by Jacob O'Driscoll -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 9th Sankalp Global Summit; December 7 – 8, 2017; Mumbai, India

Event Name: Ninth Sankalp Global Summit 2017

Event Date: December 7 – December 8, 2017

Event Location: JW Marriott Hotel; Mumbai, India

Summary of Event: The foci of this summit are social enterprise, impact investing and “inclusive development” worldwide. The event will also explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s agenda has not been released, but previous iterations of the conference included sessions on topics such as financing small and medium-sized enterprises and opportunities in agriculture.

by Matthew ONeill -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Mondato Summit Asia; November 28-29, 2017; Yangon, Myanmar

Event Name: Mondato Summit Asia 2017 – Of Titans & Trailblazers: Emerging Asia’s Digital Finance & Commerce Moment

Event Date: November 28 – November 29, 2017

Event Location: Yangon, Myanmar

Cost: Entry passes cost USD 1,500 until August 31 and USD 1,750 thereafter.

Summary of Event: Attendees will consider ways “incumbents and innovators alike can navigate the highly complex digital finance and commerce (DFC) ecosystem” in South and Southeast Asia. The proceedings will include case studies, debates, demonstrations and roundtable discussions.

by Jacob O'Driscoll -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Sanabel’s Annual Conference: Financial Inclusion in the Arab Countries; November 7-8, 2017; Beirut, Lebanon

Event Name: Sanabel’s 2017 Conference: Financial Inclusion in the Arab Countries; A Journey of Collaboration and Achievements

Event Date: November 7 – November 8, 2017

Event Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Summary of Event: This conference is intended to contribute to a more “inclusive and progressive” microfinance environment in the Arab region. The topics are to include the evolution of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and clients; supporting existing and new partnerships; MFIs’ role in advancing the UN’s sustainable development goals; strategic leadership and risk management; and advancing youth financial inclusion.

by Jacob O'Driscoll -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing; November 1-3, 2017; San Diego, California, USA

Event Name: The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing

Event Date: November 1 – November 3, 2017

Event Location: Hotel Del Coronado; San Diego, California, USA

Summary of Event: The theme of this event is “All In For Impact.” It will focus on concrete ways investing can positively impact social and economic spheres. The conference program offers plenary sessions focused on investment and practice management issues, shareholder advocacy strategies, and community impact investment opportunities. In addition, the organizers will present the Moskowitz Prize and the SRI Service Award.

by Jacob O'Driscoll -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: The Mastercard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion, $150k “Clients at the Centre” Prize; November 8-9, 2017; Accra, Ghana

Event Name: The Mastercard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion

Event Date: November 8 – November 9, 2017

Event Location: Accra, Ghana

Cost: This event is open by invitation only

Summary of Event: The symposium will focus on increasing the knowledge of financial service providers regarding the financial lives of poor people in an effort to enable the providers to design and deliver products that are more closely aligned with people’s needs.

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Social Impact Investment Steering Group (GSG) Impact Summit; July 9-12, 2017; Chicago, Illinois, USA

Event Name: GSG Impact Summit 2017

Event Date: July 9 – July 12, 2017

Event Location: Sheraton Grand Chicago; Chicago, Illinois, USA

Summary of Event: This event will address the state of the impact investment sector and strategies for creating further impact. Session topics will include influencing government policy

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Microfinance Pasifika’s Financial Inclusion Innovation Summit; August 29-31, 2017; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Event Name: Financial Inclusion Innovation Summit 2017

Event Date: August 29 – 31, 2017

Event Location: Stanley Hotel, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Summary of Event: Previously known as Pacific Microfinance Week, this summit will address topics such as wealth creation, accelerating access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, how to ensure customer needs are being met

by Christian Chartier -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Apply by June 5 for The MasterCard Foundation’s $150k “Clients at the Centre” Prize

The MasterCard Foundation, which is based in Canada, is accepting applications through June 5 for its 2017 “Clients at the Centre” Prize, which includes a cash award of USD 150,000.

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 3rd Sankalp Southeast Asia Summit; September 19 – 20, 2017; Jakarta, Indonesia

Event Name: Third Sankalp Southeast Asia Summit 2017: Local Problems, Global Solutions

Event Date: September 19 – September 20, 2017

Event Location: Hotel Bidakara; Jakarta, Indonesia

Summary of Event: The focus of the summit is to “strengthen Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem,” and the theme of this year’s iteration is “Local Problems, Global Solutions.” Discussions will address topics such as policy, health, energy, financial services and agriculture.

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Making Finance Work for Women Summit; October 24-25, 2017; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Event Name: Making Finance Work for Women Summit

Event Date: October 24 – October 25, 2017

Event Location: The Kilimanjaro Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Summary of Event: The theme of this year’s biennial summit is “Digital Financial Inclusion.” Sessions will include topics such as “the state of digital financial services”, how policymakers

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: SOCAP17 (Social Capital Markets 2017); October 10-13, 2017; San Francisco, California, USA

Event Name: SOCAP17 (Social Capital Markets 2017)

Event Date: October 10 – October 13, 2017

Event Location: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Summary of Event: Speakers will discuss themes including “the intersection of money and meaning,” climate change, sustainable livelihoods, “neighborhood economics”, education

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 7th Annual Central Asian & Caucasus Microfinance Forum; October 26-27, 2017; Tbilisi, Georgia

Event Name: 7th Annual Central Asian & Caucasus Microfinance Forum

Event Date: October 26 – 27, 2017

Event Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Summary of Event: The theme of this year’s forum is “Microfinance Goes Digital: the Opportunities and Challenges in the Caucasus and Central Asia.” The event will focus on funding policy, social responsibility and how financial technology

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network Annual Conference; October 2 – 4, 2017; Arlington, Virginia, USA

Event Name: The SEEP Network Annual Conference

Event Date: October 2 – 4, 2017

Event Location: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel; Arlington, Virginia, USA

Summary of Event: The theme of this year’s conference is “Catalyzing Transformative Change.” Speakers will address strategies in the following tracks: (1) Resilience

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Women Advancing Microfinance (WAM) New York Presents “A Purpose-led Career,” June 21, 2017

The New York chapter of Women Advancing Microfinance, a group that organizes events and provides scholarships supporting women involved in social entrepreneurship, is hosting an event called “A Purpose-led Career,” at which a panel will discuss setting and achieving personal and career

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Christoph Pausch of e-MFP on Housing Finance and the 2017 European Microfinance Award

MicroCapital:European Microfinance Platform Why was housing selected as the theme of this year’s European Microfinance Award?

Christoph Pausch: It’s really a question of staying true to the underlying purpose of the Award: to highlight practices that are outside the microfinance mainstream, but are financially sustainable and deliver significant

by Phoebe Rorke -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Opportunity Collaboration; October 15-20, 2017; Ixtapa, Mexico

Event Name: Opportunity Collaboration

Event Date: October 15 – October 20, 2017

Event Location: Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, Ixtapa, Mexico

Summary: This networking and problem-solving event is for people who are “dedicated to building sustainable solutions to poverty.” It includes