Event Name: CGAP and Grameen Foundation Virtual Conference: Getting Past the Technology Hurdles at MFIs
Event Date: 07 July 2010 – 08 July 2010
Event Location: Online: CGAP Technology Blog: http://technology.cgap.org/2010/07/06/virtual-conference-getting-past-the-technology-hurdles-at-mfis/
See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events
Cost: Free
Summary of Event:
Why do microfinance institutions (MFIs) struggle with technology and what can MFIs, donors, investors, software vendors and others do to improve the situation? This workshop series aims to provide discussion of possible solutions to these problems.
Background on Organizers:
Housed at the World Bank Group, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is an independent policy and research center dedicated to providing financial access for the world’s poor. CGAP is supported by over thirty development agencies and private foundations. Its mission is to provide market intelligence, to promote standards and to offer advisory services to governments, microfinance providers, donors and investors.
The Grameen Foundation, based in Washington, DC, aims to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout the world replicate the microfinance model of the Grameen Bank. It provides financial, technological and managerial support for local organizations and intends to provide new business opportunities and telecommunication services to the rural poor. The Grameen Foundation works with MFIs in about 37 countries worldwide. Though the Grameen Foundation is independent of the Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank, serves on the foundation’s Board of Directors.
Event Themes and Discussion Topics:
1. Capacity building to improve vendor/MFI relations and outcomes. Training for both MFIs and vendors would promote greater preparation on the part of MFIs and better understanding of the microfinance business on the part of the vendors. But what type of training is necessary and by whom? What other steps could be taken to ease the technology challenges at MFIs?
2. New ideas to propel the use of technology at MFIs. Will new business models, such as Software as a Service (SaaS), change the way MFIs interact with technology? Would increased use of standards improve the quality of software products available to MFIs? Would greater involvement by funders lead to better systems outcomes at MFIs? What other ideas would help move the microfinance industry past this information systems challenge?
Who Is to Attend:
All interested Parties
The discussion will take place through 9:00 am EST July 9, 2010. No registration required.
To participate, just visit CGAP’s Technology Blog at?http://technology.cgap.org on July 7.
Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events
Bibliography:
Microfinance Gateway: CGAP: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m/template.rc/1.11.135774/
CGAP: Getting Past the Technology Hurdles at MFIs: http://technology.cgap.org/2010/07/06/virtual-conference-getting-past-the-technology-hurdles-at-mfis/
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