Through April 18, Making Cents International (MC) is accepting proposals to present at its 2008 Global Youth Enterprise Conference to be held September 15-16 in Washington, DC. MC expects 350 experts from the international youth enterprise, employment and livelihood community to attend. Practitioners, funders, members of the private sector, academics and youth leaders from over 25 countries and all sectors will share learning, innovations and ideas for strengthening and expanding opportunities for young people around the world. The primary focus will be on the themes of market-driven approaches and methodologies for evaluating and conducting impact assessments.
Category: Events
PRESS RELEASE: UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Seeks Innovative Remittance Proposals to Compete for $13m
Source: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association (AMFA) to Hold Fourth Bi-annual Conference
MICROFINANCE – 10 YEARS OF BEST PRACTICE
SEPTEMBER 16-17, 2008, HYATT REGENCY HOTEL, BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
The Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association (AMFA), a supportive organization for a network of 22 microfinance institutions (MFIs) and downscaling commercial banks in the country, will hold a two-day conference entitled “Microfinance – 10 Years of Best Practice.” The event will provide an opportunity for interaction amongst practitioners and investors, present innovative microfinance products, and discuss best practices, challenges, and benchmarking lessons.
MICROCAPITAL STORY: Bill Gates Cites Microfinance as He Urges Businesses to Help the Poor
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) Annual Meeting 2008 Conference on Responsible Finance
EUROPEAN FUND FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE (EFSE) ANNUAL MEETING
MAY 6-8, 2008, HOTEL RAMADA, SIBIU, ROMANIA
The European Fund for Southeast Europe will hold their second annual meeting on May 6-8, 2008 at the Hotel Ramada in Sibiu, Romania. The conference will focus on the topic of responsible finance with respect to sustainable development and social return and is to be attended by over 200 participants from development finance institutions, donor agencies, international organizations, microfinance institutions, commercial banks, including institutional investors, policymakers, and Central Bank Governors of the Southeastern European Region.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Vikram Akula, SKS Founder and CEO, to Speak at Washington Offices of Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) April 11, 2008
“BROWN BAG” LUNCH WITH VIKRAM AKULA OF SKS MICROFINANCE
APRIL 11, 2008, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) periodic Brown Bag Lunches offer the opportunity to hear about happenings and advances in microfinance in a casual setting. This Friday at noon CGAP hosts special guest Vikram Akula, Founder and CEO of microfinance institution SKS Microfinance. Lunch will be served and, although the event is free of charge, RSVP is requested by Thursday, April 10 via cgap@worldbank.org. Event details are not available online, but CGAP may be reached at +1 202 473 9594. The CGAP offices are on the third floor of 900 19th Street NW, Washington DC.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Independent Evaluation Group of International Finance Corporation (IFC) to Hold Panel at the World Bank on Its New Book “Financing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through Financial Intermediaries”
PANEL DISCUSSION ON “FINANCING MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES THROUGH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES”
APRIL 11, 2008, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank InfoShop Public Information Center will host a panel discussion at the launch of the IEG Study on Financing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through Financial Intermediaries. The event will bring together evaluators, financiers, practitioners and a microfinance bank to will talk about micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the developing world. The chair of the discussion will be Marvin Taylor-Dormond, Director of IEG. The panelists for the discussion include:
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Silicon Valley Microfinance Network (SVMN) to Co-host Investment Conference in San Francisco in July
MICROFINANCE: THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: SMALL LOANS. BIG RETURNS.
JULY 14-15, 2008, SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES
The Silicon Valley Microfinance Network (SVMN) and Financial Research Associates offer this event on investing in institutions that provide banking services to the poor. A pre-conference workshop will cover the basics of microfinance, while the main event will offer presentations from 60 experts including Elizabeth Funk of Dignity Fund, Vinod Khosla of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Pierre Omidyar of philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network. Session topics are to include:
MICROFINANCE EVENT: ING Bank Will Host the “A Billion to Gain? The Next Phase” Microfinance Seminar
A BILLION TO GAIN? THE NEXT PHASE
JUNE 16, 2008, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
The ING Group published an updated study on the microfinance activities of large, international financial institutions, called “A Billion to Gain? The Next Phase”. ING will hold a seminar to highlight the study, discuss latest trends, and debate central banks’ role in microfinance. The conference hopes to attract commercial banks and international microfinance representatives.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Caribbean Microfinance Network Hosts Seventh Annual Roundtable
SEVENTH ANNUAL ROUNDTABLE ON CARIBBEAN MICROFINANCE
MAY 13-15, 2008, WYNDHAM NASSAU RESORT, BAHAMAS
Sponsored by the Caribbean Microfinance Network, this year’s conference will cover: portfolio expansion issues and solutions, portfolio quality challenges facing Caribbean microfinance institutions (MFIs), governance and internal controls in MFIs, recruiting and training staff, loan accounting software and the youth and women market segments.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Tenth Annual Global Private Equity Conference to Be Held by International Finance Corporation (IFC), Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA)
TENTH ANNUAL IFC GLOBAL PRIVATE EQUITY CONFERENCE
MAY 15-16, 2008, WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES
International Finance Corporation (IFC), in association with the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), presents this conference themed “Creating Opportunities and Building Value.” As emerging markets private equity continues to raise unprecedented funds for investment, this conference will explore the creation of opportunities and building value. A USD 200 discount, available until April 4, is reflected in the following prices: USD 1295 for general registration and USD 895 for EMPEA members and international financial institutions. Details and online registration are available at the conference website or via Cathy Fenn at +1 516 765 9005 x21.
