MICROFINANCE EVENT: African Microfinance Week, Arusha, Tanzania, December 2-6, 2013

Event Name: African Microfinance Week: “Regulation of the African Microfinance Sector: 20 Years After”

Event Date: December 2-6, 2013

Event Location: The Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge (Victoria Conference Hall), Arusha, Tanzania

Cost:  A variety of registration packages exist, offering access to different conference events. The registration cost differs depending on the package purchased and whether the registrants are network members, non-members or investors. Prices range from EUR 400 (USD 552) to EUR 600 (USD 828).

Event Summary:  African Microfinance Week will mark a week of negotiations and discussions about the impact of microfinance regulation and the direction of microfinance policy change in Africa. It is designed to improve “the synergies” between the Benin-based African Microfinance Network (AFMIN), an association of microfinance networks; African Microfinance Transparency Forum (AMT), a forum that aims to promote transparency and strengthen the performance of African microfinance institutions (MFIs); and Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN), a Cote-D’Ivoire based international NGO. The event aims to increase efficiency of communication and minimize expenses by reducing the number of separate events that members must attend over the course of the year. The program is sponsored by US-based Citi Foundation, the Luxemburg-based European Investment Bank and Microfact, a web-based platform that provides toolkits for building the capacity of MFIs. The week will include plenary sessions, trainings, an investor’s fair and the networks’ general assemblies.

Background on Organizers:  The event is organized by AFMIN, AMT, MAIN and Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA), a Luxembourg-based nonprofit that works to promote financial inclusion worldwide by advocating sustainable and socially inclusive practices in the financial sector. The nonprofit supports the implementation of tools to measure social performance and transparency, and work s to prevent overindebtedness. ADA will facilitate the event.

Event Websitehttp://www.microfinance-africa.org/en

For additional information, you may contact Ms Sally Kelly by email at info[at]microfinance-afrique.org , or by phone at:  +352 45 68 68 801.

By Anesa Kratovac, Research Associate

About Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA)

ADA is a Luxembourg-based NGO that works to promote financial inclusion worldwide. ADA intends to support microfinance institutions as well as assist them along the path to autonomy. In an effort to maximize impact of its actions and increase outreach, ADA recently adopted a regional approach targeting a greater number of microfinance institutions and microentrepreneurs in Central America, Southeast Asia and West Africa. As of 2012, ADA reported total assets of EUR 5.1 million (USD 7 million).

About Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN)

The Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN) was established in 2000 as an association of microfinance networks aiming to contribute to the provision of effective and sustainable financial services to the low-income population of Africa. AFMIN’s core programs include capacity building for members, advocacy and policy change, performance monitoring and benchmarking, research, information dissemination, knowledge building and network management.

About African Microfinance Transparency Forum (AMT)

AMT was founded as a pilot program in 2000 by ADA, a Luxembourg-based nonprofit, with the aim of engaging nine MFIs and four rating agencies in testing the methods to conduct performance evaluations of African MFIs. Based on the results of the pilot program, the “African MFI Performance Evaluation Forum” was set up in 2003 as a discussion platform for MFIs and rating agencies active in Africa. The forum has since formally institutionalized into the African Microfinance Transparency Forum (AMT) and was registered as a legal entity in South Africa in 2008.

About Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN)

Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN) is an international nonprofit association established in 1995 in the Cote d’Ivoire capital of Abidjan. MAIN is a network created by several institutions with long experience in microfinance and promoting micro-enterprises in Africa. The mission of MAIN is to help reinforce the social and economic role of African microfinance institutions by initiating an African agenda for microfinance promotion in the overall development throughout the continent.

Additional Sources and Resources:

Event Website, http://www.microfinance-africa.org/en

MicroCapital Article, October 22, 2013, “Airtel, EcoBank Partner to Provide Mobile Money Services in Africa,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-airtel-ecobank-partner-to-provide-mobile-money-services-in-africa/

MicroCapital Article, October 8, 2013, “Moody’s Analytics Partners with Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN) to Deliver Social Performance Assessments (SPAs) in Sub-Saharan Africa”  https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-moodys-analytics-partners-with-africa-microfinance-network-afmin-to-deliver-social-performance-assessments-spas-in-sub-saharan-africa/

Microfinance Paper Wrap-Up, September 20, 2013, “’Microfinance in Africa: Opportunities for Social Entrepreneurs;’ by Daniel Schriber; Published by the African Business Review, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-paper-wrap-up-microfinance-in-africa-opportunities-for-social-entrepreneurs-by-daniel-schriber-published-by-the-african-business-review/

MicroCapital Article, October 4, 2011, “MFTransparency, Agence Française de Développement, UN Capital Development Fund, Luxembourg Cooperation, African Microfinance Network, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) to Host African Microfinance Pricing Transparency Leadership Forum, October 5-7, 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya,” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-mftransparency-agence-francaise-de-developpement-un-capital-development-fund-luxembourg-cooperation-african-microfinance-network-afmin-cgap-consultative-group-to-assist-the/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Appui+au+D%C3%A9veloppement+Autonome+%28ADA%29

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Africa+Microfinance+Network+%28AFMIN%29

MicroCapital Universe Profile: About African Microfinance Transparency Forum (AMT),https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=African+Microfinance+Transparency+Forum+%28AMT%29

MicroCapital Universe Profile: About Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN), https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microfinance+African+Institutions+Network+%28MAIN%29

Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/.

 

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