MICROFINANCE EVENT: “MFTransparency Workshops on Transparent Pricing in Ecuador” April 27 to April 29, 2010

Event Name: MFTransparency Workshop on Transparent Pricing in Ecuador

Event Dates and Locations: April 27, 2010, in Quito, Ecuador; April 28, 2010, in Ambato,

Ecuador; April 29, 2010, in Guyaquil, Ecuador

Event Website: http://www.mftransparency.org/pages/transparent-pricing-initiative-in-ec…

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Cost: Free

Summary of Event: This event will be held in Spanish and will focus on methods for transparent communication between all entities in the microcredit environment. Specifically, participants will learn to calculate interest rates on microfinance products and how this process relates to fair pricing.

Background of the Organizer: MFTransparency formed in 2008 with pilot programs in Peru, Bosnia and Cambodia. MFTransparency’s stated goal is to promote transparency in all phases of microfinance and the development of “rational” interest rates [1]. Its primary method is conducting best practice workshops and persuading MFIs to sign off on these practices [2]. MFTransparency.org also functions as a clearinghouse of interest rate data for all countries in which they have operated: Peru, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Event Themes and Discussion Topics:
- Transparent communication between suppliers and consumers of microcredit
- Calculation of interest rates on microfinance products

Who is invited to Attend: Senior managers of microfinance institutions, donor agencies, investors, and rating agencies with recommended accompaniment by at least one individual with a operations background [3].

About the Presenters: Chuck Waterfield, CEO of MFTransparency, and Alexandra Fiorillo, Vice President of MFTransparency, will be conducting the workshops. Mr Waterfield has 25 years of experience in microfinance and developed Microfin, a financial planning software tool for the microfinance industry. Ms Fiorillo has eight years of experience in the microfinance industry and was a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador where she studied rural and indigenous microfinance [4].

For additional information or for registration you may contact Andres Hammer Andres@mftransparency.org

[1] MFTransparency: “Frequently Asked Questions,” http://www.mftransparency.org/faq

[2] MFTransparency: “MFTransparency information sheet,” http://www.mftransparency.org/pages/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Informacion_MFTransparency_Español.pdf

[3] MFTransparency: “Transparent Pricing Initiative in Ecuador / Iniciativa de Transparencia de Precios en Ecuador,” http://www.mftransparency.org/pages/transparent-pricing-initiative-in-ecuador/

[4] MFTransparency: “Who we are,” http://www.mftransparency.org/about/who/

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: MFTransparency: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=MFTransparency

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