by Uyen Tran -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Investments in Microfinance: Surviving the Liquidity Crisis & Ensuring Sustainable Growth Conference in London

Investments in Microfinance: Surviving the Liquidity Crisis & Ensuring Sustainable Growth Conference

7–9 July 2009, Grange City Hotel, London, UK

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

by Jaclyn Berfond -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Pioneer in Microfinance Investing, Triodos Bank, Wins 2009 Sustainable Banking Award by Financial Times (FT) and International Finance Corporation (IFC); MicroEnsure and Root Capital Also Take Prizes

The Financial Times (FT) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced the winners of the 2009 Sustainable Banking Awards. Triodos Bank of the Netherlands was named Sustainable Bank of the Year. Other microfinance programs were recognized, with MicroEnsure winning the award for Achievement in Basic Needs Financing, and Root Capital taking the Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid award.

by David Satterthwaite -

Words of Jonathan Lewis of MicroCredit Enterprises at Stanford University “California Microfinance 2009” Conference

Microfinance: Markets & Missions
Jonathan C. Lewis
Chief Executive Officer/Founder
MicroCredit Enterprises
California Microfinance 2009
May 28, 2009
Stanford University
Thank you for inviting me to this important assembly of change agents. Whether
engaged in domestic micro-enterprise or international microfinance, we are kindred
We in this room know that creating sustainable economic development requires toughminded,
hard work. I admire your commitment, and I am proud to be in your company.

From the inner cities of America to the remote villages of Africa, we know the current economic slump is going to seriously hurt the poor, undermine nonprofit social safety nets, and reduce the social finance funding on which so many depend.

by Zoran Stanisljevic -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: XII FOROMIC 2009: Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise

Microfinance Event: XII FOROMIC 2009: Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise

FOROMIC 2009: Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise, September 30 – October 2, 2009, Arequipa, Peru, Sponsored by the Multilateral Investment Fund, Organized by the Inter-American Development Bank

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

by Zoran Stanisljevic -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Second Annual Microfinance Investment Summit, October 6-7, 2009, London, United Kingdom, Sponsored by Incofin

Microfinance Event: Second Annual Microfinance Investment Summit, October 6-7, 2009, London United Kingdom, Sponsored by Incofin

Second Annual Microfinance Investment Summit, October 6-7, 2009, London, United Kingdom, Sponsored by Incofin

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

by Laura Anderson -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: 85 Percent of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and 61 Percent of Microfinance Investors Say MFIs Should Offer More than Financial Services According to Microfinance Insights Survey

A new survey of 150 microfinance institutions and investors conducted by Microfinance Insights, an international print magazine published by Intellecap, shows that 85 percent of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and 61 Percent of microfinance investors say MFIs should offer more than financial services.  Of the MFIs polled, 79 percent offer “products and services that are consciously seeking to create social impact beyond simple financial inclusion,” including 63 percent that offer community development, 60 percent that seek inclusion of minorities, and 53 percent that offer better employment and labor conditions.  Over 83 percent of the MFIs polled said their primary goal was poverty alleviation and 78 percent stated their main objective was women’s empowerment.  Complete survey results can be found in the May/Jun 2009 issue of Microfinance Insights which can be purchased at www.microfinanceinsights.com/magazine_index.asp.

by Sally Levy -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Microfinance, Economic Development and Global Health, presented by Princeton Microfinance Organization 1st May 2009

Microfinance, Economic Development and Global Health, presented by Princeton Microfinance Organization 1st May 2009

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

by Bharathi Ram -

MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Investments in Microfinance 2009: Conference on Surviving the Liquidity Crisis and Ensuring Sustainable Growth to be held in London, United Kingdom from July 7-8, 2009

Investments in Microfinance 2009: Surviving the Liquidity Crisis and Ensuring Sustainable Growth

July 7-8, 2009, London, United Kingdom

HansonWade Ltd., a London based research firm will host Investment in Microfinance 2009, a two-day conference event in London on the 7th and 8th of July, 2009. The event is focused specifically on the theme ‘Surviving the Liquidity Crisis and Ensuring Sustainable Growth’ and will explore how key microfinance institutions (MFIs) and funds are changing their strategies to ensure survival amidst the financial crisis. Participants at the event include institutional investors, portfolio managers, equity investors, consultants, asset managers, philanthropic investors and socially responsible investors. Key organizations participating in this event include the Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, CitiGroup, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, SKS Microfinance, Blue Orchard, IFC, KFW and Women’s World Banking among others. The event will be held at the Hilton Easton Hotel in London.

by Andrea Chu -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Microfinance Investment Congress Hosted by PlaNet Finance and American Conference Institute

