MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Proposals Sought by African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), European Union’s Microfinance Framework Programme

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union’s Microfinance Framework Programme (ACP/EU Microfinance Programme), an initiative that supports the dissemination of good practices in microfinance, recently announced a call for proposals to fund projects aiming at providing financial access to poor and vulnerable populations in ACP member states.

The first five-year phase of the ACP/EU Microfinance Programme, which began in 2005, focused on capacity building for microfinance institutions. The second five-year phase, which began in 2010, aims to develop inclusive financial systems adapted to the needs of poor and vulnerable populations in ACP member states. With these projects, the programme intends to facilitate access to finance for communities excluded from the formal financial system in a sustainable manner and by using innovative delivery models.

Retail microfinance providers and service providers to microfinance providers are eligible to apply. The funded projects must be located in ACP member states and be carried out during a period of 6 to 36 months. Grant amounts will range from EUR 250,000 (USD 355,000) to EUR 800,000 (USD 1.1 million). The deadline for submission of concept notes is August 1, 2011. For more information, you may visit: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/microfinance/documents/microfinance-launchingcfp_en.pdf

By Nisha Koul, Research Associate

About African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and European Union’s Microfinance Framework Programme (ACP/EU Microfinance Programme): The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), which has 79 member countries as of 2011, and the European Union (EU) launched the ACP/EU Microfinance Framework Programme (ACP/EU Microfinance Programme) in January 2005. The programme intends to support the dissemination of good practices in microfinance. The programme has a budget of EUR 15 million (USD 21.3 million) from the ninth European Development Fund, the main EU “instrument for providing community aid for development cooperation in the ACP states and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT).”

Sources and Additional Resources:

Call for Proposals, ACP/EU Microfinance Programme website, http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/microfinance/documents/microfinance-launchingcfp_en.pdf

MicroCapital Universe Profile: ACP/EU Microfinance Framework Programme, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=ACP%2FEU+Microfinance+Framework+Programme

MicroCapital.org story, April 14, 2010: “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Union/Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (EU/ACP) Microfinance Program is Offering Scholarships for the Boulder Microfinance Training Programme”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-unionafrica-the-caribbean-and-pacific-euacp-microfinance-program-is-offering-scholarships-for-the-boulder-microfinance-training-programme/

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