This event has been held each year since 2008. Although the 2022 agenda has not been announced yet, SOCAP21 included panels on topics such as: “The New Tech-touch Balance: How to Deliver Inclusive Fintech (Financial Technology) Solutions for Underserved Populations,” “Driving Social Impact by
Category: Events
SPECIAL REPORT: Christoph Pausch on the €100k European Microfinance Award Focusing on Women – Applications Are Open Until April 12
MicroCapital: Why was “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women” chosen as the topic of the 2022 Award?
Christoph Pausch (pictured below): Women ostensibly have been the focus of financial inclusion for decades. But the reality is that a focus on outreach – the number of women clients a financial provider serves – can obscure lack of progress in addressing the many barriers that women face. Increasingly, stakeholders in the sector realise that much more needs to be done, based on a comprehensive understanding of these barriers: including social norms as well as the diverse needs and aspirations of women clients, staff and partners of financial services providers. So, over the months leading up to the launch of this year’s Award, our team has worked with experts to design the guidelines, application forms and assessment criteria to capture what financial providers can do with a gender-focused strategy – not only to
MICROFINANCE EVENT: 24th MFC Annual Conference: Microfinance Investing Through Uncertainty; June 29-30, 2022; Istanbul, Turkey
The conference is slated to cover investment opportunities and other strategies for addressing “gender, green finance and technological challenges” related to inclusive finance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event features seminars with titles such as
MICROFINANCE EVENT: 3rd CIS Islamic Banking and Finance Forum; May 25-27, 2022; Baku, Azerbaijan
The organizers of this forum aim to promote Islamic finance in the nine-member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Islamic finance is that which is compliant with Shariah law, such as by an investor sharing profit and loss rather than charging interest for a loan. The main event is on May 25, followed by a post-event workshop on May 26 and May 27. The topics on the agenda for the first day of the forum include takaful – Islamic insurance – as well as how Islamic
MICROFINANCE EVENT: 7th European Research Conference on Microfinance; June 20-22, 2022; Glasgow, UK
Held every two years, this conference provides a platform for researchers, professionals, and students to discuss current research in the microfinance industry, particularly as it relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Although the research papers to be presented have not yet been announced, the Sixth European Research Conference on Microfinance in 2019 showcased papers including the following, which were
MICROFINANCE EVENT: 8th African Islamic Finance Summit; March 23-25, 2022; Brikama, The Gambia
This event is structured as a one-day summit followed by a two-day workshop. Topics include Islamic Banking, Finance, Fintech (Financial Technology) and Financial Inclusion; Development of Islamic Microfinance in West Africa; Takaful (Islamic Insurance), Sukuk and Islamic Capital Markets; and Investment Opportunities in Africa. The summit includes an award ceremony to
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Africa Fintech Summit; April 21, 2022; Washington, DC, USA
The Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) offers a platform on which “ideas are explored, investments mobilized, and collaborations formed” relating to financial technology (fintech) in Africa. The event will cover topics such as regulation; how to boost African talent in the technology field; and environmental, social and governance considerations. Session titles include: US-Africa Fintech Connection, Investing in African Fintech, and Cryptocurrency and The Future of Money. Furthermore, the AFTS gives out awards to entities and individuals
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Microfinance & NBFCs Exhibition (MINE) cum Conference; March 11, 2022; Chennai, India
This conference will include speakers from the government and the private sector on topics such as the effects of COVID-19 on microlending and the ways new forms of technology can boost the field’s “overall reach and profitability.” Sample topics include the
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Africa Tech Summit; February 23-24, 2022; Nairobi, Kenya
This event is organized as three sub-events on decentralized finance (DeFi), startup companies and mobile technology. The Africa Money & DeFi Summit will cover technologies such as
MICROFINANCE EVENT: AFSIC – Investing in Africa; October 10-11, 2022; London, UK
The Africa Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC) is an annual event that covers country-specific investment opportunities as well as the following broader themes: “Banking, Agriculture, Sustainable Growth, Infrastructure, Education, Informed Investing, Power and Fintech [Financial Technology]”. While the agenda for this year has not been released, last year’s sessions included: Investing in Greener and Affordable Housing in Africa, Investment Returns in Africa’s Education Sector, Pan African Healthcare Governance, Analysis of
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Mobile Payments Latam; May 12-13, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA – NEW DATES
Originally scheduled to begin on May 9, this conference focuses on the evolution of digital payments in Latin America, including as innovations in technology conflict with unstable markets and regulatory lag. A key theme is how the massification of digital payments is creating an increase in demand on which both new and traditional players are capitalizing. While this year’s agenda has not yet been released, session titles from the 2021 conference included “Nuevo Impulso a la Inclusión Financiera desde los Pagos Móviles” (Mobile Payments Bring New Momentum to Financial Inclusion), “Una Plataforma de Pagos Pionera, Impulsada por la
MICROFINANCE EVENT: FinovateFall; September 12-14, 2022; New York, NY, USA
The goal of the Finovate series is to spotlight innovations in financial technology (fintech) from startups and established leaders alike. Two days of the event will showcase 75 product demonstrations. A separate conference day will focus on selecting technologies to maximize competitiveness. While this year’s agenda has not yet been released, session titles from the 2021 conference include “Harnessing Partnerships to Drive Financial Inclusion & Improve Financial Health,” “The Future of Digital Identity Is Now,” “Harnessing AI [Artificial Intelligence] to Democratise Home Buying,” “Decentralised
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Impact Investing World Forum; April 28-29, 2022; London, UK
This conference will cover topics such as investing in gender equality and mitigating and adjusting to climate change. The speakers are to include representatives from organizations such as Big Issue, the EU, Goldman Sachs, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland), and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation. Among the session topics are “The Anatomy of a Deal During COVID-19 and Beyond,” “Investing in Housing as Part of Criminal Justice Reform,” “Impact Investing in
MICROFINANCE EVENT: World Finance Conference; August 1-3, 2022; Turin, Italy
This conference promotes the exchange of ideas in research, teaching and managerial practices relating to finance, economics and banking. Although the detailed agenda for this year has not yet been finalized, the last iteration of the event included topics such as microsavings, interest rates,
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Webinar: How Technology Drives Financial Inclusion in Tajikistan – A Case Study of Humo Lab; January 20, 2022
Sponsored by Gojo & Company: Gojo is hosting this webinar to share how Microfinance Deposit Organization Humo, its newest partner company, has established Humo Lab to spearhead digitalization and innovation. At Humo Lab, several products have been developed and launched, including mobile banking apps, payment apps, kiosks and more. The webinar will focus
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Impact Investor Global Summit; May 18-19, 2022; London, UK
This conference aims to “mobilise private market institutions to engage with the growing momentum in impact investing.” The agenda includes sessions on analysing progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
MICROFINANCE EVENT: FinovateEurope; March 22-23, 2022; London, UK; Virtual Option Available
FinovateEurope is one of a series of conferences focusing on financial technology (fintech). The agenda for March 22 includes approximately 50 demonstrations of new products, and attendees may hear from 70 presenters on March 23. The speaker list includes Inma Martinez,
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) Biennial Microfinance Conference; January 25-28, 2022; Bahirdar, Ethiopia
The 11th edition of this conference is themed “Promoting Digital Finance and COVID-resilient Financial Services towards the Achievement of Financial Inclusion.” Researchers and practitioners will present their papers and experiences on topics such as client protection; debt moratoria; partnering with banks and financial technology (fintech) firms; governance; regulation; and funding renewable energy, clean water and sanitation. Sessions will also cover