NPM

Conference 28 June, The Role of Cooperative Enterprises in Financial Inclusion

When:

Thursday 28th June 2012; 13:00-17:30h

 

Where:

Duisenberg Auditorium Rabobank Nederland, Utrecht

 

What:

To what extent do cooperatives contribute to social and economic development? How to work  best towards access to finance for all?
On 28^th June, answers to these questions will be explored during the Conference.

 

Who:

Rabobank Foundation, the Netherlands Platform for Microfinance

(NPM) and Oikocredit invite investors in inclusive finance,

university students, consultants and other interested individuals.

 

With:

Keynote speakers:
- Mr Piet Moerland, CEO Rabobank Group;
- Mr Hans Munkner, Professor of Law of Business Organizations,
   and Cooperative Theory at the University of Marburg;
- Florian Grohs, Director Loans & Investments at Oikocredit.

The keynote presentations are followed by a variety of breakout sessions with specialists from the sector.

 

How:

If you received an invitation, you can click here to send us a registration e-mail.
If you would like to request for an invitation, please  click here.
Please register before the 15th of June! 

MicroNed launches measurement tool for capacity building

 

It has always been a pressing question how to measure success of capacity building programmes.
 While success can be measured on the output level, there was no suitable measure on effect level. On behalf of MicroNed Joost de La Rive Box designed an institutional scan to measure the performance of capcity building programmes. The tool combines four performance ratios: governance, institutional, services & social performance management and financial performance management.

 

e-MFP Launches Microfinance Award

The European Microfinance Platform launches the 4^th European Microfinance Award on Microfinance for Food Security.

The award of €100,000 from the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Development Cooperation will be presented on the 15^th November 2012 during European Microfinance Week to an institution based in a developing country, active in the financial services sector, judged to be contributing to enhance food security.

Eligible institutions have to be active in the financial services sector, contributing to enhance food security and be based in a developing country. Joint initiatives from a financial service provider in
a developing country and a European partner are encouraged. However the award money would be given to the partner based in the developing country.

All applications must be supported by an e-MFP member by a short message or letter addressed to the Secretariat. Application forms are available in English, French and Spanish (in attachment ) and on our website www.e-mfp.eu . The closing date for applications is 1^st July 2012 and these should be sent to contact@e-mfp.eu.

The Spring Newsletter edition of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) is out now. Read more about the 4^th European Microfinance Award on Microfinance for Food Security. Additionaly, an article on the Dutch Contributions to Microfinance, (contributions by NPM members) is included in the newsletter.

Download the newsletter here.

Fairtrade fund to provide long-term loans to smallholder farmers

The new established Fairtrade Access Fund wil provide Farmers' cooperatives and associations the long-term loans they need to renew their farms or adopt new technologies and equipment. The Fund is established by Fairtrade International, Incofin Investment Management and Grameen Foundation. Starbucks is the first private investor.

Access to finance a major constraint to African private sector in fragile states

Electricity, access to finance and political instability are the most frequently cited business constraints in African fragile states. To promote private sector in fragile states, the World Bank Group and other donor institutions should address these constraints as well as contribute to broader development goals like job creation and strengthening of the tax base. These are some findings from a new study of the Centrel for Global Development (CGD) on private business in African fragile states like South Sudan.