Event Name: 5th African Microfinance Conference

Event Date: September 19 to September 22, 2011

Event Location: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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

Cost: The standard registration fee is USD 650 with a discounted rate of USD 500 available prior to August 20, 2011. The registration fee includes access to all elements of the event except for those technical tours during which there is an overnight stay.

Event Themes and Discussion Topics: The theme of the conference is “The Future of Inclusive Finance in Africa.” Inclusive finance is the notion that customers from all income levels should have access to quality financial services at affordable prices. Topics that will be addressed at the conference include: innovations in product and delivery systems, social performance and impact, the role of information technology in improving access to finance to poor people, financial literacy, consumer protection and improving youth employment through access to finance.

Background on Organizers:

Established in Ethiopia in June 1999, the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization (NGO). It serves as a forum for members to coordinate activities to expand the microfinance industry in Ethiopia. The mission of AEMFI is to “enhance the capacity of microfinance institutions and financial cooperatives to deliver financial services to urban and rural households through technical assistance, knowledge management, research, etc.” As of 2010, the organization includes 30 members.

Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN) is a nonprofit association created in 1995 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. MAIN aspires to develop the operational capacities of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Africa in order to provide quality products and services to clients. In 2010, MAIN counted 90 members from French-speaking and English-speaking Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Its mission is to “help reinforce the social and economic role of the African microfinance institutions by initiating an African agenda for microfinance promotion in the process of African overall development.”

Event Website: http://www.5th-microfinance.com/site/

For additional information, you may reach the conference secretariat at +251 011 5503829 or +251 011 5511567, or via mobile phone at +251 911 405241, or via email at aemfi@ethionet.et

Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

By Hajar Elaalej, Research Associate

Sources and Resources:

Aaemfi-ethiopia.org, “Fifth African Micro Finance Conference”, http://www.aemfi-ethiopia.org/site/programs-a-activities/63-5th-african-…

Microfinance Event, March 31, 2009, “4th Annual African Microfinance Conference: Affordable Access to Finance for Low-income African Entrepreneurs to be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in the Sub-Saharan region from July 7-10th 2009”, http://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-4th-annual-african-microf…

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe: Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI), http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tikiindex.php?page=Association+of+Ethiopian+Microfinance+Institutions

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe: Microfinance African Institution Network (MAIN), http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tikiindex.php?page=Microfinance+African+Institution+Network

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