MICROFINANCE EVENT: “Microfinance Dialogue: The Next Decade” at Tufts' Fletcher School

MICROFINANCE DIALOGUE: THE NEXT DECADE

NOVEMBER 2, 2007 – MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA

Quite a few top thinkers in the industry will be on hand at the Fletcher School to state their positions and engage in discussion with the audience. Topics are to include:

Microfinance and the Capital Markets – Who Benefits?

What is the impact of commercial financing on microfinance? Who benefits – customers, investors, the local economy or the public at large? What is an appropriate role for policy in mediating microfinance, if any?

Microfinance and Soft Money – What Is It’s Best Use?

Is soft money necessary now that commercial efforts have proven successful? If so, how can it best contribute? What are the optimal uses of grants, concessionary loans, tax benefits and other forms of subsidy?

Microfinance and the Next Decade – What’s Next?

Looking ahead, how big a role can and will microfinance play? What other resources are needed to accelerate its benefits or to limit its negative impact? What key issues must the private, public and NGO sectors address?

Dialoguers will include:

Jim Bunch, Director, Omidyar Network

Michael Chu, Lecturer, Harvard Business School

Carlos Danel, Co-CEO, Banco Compartamos

Sally Dungan, Chief Investment Officer, Tufts University

Enrique Ferraro, Managing Director, ACCION Investments

Somak Ghosh, President, Corporate Finance and Development Banking, Yes Bank, Ltd.

Peter Johnson, Partner, Developing World Markets

Malcolm Harper, Chairman, M-CRIL

Manuel Malaret, Cooperacion Andino De Fomento

Maria Otero, President and CEO, ACCION

Raven Smith, AIU Business Development, American International Group