MICROFINANCE EVENT: 2009 International Forum on Remittances, Organized by the International Fund for Agriculture Development, October 22-23rd 2009

Event Name: 2009 International Forum on Remittances

Event Dates: October 22-23rd, 2009

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

Location: Tunis, Tunisia (Venue To Be Announced)

Cost: Free

Who Is Invited to Attend: Everyone

Online Registration Address : http://webapps.ifad.org/ert/

Background on Organizer: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an agency of the United Nations founded in 1977 to combat hunger by supporting agricultural development. IFAD has previously organized the 2007 and 2005 International Fora on Remittances. Based in Rome, Italy, IFAD’s Strategic Framework for IFAD 2007-2010: Enabling the Rural Poor to Overcome Poverty is available here and a list of projects by country, here. IFAD also provides loans and grants to other organizations and selected developing countries. Financed through loans and grants, IFAD itself has invested USD 10.6 billion in 796 special projects that have impacted 330 million people since the organization’s founding. Other donors have contributed USD 24.8 billion to IFAD projects. Due to its connection with the UN, IFAD is guided by the Millenium Development Goals.

Summary of Event: The forum will focus on remittances to Africa as well as between African countries. Discussions will raise awareness about the popularity and volume of remittances as well as the potential of remittances to facilitate economic development in Africa. The Remittances, Business Models and Rechnology Fair will also be held simultaneously to showcase products relevant to remittances. The topic of remittances is relevant to microfinance because microfinance institutions (MFIs) can play key roles in distributing and guiding the use of remittances to poor people. In 2006, migrants remitted USD 300 billion around the world.

Event Themes and Discussion Topics: The major themes of the Forum are mechanisms for sending remittances and the uses to which remittances can be put in Africa.

The Main Sessions are:

  • Financial inclusion- This session will discuss methods of making remittances and banking services available to a greater client base. Other topics will include the potential of remittances to make a development impact in Africa and case studies on how to successfully develop inexpensive remittance products.
  • Migrant investments and gender dimension- This session examines the behavior and choices of migrants who send remittances as well as the impact of women, who are very often the recipients of remittances.
  • Technology and innovation- This session will present new technologies in processing remittances, including mobile and internet money transfer systems. The session will also highlight accessibility to such technology in rural areas.
  • Development and remittance- This session will specficially discuss how remittances can be harnessed to further African development and will allow for networking between organizations dedicated to directing remittances into development projects.

Contact: remittances@ifad.org

Website: http://www.ifad.org/events/remittances/index.htm#3

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