by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Christoph Pausch on the European Microfinance Award 2023 – Inclusive Finance for Food Security & Nutrition

e-MFP logoMicroCapital: Why was “Inclusive Finance for Food Security & Nutrition” chosen as the topic of this, the 14th edition of the European Microfinance Award?

Christoph Pausch: For a long time, it looked like progress in this field would be positive and continuous. But a combination of factors – among them climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the global infla­tion­ary context – means that progress in food security and nutrition may have stalled, or in fact reversed. According to the World Food Pro­gramme, “Conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes and soaring fertiliser prices are combining to create a food crisis of unprecedented proportions.” And the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the number of people affected by hunger has grown by 150 million since the onset of the pandemic. But the problem is not only one of hunger – lack of access to sufficient food – it’s also one of insufficient quality, meaning poor nu­tri­tion, and lack of access to the micronutrients necessary for good health, all compounded by the stress of uncertain supply. There may be 2 billion people worldwide in this category.

There are many sectors that have to play roles in addressing food secur­ity and nutrition. And because the people most vulnerable to food in­security and malnutrition are largely those who are low-income, living in low-income countries and financially excluded, there is a vital role for the financial inclusion

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Financial Inclusion That Works for Women; March 2, 2023; London, UK

This event will review the 2022 edition of the European Microfinance Award, which was themed “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women.” Sam Mendelson of the Luxembourg-based European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) will discuss

by Saulius Ramanauskas -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Financial Inclusion That Works for Women,” by Sam Mendelson, Published by e-MFP

This paper explores model practices in financial inclusion for women through the work of the winner and nine semi-finalists for the European Microfinance Award 2022. Mr Mendelson sorts the lessons learned into three approaches to how financial services providers (FSP) can foster women’s financial inclusion: offering

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Christoph Pausch on the €100k European Microfinance Award Focusing on Women – Applications Are Open Until April 12

European Microfinance PlatformMicroCapital: Why was “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women” chosen as the topic of the 2022 Award?
Christoph Pausch (pictured below): Women ostensibly have been the focus of financial inclusion for decades. But the reality is that a focus on outreach – the number of women clients a financial provider serves – can obscure lack of progress in addressing the many barriers that women face. Increas­ingly, stakeholders in the sector realise that much more needs to be done, based on a comprehensive understanding of these barriers: including social norms as well as the diverse needs and aspirations of women clients, staff and partners of financial services providers. So, over the months leading up to the launch of this year’s Award, our team has worked with experts to design the guide­lines, application forms and assessment criteria to cap­ture what financial providers can do with a gender-focused strategy – not only to