by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: ACCION and Harvard Business School Offer Week-Long Program on Strategic Leadership for Microfinance

HBS-ACCION PROGRAM ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP IN MICROFINANCE

JUNE 15-21, 2008, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES

This seven-day program, hosted by Harvard Business School (HBS) and ACCION, offers finance leaders from around the world the opportunity to connect with peers while engaging with top HBS faculty. The 2008 course offers for the first time an expanded curriculum for all financial institutions – from microfinance specialists to conventional commercial banks – engaged in expanding finance to underserved clients around the world. In 2006 and 2007, microfinance practitioners from 33 countries – including 36 CEOs from leading microfinance institutions (MFIs) – attended the program. Participants in the 2008 program can expect to leave the course with an enhanced perspective on their leadership roles as well as insights on commercial finance that will shape their strategies in a rapidly changing industry.

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Microfinance Centre (MFC) to Host Eleventh Annual Conference in Mongolia in May 2008

MICROFINANCE CENTRE ELEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE: “CLIENTS AND INSTITUTIONS GROWING TOGETHER”

MAY 29-31, 2008, ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA

The Microfinance Centre (MFC) will host its 11th annual conference in Mongolia in May 2008, offering the opportunity to network with microfinance practitioners, investors, policy makers and other microfinance stakeholders. Details on the agenda and registration for the event, themed “Clients and Institutions, Growing Together,” will soon be available on MFC’s conference website which listed information on the 2007 conference as of the date of this post.

by Mary Fu -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Indian Finance Minister Chidambaram to Inaugurate Microfinance Self-Help Initiative: Janasree Sustainable Development Mission

The Janasree Sustainable Development Mission, a non-governmental self-help initiative promoting small and micro-enterprises (SMEs) in India, will be officially inaugurated by Indian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram on February 2, 2008 at the Janasree Microfinance Summit.

by Mary Fu -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: KfW Development Bank and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management to Host Frankfurt Forum on Development Finance 2008

FRANKFURT FORUM ON DEVELOPMENT FINANCE 2008

FEBRUARY 21-22, 2008, FRANKFURT SCHOOL OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT, FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Conscious Media Forum of Nepal Chairs Microfinance Summit Nepal 2008

MICROFINANCE SUMMIT NEPAL 2008

FEBRUARY 14-16, 2007, KATHMANDU

Calling microfinance “one of the few effective tools for poverty reduction over the past years,” organizations such as Conscious Media Forum of Nepal and US-based charity Save the Children are sponsoring Microfinance Summit Nepal 2008. One of the key goals and expected results of the summit is to increase international recognition of microfinance in Nepal. Also noted is the intent “to unite microfinance stakeholders in Nepal in order to express their collective commitment to building a strong and inclusive microfinance sector.”

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: European Investment Bank and Sanabel Microfinance Network of Arab Countries To Hold Consecutive Conferences in Tunisia in May

Sanabel Microfinance Network of Arab Countries has announced that it will hold a joint conference with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the social impact of microfinance on Monday, May 5, 2008. On the following three days, Sanabel will hold its fifth annual conference. These two events will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn about and discuss new trends, challenges and opportunities faced by microfinance in the Arab region. Field trips will be organised for Friday, May 9. Up to 500 microfinance practitioners from the region, as well as major donors, investors and thought leaders are expected from around the world. More details are to follow at the Sanabel conference website and will be covered by MicroCapital.

by the MicroCapital Team -

MicroCapital Thanks You

MicroCapital wishes each of you health and happiness as we close our office to celebrate and give thanks. Your dedication to building a strong microfinance trade is working! In thanks for the overwhelming support you showed us in 2007, we have wonderful innovations in store for you in 2008, including expert-lead discussions, a “micro-wiki” (a directory of the microfinance universe), a Spanish version the MicroCapital Monitor and more. Until January, from our family to yours, sincere best wishes.

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Asia/Pacific Region Microcredit Summit Postponed By Unrest in Pakistan

The Asia/Pacific Region Microcredit Summit covered last month by this newspaper has been postponed and will not be held in Pakistan due to the current instability there. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) was expecting to host the Summit in March 2008. The Microcredit Summit Campaign (MCS) hopes to announce a new location and dates for the summit as soon as possible. For the moment new registrations have been suspended, and registration fees that have been paid are being refunded by the organizers, who may be reached at regmcs@ppaf.org.pk or +92 51 2609647.

by Amy Rennison -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Uniglobal Research to Host Microfinance Forum

MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008

MARCH 27-28, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Uniglobal Research, the European conference organiser, is hosting a two-day event on emerging trends in microfinance. Called the Microfinance Forum, the event will provide presentations and case studies, plus networking opportunities, for those financial institutions wishing to expand into microfinance.

by Mary Fu -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Jeffrey Sachs Outlines The Gate Lecture, Highlights Microfinance at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Jeffrey Sachs, considered one of the most influential economists of his time by Time magazine, gave a speech entitled “The Great Convergence: The Shifting Balance of Power in the 21st Century”, which outlined The Gate Lecture, a presentation that he gave at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

by Mary Fu -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Rotary International’s Uniendo America Project Fair as Launch Pad for Central American Microcredit Projects

The 15th annual Uniendo America Project Fair will be held from January 24 through 26 of 2008 in San Jose, Costa Rica. It will feature approximately 300 projects on microcredit, water, and education, among others, organized by Rotary Clubs throughout Central America. The fair is a way for Central American and North American Rotarians to exchange ideas and realize these projects. The chair of this year’s fair is Fabio Carballo, who is also vice-chair of Rotary International’s Microcredit Advisory Committee.

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Please Take the MIX Survey to Support Transparency in Microfinance

The MIX invites you to participate in their MIX Market User Survey. By completing this brief survey about your use of the MIX Market website you are helping ensure that they continue to deliver the data and analysis that is so important to the microfinance community, while making the website easier for you to use. The survey is available in English, Spanish and French and is intended take approximately 10 minutes from start to finish. Please be sure to complete the survey no later than November 30, 2007.

by Amy Rennison -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: PlaNet Finance and the American Conference Institute to Host the Global Microfinance Investment Congress 2008

GLOBAL MICROFINANCE INVESTMENT CONGRESS 2008

MAY 14-16, NEW YORK CITY, USA

Planet Finance, the French non-profit company that assists microfinance institutions (MFIs), and conference organiser, the American Conference Institute are hosting a three-day event on investing in microfinance. Called the Global Microfinance Investment Congress, the event convenes Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs), Commercial Banks, Insurance Companies, Government Authorities and MFIs to discuss the future of the projected USD 250 Billion microfinance industry. This is the second event in a series, the first of which will be held in Paris on 21-22 January 2008, as reported by MicroCapital.

by Mary Fu -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Credit Unions in Ecuador Launch First International Shared Branching Network, Expand Global Microfinance Industry

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), supported by CO-OP Shared Branching’s technology and partners from Colorado and Ecuador, successfully launched the first international shared branching network in Quito, Ecuador. The new network, called COONECTA, connects credit union members via direct transaction capabilities in the United States and Ecuador, providing the more than 2 million Ecuadorians living and working in the United States with affordable access to their credit union accounts back home, as well as offering U.S. visitors to Ecuador the same convenience.