That is why I was very excited when IFC introduced the Agribusiness Academy which I was fortunate to support at the initial stage in developing a training strategy and some training modules. Having an opportunity to work with SCOPEinsight has been a dream come true as I am able to live my passion.”
We are very thankful to Bibiana Taku for her commitment, passion, and dedication to excellence. We are also very grateful for our partnership with PHB who is providing top-quality service and linking us with trainers like Bibiana.”
Want to find out more about our approach and assessments? Read here.
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