MICROFINANCE MATTERS - upcoming events

UNITED NATIONS CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Microfinance

Issue 3 / May - June 2004

Past Issues

Spotlight

Update on the International Year of Microcredit 2005

Featured Guest

Welcome to the Year of Microcredit from José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary General, UNDESA

News

Microfinance in focus

Voices of Microfinance

Responses to a question posed to experts and practitioners.

Upcoming Events

Conferences, events and trainings.

Links

New websites and publications.

Share your news!

If you have a current news story or know of an upcoming event that would be of interest to the network, please email the Editor, Emily Krasnor.

The DSF Project, together with the AFIN Center and FONDESIF (institutions that promote the development of the microfinance sector in Bolivia), are organizing an International Conference-Workshop “Innovations in Microfinance”. This important event will take place the 10th, 11th and 12th of May in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz. For more information regarding this international conference please visit: www.centroafin.org/tallerinnovaciones2004.

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The Business Council of the United Nations (BCUN) with CeBIT America will hold a conference “The Net World Order: Developing World Opportunities” at the Javits Center in New York City from 25 to 27 May. This information & communications technology (ICT) event offers an important opportunity to link the U.N.’s global information technology goals with the IT industry’s drive for new markets and new centers of growth this conference. Through exhibitors, influential speakers and focused discussions on global outsourcing, the conference seeks to tackle the most cutting-edge and timely IT issues. More information is available at: www.bcun.org/

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The programme "Microfinancing in Africa" is being offered in Uganda by the country’s Martyrs University, in conjunction with GTZ (German Technical Assistance) from 26 May to 10 June 2004. In its fourth year, over 220 people from 15 countries have completed the programme to gain a practical understanding of sustainable microfinance, and the necessary tools to create and operate successful sustainable lending programmes in Africa. It will satisfy the training and development needs for people already working in microfinance, as well as those seeking to explore the growing field. Through active discussions, case studies and extensive class participation with guided field trips, students will learn the basics of how microfinance works and see how microfinance institutions can best be of benefit to clients, particularly rural communities and small enterprise entrepreneurs. For registration, please contact: Mr. Arthur Rutaroh, Course Secretary at: arutaroh@umu.ac.ug.

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There is still time to apply for the Sixth Annual Microenterprise Development Institute to take place from June 7 - 25, 2004 in Manchester, New Hampshire USA focusing on “Tools of the Trade”. Participants in the New Hampshire program will get an opportunity to learn from some of the top microfinance practitioners in the field and network with peers for all over the globe. In the past five years we have trained more than 400 practitioners from 75 countries and 275 INGO's, NGO's MFI's, Universities, Banks and other organizations. The MDI serves as a significant professional development training opportunity for those who are already working in the field of microenterprise development and microfinance with several former MDI students returning as instructors: www.mdi-nh.org.

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For current graduate students only: Universities are not isolated from global events but also affect the course of these events while being affected by them. Graduate students in business, international affairs, journalism and any other relevant discipline are invited to become a “Student Ambassador” for the Year of Microcredit! If you would like to serve as a “Student Ambassador” for the Year, please send a letter of interest to the editor of this newsletter.

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The 1st Americas Social Forum (ASF) will take place from 25 to 30 July 2004, in Quito, Ecuador. The Americas Social Forum (ASF) is part of the World Social Forum (WSF) process initiated in 2001 and has become the largest space for the articulation of social initiatives and critical thinking under the common belief that “Another World is Possible”. While the deadline to register events has passed, there is still time to register your organization. More information can be found at: www.forosocialamericas.org

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The VII Microenterprise Forum issues a call for papers to stimulate discussion among the micro enterprise community, including non profit organizations, private and commercial entities, and donor institutions on various strategies that countries of this region develop that relate to the main theme of the Forum: "Changing Climate, Shared Responsibilities". The Forum invites interested persons and entities to submit abstracts which correspond to specific panels (please see guidelines at www.iadb.org/foromic) within four thematic areas: Microfinance, Enterprise Development, Social Entrepreneurship, and Business Environment. The selected papers will be presented during the VII Microenterprise Forum in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

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Save the date for the Middle East/Africa Region Microcredit Summit Meeting of Councils organized by the Microcredit Summit Campaign and AGFUND (Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations) to be held in Amman, Jordan, October 10-13, 2004.

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