MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance India 2010 Awards to be Presented at The Microfinance India Summit, November 15, 2010

Access Development Services, an Indian nonprofit organization that offers consulting services to microfinance institutions (MFIs), and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited, an international banking group, will present the Microfinance India Awards 2010 at the Microfinance India Summit on November 15, 2010.

The first award, MFI of the Year 2010, recognizes pioneering thought, product leadership or best practices. Separate sub-categories exist for MFIs with loan portfolios above and below INR 100 crore (USD 21.5 million). To be nominated, institutions must have been in operation for a minimum of three years. Institutions are required to self-nominate.

The second award, Contribution to the Sector 2010, seeks to recognize individuals who have contributed to building the microfinance sector and have supported it toward becoming a part of the mainstream financial sector. Peer nominations from the microfinance community are welcome. Candidates should have at least 10 years of association with the sector.

The third award, Contribution to the Sector by Enabling Institutions, seeks to recognize institutions that have contributed to building the microfinance sector and supported it to become a part of the mainstream financial sector. Contributions may be in the form of capacity-building services, ratings, provision or arrangement of equity/debt capital, policy advocacy, assistance with social performance management or promoting financial inclusion. Institutions are required to self-nominate. Eligible organizations include: technical service providers, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), lending institutions, investors and rating agencies.

The judges panel will be chaired by Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head, HSBC India, and Malcolm Harper, Professor Emeritus, Cranfield University of England. Members of the panel are Brij Mohan, Chairman, ACCESS Development Services; Rakesh Rewari, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI; and Vijay Mahajan, Chairman and Managing Director, BASIX Group.

Nomination forms and more information is available on the Microfinance India Summit 2010 website: www.microfinanceindia.org/microfinance-india-awards.php

The deadline for receiving completed nomination forms is September 15,
2010. For more information you may contact: awards@accessdev.org. No telephone number is offered.

About ACCESS Development Services:

ACCESS Development Services, which is based in India, is “a not-for-profit organization that offers consulting services to microfinance institutions (MFIs) through various means.” It offers capacity building and technical services on topics such as operational organization, portfolio management, and financial management. It also works to facilitate funding to 130 member MFIs through the ACCESS Microfinance Alliance (AmFA). Lastly, it organizes the Microfinance India Summit annually in order to provide “the microfinance community the opportunity to meet and learn from each other, participate in discussions and debates on key issues and be exposed to the international experiences and innovations.” ACCESS Development Services was founded in 2006.

By Matthew Fox, Research Assistant

Sources and Additional Resources:

Microfinance Event: Global Microfinance India Summit 2010, November 15-16, 2010 in New Delhi, India, Organized by ACCESS Development Services, 16 Jun 2010: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-global-microfinance-india-summit-2010-november-15-16-2010-in-new-delhi-india-organized-by-access-development-services/

MicroCapital Universe: ACCESS Development Services: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=ACCESS+Development+Services

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