MicroCapital: Would you please discuss this year’s focus on sustainable development?
Anne Contreras: Given the recent adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this issue is particularly relevant. The plenary on “Sustainable Development Goals and financial inclusion” will address the topic directly. Breakout sessions will also cover related topics: How can we implement clean cooking options to decrease mortality and mitigate air pollution? How can practitioners bundle finance and training to serve farmers? What can networks do in these areas?
MC: Is there a plenary session that you’d like to tell us about?
AC: I’m particularly excited by the opening plenary, “Assessing Limits: Towards Sustainable Growth in Microfinance.” It will feature speakers from the two most prominent studies of market sustainability, Microfinance in Crisis and MIMOSA (Microfinance Index of Market Outreach and Saturation), along with two investors who are focused on the issue from different perspectives – Klaus Tischhauser from responsAbility and Tanmay Chetan from Agora.
MC: Would you please tell us about a topic that a first-time speaker will be covering?
Christoph Pausch: It’s a hard choice, as we have quite a few new faces this year. I’m particularly looking forward to the presentation of Francis Vazheparambil, the CEO of Nigeria’s Standard Microfinance Bank (MFB), who will be speaking on the panel “Bringing Financial Services to Underserved Markets.” His organization serves remote populations in Adamawa province at the eastern border of the country – an area that is among the most financially excluded in the country. Financial institutions operate just 47 branches in the province – less than one per 60,000 inhabitants. It’s also an area where the insurgency of Boko Haram caused many institutions to pull back, further reducing financial access. However, Standard MFB has been growing, including in the areas under threat from Boko Haram. I personally find Francis’s story an inspiration for the sector.
MC: What would you say to someone who is unsure whether she or he should take the time to attend European Microfinance Week?
CP: European Microfinance Week is the ideal opportunity to network with 400 leading practitioners, funders, analysts, consultants and other specialists from the microfinance and inclusive finance sector. It’s also a great way to keep up on the latest in the industry: subjects will include whether and how financial inclusion can foster financial stability, the role of apex organizations, bringing financial services to underserved markets, assessing impact, best practice in risk management, microfinance investment fund governance, the future of microfinance investment vehicles in maturing markets, how to comply with social and environmental governance, and the latest innovations in agri-finance. So join us in Luxembourg on November 18th through 20th; we look forward to your participation!
Anne Contreras serves as the Chair of the board of directors of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and Christoph Pausch serves as the organization’s Executive Secretary.
This interview is part of a sponsored series on European Microfinance Week, which is held each November by e-MFP, a 120-member network located in Luxembourg. MicroCapital will report live from the event.
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