MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States and the European Union’s (ACP/EU) Microfinance Program Offers Scholarships for July Boulder Microfinance Training Through April 28, 2014

The microfinance program of the European Union and the 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States has announced that it is accepting applications for its last round of 46 scholarships for microfinance professionals from ACP member countries to attend the annual Italy-based Boulder Microfinance Training Program, which is offered by the US-based Boulder Institute of Microfinance. The scholarships, worth USD 4,500 each, cover tuition to attend the training program, however travel, accommodations and other expenses are not included in the scholarship.

The program will be held Turin, Italy, from July 7-25, 2014 at the International Training Centre of the United Nation’s International Labor Organization. Applications may be submitted online until; April 28, 2014 using the following website: http://eu-acp-boulder scholarships.itcilo.org/application/index.html.

The Boulder Institute held its annual Spanish-language course in Arequipa, Peru, from March 3 – 14, 2014. The Italy-based programs can be taken in English and French. The program outlines can be viewed on the following website: http://www.bouldermicrofinance.org/_eng/index.php in English and http://www.bouldermicrofinance.org/_fra/index.php in French.

By Chikondano Faith Chisala, Research Associate

About the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union’s (EU’s) Microfinance Framework Program (ACP/EU Microfinance Program): The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), which has 79 member countries as of 2014, and the European Union (EU) launched the ACP/EU Microfinance Framework Program in January 2005. The program intends to support the dissemination of good practices in microfinance through funding. The program has a budget of EUR 15 million (USD 21.3 million) from the 10th European Development Fund, the main EU “instrument for providing community aid for development cooperation in the ACP states and Overseas Countries and Territories.”

About the Boulder Institute of Microfinance: Founded in 2004, the Boulder Institute of Microfinance (BIM) is a US-based nonprofit that provides microfinance training programs to professionals in the microfinance industry. The institute’s Boulder Microfinance Training Program takes place in English and French at the International Training Center of the International Labor Organization in Turin, Italy. BIM held its annual Spanish-language course in Arequipa, Peru, from March 3 – 14, 2014. Since its inception through 2013, the Boulder Microfinance Training Program has trained approximately 4,600 microfinance professionals from 145 different countries including staff of micro finance institutions, central banks, ministries of finance, commercial banks, investment firms, microfinance support institutions, development agencies and consultancies.

Sources and Additional Information

ACP/EU Microfinance Program Press Release, “Scholarships for the Boulder Microfinance Program: applications are open,” http://www.acpeumicrofinance.org/news_and_events#boulder_2014

MicroCapital Article, July 25, 2013, “European Investment Bank (EIB) to Loan $12b by 2020 to African, Caribbean, Pacific Countries for Infrastructure, Private Business, Regional Developments,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-investment-bank-eib-to-loan-12b-by-2020-to-african-caribbean-pacific-countries-for-infrastructure-private-business-regional-developments/

MicroCapital Article, June 22, 2011, “European Investment Bank Appoints Frankfurt School of Finance as Technical Assistance Provider for Incofin’s Rural Impulse Fund II in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP),” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-investment-bank-appoints-frankfurt-school-of-finance-as-technical-assistance-provider-for-incofin%e2%80%99s-rural-impulse-fund-ii-in-africa-caribbean-pacific-acp/

MicroUniverse Profile, The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union’s (EU’s) Microfinance Framework Program me (ACP/EU Microfinance Program), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=ACP%2FEU+Microfinance+Framework+Programme

MicroUniverse Profile, Boulder Institute of Microfinance, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Boulder+Institute+of+Microfinance

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Chikondano Faith joined MicroCapital after holding various rolse at a commercial bank, where she improved and diversified her skill set by exploring many banking functions including: trading, treasury management, credit analysis and business development. She developed an interest challenges faced by entrepreneurs in emerging economies after taking up a small business development and entrepreneurship course during her undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa. She holds also Masters degree in Strategic Management from the University of Derby, her independent study topic focused on strategies to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malawi. In working with MicroCapital, she hopes to expand her knowledge of microfinance and to use this internship as a foundation to pursue a career in micro and developmental finance. Chikondano Faith enjoys travel, drawing, jazz music, and improving her French during her spare time.