MICROFINANCE EVENT: MFTransparency, Agence Française de Développement, UN Capital Development Fund, Luxembourg Cooperation, African Microfinance Network, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) to Host African Microfinance Pricing Transparency Leadership Forum, October 5-7, 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya

Event Name: African Microfinance Pricing Transparency Leadership Forum

Event Date: October 5 – October 7, 2011

Event Location: Nairobi, Kenya

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar at: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Cost: By invitation only

Summary of Event: The African Microfinance Pricing Transparency Leadership Forum will gather policymakers, regulators and microfinance networks to share their experiences in facilitating client protection and pricing disclosure. The goal is to improve the development and implementation of pricing disclosure policies for African microfinance markets. Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya’s central banking authority, will be the keynote speaker. The event will include the following:
– Training on pricing transparency calculations and policy development by US-based nonprofit Microfinance Transparency
– Working sessions on financial education, reporting standards, pricing formulas for effective disclosure
– Development of action plans for developing pricing disclosure policies

Background on Organizers: MFTransparency is a US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) that was launched in July 2008 to provide information on microcredit products and their prices. MFTransparency collects data on the interest and fees charged on microfinance loan products in order to calculate and publicize the effective interest rates on those loans. According to its website, since the launch of MFTransparency and 2011, 874 industry stakeholders have endorsed its efforts, including microfinance institutions and apex banks. As of August 2011, data from microfinance products in nine countries are available on the MFTransparency website, and sixteen additional countries are participating in the data collection stage.

Established in 1941, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is a bilateral development finance institution whose public mandate is to finance development according to the overseas development assistance policies of the French government. In 2010, AFD reportedly invested approximately EUR 6.8 billion (USD 9.6 billion) financing initiatives in the Southern Hemisphere. These investments involved providing primary schooling for 13.4 million children, improving drinking water supplies for 33 million people and disbursing microloans to 700,000 people.

UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 least developed countries. It endeavors to create opportunities for poor people and their small businesses by increasing access to microfinance and other forms of investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with particular commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.

The Luxembourg Cooperation, Luxembourg’s development agency, has the mission of fighting poverty using instruments that are appropriate to cultural contexts. Its work includes supporting microfinance and inclusive financial systems.

The Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN) was established in 2000 as an association of microfinance networks aiming to contribute to the provision of effective and sustainable financial services to the low-income population of Africa. Its 22 member networks collectively represent 1,118 microfinance institution (MFI) members as of 2007. AFMIN’s core programs include capacity building for members, advocacy and policy change, performance monitoring and benchmarking, research, information dissemination, knowledge building and network management.

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a US-based nonprofit policy and research center dedicated to providing financial access to poor people worldwide. CGAP is supported by approximately 30 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. CGAP reports USD 20.9 million in total revenue for fiscal year 2010.

For additional information, you may contact Jordan Filko via email at jordan@mftransparency.org or via telephone at +1 973 868 8375

Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

By Nisha Koul, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources:

MF Transparency, Press Release, “MFTransparency to Bring Together Regulators of African Microfinance Markets for Pricing Transparency Leadership Forum in Nairobi, Kenya,” http://www.mftransparency.org/pages/mftransparency-to-bring-together-regulators-of-african-microfinance-markets-for-pricing-transparency-leadership-forum-in-nairobi-kenya/

MicroCapital.org story, September 23, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Panelists at Toronto International Microfinance Summit 2011 Discuss Interest Rate Pricing, Technological Solutions, Commercial and Philanthropic Funding,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-panelists-at-toronto-international-microfinance-summit-2011-discuss-interest-rate-pricing-technological-solutions-commercial-and-philanthropic-funding/

MicroCapital Universe profile: MFTransparency, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=MFTransparency

MicroCapital Universe profile: Agence Francaise de Developpement, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Agence+Francaise+de+Developpement+%28AFD%29

MicroCapital Universe profile: United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=United+Nations+Capital+Development+Fund+%28UNCDF%29

MicroCapital Universe profile: African Microfinance Network, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Africa+Microfinance+Network+%28AFMIN%29

MicroCapital Universe profile: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=CGAP+%28Consultative+Group+to+Assist+the+Poor%29

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/