17th ANNUAL GLOBAL MICROFINANCE FORUM

22-23 APRIL 2021

Virtual Event

Summary

DEVELOPING THE MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY IN THE NEW REALITY

The current economic environment has significantly affected the microfinance sector: MFIs’ operations, portfolio, and liquidity, as well as ways of cooperation and information exchange with the other microfinance stakeholders. Many financial markets see the changing value of the local currencies, prices for goods and services, and costs of hedging, and decreasing opportunities of attracting the new investments. Microfinance sector players struggle with debt repayments, meanwhile moratoriums and restructurings become a widespread measure introduced to support the sector development. In addition, a slowdown in the real economy makes the clients of MFIs even more vulnerable, hence it requires the respective transformation of existing systems, policies and approaches.

The 17th Annual Global Microfinance Forum by Uniglobal will cover a range of topics that make this forum appealing to MFIs, investors and other industry players from all over the world. It will bring on board a solid network of professionals and senior level experts who will share their experiences and views on the current sector challenges and opportunities, as well as expectations and predictions about future trends in microfinance. During multiple sessions the participants will discuss how MFIs adapt to and run in the new reality, current complications for microclients, specificity of moratoriums on debt repayments, rising importance of digital transformation and many other important topics.

22rd – 23nd APRIL 2021

DAY 1 – 22nd APRIL 2021
  • OPENING DISCUSSION: Looking back & looking forward
  • Opportunities and improvements revealed during lockdown
  • PANEL DISCUSSION: Helping financial structures survive amid pandemic
  • PANEL DISCUSSION: How do MFIs see the new reality?
  • Managing currency risks in debt extension and restructuring
  • PANEL DISCUSSION: What does it mean to be a microclient today? Pandemic and its complications for MF customers
  • Moratoriums on debt repayments: is it a one-size-fits-all remedy?
  • Microfinance for migrants. Remittances reduction. Travel and other restrictions
DAY 1 – 22nd APRIL 2021
Day 2
  • OPENING DISCUSSION: Digital transformation becoming important as never before
  • Developments in Digital lending. Best practices
  • Crucial importance of housing microfinance: A reminder by Covid-19
  • Supporting agribusiness in the time of uncertainty
  • PANEL DISCUSSION: Going ahead in Green Finance
  • What risks fall under the umbrella of microinsurance?
  • Leadership and corporate governance in MFIs
  • MFI’s responsibility towards its end clients and employees
Day 2

Speakers

Huib-Jan-de-Ruijter

Huib-Jan de Ruijter

Director of Financial Institutions

FMO – the Dutch entrepreneurial Development Bank, The Netherlands

Ashwin Mahabaleswara

Director, Head of Asia Private Debt | Portfolio Manager, Private Equity

DWM Asset Management, USA

Jessica Schicks

Senior Investment Officer, Financial Institutions

Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries – BIO, Belgium

Jarri-Jung

Jarri Jung

Director of Financial Institutions

Triple Jump, The Netherlands

Theo Brouwers

Director Impact Investing

ACTIAM, The Netherlands

Els Boerhof

Co-owner and Managing Partner

Goodwell Investments, The Netherlands

Cristina-Dumitrescu

Cristina Dumitrescu

Senior Investment Manager – Inclusive Finance

European Investment Fund, Luxembourg

Markus Aschendorf

Head of Division / Equity Investments and Funds / Europe / Asia / MENA

KfW Bankengruppe, Germany

Jorge Rubio

Head of Global Inclusive Finance

Citi, UK

Florian-Ott

Florian Ott

Social Banking Development Manager

Erste Group Bank AG, Austria

Authorized Officer

Erste Social Finance Holding, Austria

Francis Malige

Managing Director

EBRD, UK

Matthew Brown

Global Microfinance Specialist

International Finance Corporation, USA

Stephanie-Garcia-Van-Gool

Stephanie García Van Gool

Director of Impact Assessment

BBVA Microfinance Foundation, Spain

Alain Levy

Head of Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship for Asia & Americas