NEWS WIRE: Cameroon: African Policymakers Spotlight Microfinance at Central Africa Policy Forum
Source: African Press Organization.
PRESS RELEASE: Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX) Closes Workshop on SEEP Framework in Ghana
Source: Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX).
MICROFINANCE EVENT: CGAP, DFID, IFC, GSM Association Organize Mobile Money Summit in Cairo
2008 MOBILE MONEY SUMMIT: EXPANDING MARKETS, TRANSFORMING LIVES
MAY 14-15, 2008, CAIRO, EGYPT
This conference is designed for senior executives from financial services institutions, mobile network operators, development organizations, solutions vendors and regulatory and policy makers. The inaugural event will cover prime markets, showcase new solutions and share key success factors and learnings from around the world. The goal of the Summit is to stimulate greater understanding and collaboration among local and global stakeholders. The organizers aim to equip participants to develop and deploy their own Mobile Money portfolio effectively, efficiently and at scale.
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Standard Chartered Bank Announced as Principal Sponsor of the Global Microfinance Investment Congress
2008 Global Microfinance Investment Congress
May 14-16, 2008, Jumeirah Essex House, New York City, USA
Standard Chartered Bank announced it would be a principal sponsor of the 2008 Global Microfinance Investment Congress. The event is presented by PlaNet Finance in association with American Conference Institute and costs USD 1,495 before March 31, 2008 and USD 1,595 afterwards. Delegates can also attend 1 to 2 workshops for an additional USD 500 or USD 800, respectively.
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: 2008 World Credit Union Conference To Be Held In Hong Kong, July 13-16, 2008
The 2008 World Credit Union Conference will be held in Hong Kong July 13-16. The conference is co-hosted by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), Credit Union League of Hong Kong (CULHK) and the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU). Credit leaders from more than 50 countries will partake in a four-day program focusing on current industry issues.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s (OPIC) Middle East Conference to Include Microfinance
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
MAY 5-7, 2008, KEMPINSKI HOTEL ISHTAR, DEAD SEA, JORDAN
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a self-funded US government agency with 2006 total assets of USD 6.3 million promoting economic development and US investment in overseas markets since 1971, will hold a conference “to highlight investment opportunities in the [Middle East], encourage the formation of joint ventures and partnerships between US and local businesses, and facilitate support for new investments,” according to the conference web site. The first day of the two-day conference will include a session entitled “Access to Capital: Microfinancing to SMEs,” which will consist of presentations from managers of Middle Eastern microfinance institutions (MFIs). In attendance will be investment experts, US firms investing in the Middle East, US government officials, and financial institutions operating in the region. Countries to be featured in the conference include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
MICROCAPITAL STORY: Tell It Like It Is! Transcript of Peter Marchetti, Co-Founder of FDL (Local Development Fund) of Nicaragua, Addressing IDB Conference in Bolivia (in English and Spanish)
In his award speech at the Interamerican Development Bank’s (IDB) Eighth Gathering of Microenterprises in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on October 6 – October 7, 2005, Peter Marchetti, Co-Founder of FDL (Local Development Fund) of Nicaragua made the following comments (Spanish version below):
It is an honor for me to be here once again, in Bolivia, the capital of microfinance in Latin America. A warm welcome/salute to all of you from Nicaragua and in the name of the FDL. As a Jesuit priest, I salute particularly FONDECO, our sister institution in Santa Cruz. Congratulations to all the professionals of the FDL and of the Institute of Investigation of Nitlapan. In particular, to those who co-founded it with me there is now 15 years, to Arturo Grigsby, and to Carlos Barrios. Also to the second generation of the FDL, to Julio Flores, Eberth Hernandez and Elizabeth Campos, who have worked so hard all these years, and who have contributed to the professionalism of these institutions, and to their roots in so many places all over Nicaragua.