MICROFINANCE EVENT: SG2020: The Future of Savings Groups; POSTPONED; Durban, South Africa

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. NEW DATES HAVE NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED. The event had been scheduled to take place March 10-12, 2020.

This conference will focus on increasing the support, sustainability and number of savings groups worldwide. The organizer defines savings groups as being “comprised of 15 to 25 self-selected individuals who save together and take small loans from those savings.” The event, which is the fifth in a series that began in 2011, includes four technical tracks, including “Springboards for Youth to Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship” and “Gender-Transformative Approaches for Women’s Economic Empowerment,” as well as a technology fair on March 11 and an innovation challenge on the last day. The conference sessions include the following:

Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs): An Overview
How Can Savings Groups Be More Inclusive?
Transforming Norms for Women’s Economic Empowerment: The Role of Savings Groups
Grassroots Climate Activism: What Does It Have to Do with Savings Groups?
Understanding Longevity of Savings Groups for HIV-affected Populations and Beyond
Savings Groups and Women’s Economic Empowerment in Post-conflict Settings
Savings Groups to Protect Children & Break the Poverty Cycle

Background on Organizers: The Mango Tree is an initiative of the US-based nonprofit SEEP Network (formerly known as the Small Enterprise Education and Promotion Network) that refers to itself as “the global resource on savings groups.” The initiative facilitates knowledge sharing, testing new methods for increasing the impact of savings groups and promoting industry events.

Based in the city of Arlington, Virginia, SEEP supports its 100 members in boosting access to finance in underserved regions of approximately 160 countries. Its focus areas include serving women and assisting in areas affected by disaster as well as savings groups, “responsible” finance, market resilience, agriculture and food security. For 2018, its operating budget was USD 3.4 million.

Cost: The standard rate to attend is USD 785 per person. For SEEP Network members, the rate is USD 650. Pre-conference peer exchanges and field visits that take place on the day before the main conference will incur an additional fee.

Event website: https://mangotree.org/SG2020

For additional questions, you may email SGConference[at]seepnetwork.org or call +1 202 534 1500.

Sources and Additional Resources

The Mango Tree homepage
https://mangotree.org/

SEEP Network homepage
https://seepnetwork.org/

IRS Exempt Charities and Nonprofits homepage
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf

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