GLOBAL MICROFINANCE INVESTMENT CONGRESS

MAY 19-20, 2009, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Global Microfinance Investment Congress 2009 is being co-hosted by PlaNet Finance Group and American Conference Institute. The conference consists of workshops, case studies, and panels focused on the latest strategies for success in microfinance investing.

by Ryan Hogarth -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: Beyond Economic Benefits: The Contribution of Microfinance to Post-Conflict Recovery in Asia and the Pacific, by Pascal Marino

“Beyond Economic Benefits: The Contribution of Microfinance to Post-Conflict Recovery in Asia and the Pacific” was written by Pascal Marino, published in 2005 by The Foundation for Development Corporation in Brisbane, Australia, and presented at the University of Melbourne conference “Aid and Development in Conflict Environments: What are the lessons?” The full text of this report is 14 pages and available here. The paper is a literature review and synthesis of research on the impact of microfinance in nine different post-conflict countries in Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on Afghanistan, Indonesia (Maluku), Papua New Guinea (Boaguainville), Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste. It focuses on the difficulties in operating microfinance institutions (MFIs) in post-conflict zones and on the intangible benefits of microfinance through social capital enhancement: social mobilization, empowerment, democracy building, conflict resolution, refugee reintegration, and organization building.

by Jeffrey Erfe -

MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Microfinance and Climate Change: Can Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Promote Environmental Sustainability?

NOVEMBER 18 TO NOVEMBER 20, 2008, INTERNET FORUM BY MICROLINKS

Over the course of three days, MicroLinks will host a “Speaker’s Corner” entitled “Microfinance and Climate Change: Can Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Promote Environmental Sustainability?”  Speaker’s Corner events are online conferences or forums for the purpose of engaging current microenterprise and microfinance issues.  This forum will be hosted by Dan Lundmark, a documentary producer and director currently working on a film highlighting the environmental policies and impacts of MFIs and microenterprises in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.  Several panelists will join the forum from GreenMicrofinance: Joan Hall, Elizabeth Israel, Thomas Israel, Kathleen Robbins, Betsy Teutsch, and Bela Vora.  Panelists from Indian MFIs will include Manab Chakraborty from MIMO Finance, Paul Moonjely from Wesco Credit, and Paul Thomas from the Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF).

by Lori Curtis -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Outdated Regulatory Frameworks and Inadequate Business Models Identified as Key Challenges to Financial Inclusion at World Economic Forum’s Inaugural Summit on the Global Agenda

The redesign of regulations, development of innovative business models that promote inclusion, financial literacy, expansion of delivery channels, and lowering of transaction costs were highlighted as key challenges for expanding the inclusivity of the global financial system by the World Economic Forum‘s Global Agenda Council On Financial Empowerment. The inaugural Summit on the Global Agenda recently assembled 700 of the world’s leaders from academia, business, government and society to set priorities on key global challenges, the outcomes of which will be integrated in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009 for further discussion.

by Jeffrey Erfe -

MICROCAPITAL EVENT: TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE INVESTING (TBLI) 2008 EUROPE CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 13-14, AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

Brooklyn Bridge – Triple Bottom Line Investing (TBLI) Group will host the TBLI 2008 Europe Conference, an annual international learning and networking event focusing on sustainable development, from Thursday, November 13 to Friday, November 14 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky.  The conference runs from 9:00am until 5:30pm (Central European Time) each day.  There is an additional one-day seminar on Wednesday, November 12 entitled “Integrating ESG Into Portfolios.”

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL STORY: How Far Will the Credit Crunch Affect the Microfinance Industry?

At the Worldwide Microfinance Forum, 1st-2nd October in Geneva, the investment managers and financial specialists of the industry met to discuss how they could improve their returns. The mood was upbeat, with a general agreement that this emerging sector has a growing and buoyant future ahead of it, despite the panic and events that were unfolding in the mainstream financial world as the conference took place.

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Housing Microfinance Conference Organized by Dutch Development Bank FMO

HOUSING MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE

SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 1, THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

FMO (the Dutch development bank) has organized a Housing Microfinance Conference to further support microfinance institutions (MFIs) in exploring the housing microfinance market and developing housing products.

by Brett Rudder -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Justice K. S. Hegde Institute of Management in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Hold International Conference on Business Practices for Sustainable Social Change

BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL CHANGE CONFERENCE

DECEMBER 29-30, 2008, JUSTICE K.S. HEDGE INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMNET CAMPUS, NITTE, INDIA

The conference is presented by Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management in partnership with the School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania. The conference costs are USD 100 for foreign delegates and INR 1000, equivalent to USD 21.54 (Bloomberg Currency Calculator) for Indian delegates.