BNP Paribas, France

Philippe Guichandut

Head of Inclusive Finance Development

Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, France

Jurgen-Hammer

Jurgen Hammer

Managing Director

SPTF Europe, Luxembourg

Bruno Cassola

Manager, Public Affairs & Sustainability

ICCREA BANCA, Italy

Bernard Acquaye

Regional Manager Africa

Quipu and QWare, Ghana, Accra

Toms-Jurjevs

Toms Jurjevs

Founder & CEO

Sun Finance, Latvia

Teresa Burelli

International Partnerships Lead

BBVA Microfinance Foundation, Spain

Cameron Goldie-Scot

CEO

Musoni System, The Netherlands

Mzondiwe-Mwanza

Mzondiwe Mwanza

CEO

LendingScape Limited, Zambia

Jeroen Harteveld

Portfolio Manager

FMO – the Dutch entrepreneurial Development Bank, The Netherlands

Tatiana Babii

Regional Manager ECCA

Triple Jump, Georgia

Jane-M.-Manucdoc

Jane M. Manucdoc

Executive Director

Alalay sa Kaunlaran Microfinance Social Development, Philippines

Robert Canwat Opobo

Chief Manager Microfinance. Retail & Microfinance

Centenary Rural Development Bank, Uganda

Tatia Jajanashvili

CFO

MFI Micro Business Capital, Georgia

Kelvin Mayonga

Acting Chief Credit Officer

Entrepreneurs Financial Centre, Zambia

Sponsors

Testimonials

“Benefited from all the sessions. Good exposure particularly on the new developments in microfinance”
― Manager, Central Bank of Malaysia, Malaysia

“It was my pleasure. Congratulations for a very professionally run event and very informative. I would be happy to participate again”
― General Manager, Alterfin, Belgium

“It was a great and very fruitful event for us where we had the opportunity to network and expose our brand.
We are looking forward to attend the next edition! 
We would like to warmly thank you for the support and the great organization”
― Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany

“I am pleased to have added value to the conference. There were interesting presentations, conversations and I had the opportunity to make some promising contacts. Thank you for organizing the conference and giving Swisscontact the opportunity to be part of it”. 
― Regional Director – Central, East and Southern Africa Program, Swisscontact, Kenya

“It has been a pleasure and I really hope to keep this nice cooperation in the future”.
― Founder & Chairman, Mikro Kapital, Luxembourg

“The overall experience is amazing”
― CEO, Bosak Microfinance Bank Limited, Nigeria

“Thank you so much! I could not have asked for a more cooperative team than yours. I hope we continue our association in the future! It was a pleasure to speak to your audience”. 
― Head of Business Development & External Relations, Community Support Concern, Pakistan

“Very helpful for MFI practices (meeting and learning from other MFIs and investors is helpful and very worthy)”
― HR & Admin Director, Alalay sa Kaunlaran (ASKI), Inc., Philippines

“Very good. The organizers are great! I liked the way the conference was managed. Different stakeholders and active participation of both speakers and audience”
― Head of Impact Assessment, BBVA Microfinance Foundation, Spain

“Very interactive and interesting”
― Manager, Doverie Finance, Bulgaria

Testimonials

  • MFIS
  • INVESTORS
  • NGOS
  • MIVS
  • BANKS
  • FINTECH COMPANIES
  • PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
  • CREDIT GUARANTEE FUNDS
  • SOFTWARE COMPANIES
  • SOLUTION PROVIDERS
  • CONSULTANCY COMPANIES
  •  

JOB TITLES:

  • Managing Director / Director
  • CEO, CFO
  • VP, Head of Business Development
  • Fund Manager
  • Head of Microfinance
  • Investment Officer / Manager / Specialist
  • Head of Social Responsibility Programs
  • Head Social Enterprises and Microfinance
  • Head / Director of Financial Institutions 
  • Head of Microbanking – Microinsurance programs
  • Head / Manager of Impact Finance / Impact Assessment
  • Microfinance Technology Provider
  • Head of Investments
  • Director / Manager of Emerging Markets etc.

Where and When?

22-23 APRIL 2021

Virtual Event

Get the PDF Brochure