Asia Microfinance Forum 2008
Melia Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam - 26-29 August 2008
The world’s microfinance industry is in the midst of unprecedented expansion and transformation.
These changes are resulting in an increasing array of competing imperatives and the growing
need for long-term strategic planning. Accordingly, the Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 will focus on
the challenges and innovations that will have the greatest impact on microfinance in the coming
decades and provide a window to the future of microfinance, especially in Asia.
The Banking With the Poor Network (BWTP) and the Foundation for Development Cooperation
(FDC), with funding from the Citi Foundation, are pleased to convene the Asia Microfinance Forum
2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam, August 26 -29, 2008. The Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 is being held in
association with PlaNet Finance Group and the European Union, and in collaboration with the
State Bank of Vietnam. This milestone event will bring together around 300 leading microfinance
practitioners, policymakers, financiers, academics and advocates from around the world to outline
their visions and priorities, and explore new ideas and opportunities.
The Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 formally commences on the evening of Tuesday, 26 August
2008, and concludes on the afternoon of Friday, 29 August 2008. A number of pre-event activities
and meetings will take place on Monday, 25 August 2008, and Tuesday, 26 August 2008. A number
of parallel events will also take place during the course of Asia Microfinance Forum 2008.
The theme for the conference will be:
Microfinance in the 21st Century:
Future Trends & Opportunities
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK SECRETARIAT, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
FDC House, 137 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, TEL: +61 7 32172924 FAX: +61 7 38460342
Background
The BWTP Network, in collaboration with FDC, actively promotes the development of
microfinance in Asia through research, advocacy, policy dialogue, information sharing and
capacity building.
In March 2006, the BWTP Network and FDC held the first Asia Microfinance Forum in Beijing,
China, with funding from the Citi Foundation. The three-day conference brought together over 280
microfinance experts and practitioners from over 20 countries, making it one of the most
significant microfinance events in the region, and the largest international microfinance gathering
ever held in China.
The Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 will build on the success of the Beijing event and aims to help
prepare the microfinance industry in Asia for a wide range of future challenges and opportunities.
The Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 is being held in association with PlaNet Finance Group and the
European Union, and in collaboration with the State Bank of Vietnam.
Key Objectives
ƒ
To identify and target future challenges and opportunities arising from areas such as financing and
investment, new technologies, and environmental issues;
ƒ
To encourage the effective development of innovative microfinance products and approaches
between and among stakeholders in the Asia region;
ƒ
To encourage partnerships and cooperation in Asia among microfinance service providers,
financiers and regulators in order to increase peer learning in microfinance.
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND THE CITI FOUNDATION
The Asia Microfinance Forum 2008 will include the following streams:
Theme 1. Financing & Investment
Access to commercial sources of finance provides an ever-increasing opportunity for the
microfinance sector. However, how can investors and national microfinance networks and
institutions receive the necessary information, know-how, and tools to facilitate investments? Of
the financing mechanisms available, which ones are providing the greatest benefits to MFIs and
customers? Is the future with social investors or is the importance of local finance markets being
overlooked? How do MFIs maintain a poverty focus in this era of rapid commercialisation?
Theme 2. Savings & Asset Building
The capacity of the poor to accumulate savings and build assets is an integral part of poverty
alleviation and sustainable economic development. Asset building, an important means to financial
security, also relates to issues such as knowledge, education, health and housing. Savings
mobilisation provides opportunities for MFIs but the effective resolution of regulatory, legal,
capacity and cost constraints create future challenges.
Theme 3. Industry Networks
The commercialisation of microfinance has brought into greater relief the issues of institutional
performance and capacity building, and the need for strong advocacy around regulatory issues.
Networks play an essential role in offering a wide range of services and are essential to the
maintenance of a healthy microfinance sector. However, priority areas often must be identified
by networks which are operating under financial constraints and may include, amongst other
things, information exchange and dissemination, institutional development, development of best
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND THE CITI FOUNDATION
practices, peer learning, policy advocacy, research and measurement of impact and social
performance.
Theme 4. Technology
New and better-applied technology is increasingly seen as a key strategy in increasing financial
inclusion in developing countries. Innovations such as smart card services, biometric technology
and mobile phone banking are well established in some contexts. The future of e-banking will
continue to see a roll-out of ICT-enabled systems with the aim of improving operational
efficiencies and decreasing transaction costs. E-banking may enable commercial banks to deliver
microfinance services more profitably. Also, technology in the form of alternative energy sources
is being linked with microfinance to improve the energy supply of microfinance clients at the
village level.
Theme 5. Sustainable Development
The ever-increasing awareness of the effects of climate change has focused some debate on the
issue of household and microentrepreneurs’ CO2 emissions in the developing world. Microfinance
provides a means of creating sustainable microenterprises through the financing of products such
as renewable energy, environmentally sustainable sanitation and water systems, and ecotourism.
Additionally, financing mechanisms such as green investment funds and carbon trading hold
promise for both expanding the outreach of environmentally sustainable microfinance and
enhancing the economic sustainability of MFIs.
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND THE CITI FOUNDATION
AN INITIATIVE OF:
The Banking with the Poor Network
The Banking with the Poor Network (www.bwtp.org) is a network of more than 30 national policy institutions,
commercial banks, MFIs and NGOs from numerous countries in the Asia-Pacific region - including Australia, Bangladesh,
India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Established in the 1990s, the
BWTP Network’s objective is to link microfinance with the financial system and to support the provision of inclusive
financial services in Asia. It pursues this objective through capacity building, information sharing, policy dialogue,
advocacy and research.
ORGANISED BY:
The Foundation for Development Cooperation
Established in 1990 in Australia, The Foundation for Development Cooperation (www.fdc.org) is an independent, notfor-profit international development organisation. The mandate of FDC calls for it to conduct policy-oriented research,
foster public awareness, mobilise broader Australian and overseas development cooperation, and support
nongovernmental development efforts. Through partnerships and alliances, FDC undertakes a range of initiatives which
seek to improve the lives of poor people in developing countries, foster innovative approaches to development, and
connect policy work to self-help efforts at the grass roots level. FDC’s work includes economic development and
assessment, policy analysis, grass-roots community based initiatives, strategic research, partnerships and leverage,
advocacy, consulting and advisory services.
LEAD SPONSOR:
The Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation (www.citigroupfoundation.org) is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved
individuals and families in the communities where we work throughout the world. Globally, the Citi Foundation is
focusing its giving on Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship, which helps individuals become economically selfsufficient; Small and Growing Businesses leading to economic expansion and job creation; Education, which prepares
young people for personal and professional success; Financial Education, which helps individuals make informed
financial decisions; and the Environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate
economic growth while preserving the environment.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
PlaNet Finance
PlaNet Finance (www.planetfinance.org) is an international non profit organization, which aims at alleviating poverty by
contributing to the development of the microfinance sector. PlaNet Finance’s aim is to support banks, cooperatives, Non
Governmental Organizations (NGO), and the Microfinance Institutions, by providing them with operational services in
terms of capacity building and financing to facilitate their growth. PlaNet Finance also works with the private sector
(banks and financial institutions),international agencies and governments to facilitate the creation of an efficient
microfinance sector.
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND THE CITI FOUNDATION
European Commission
The mission of the European Commission is to promote the general interest of the European Union. It does so by
articipating in the decision-making process, in particular by presenting proposals for European law, by overseeing the
correct implementation of the Treaties and European law, and by carrying out common policies and managing funds.
State Bank of Vietnam
The State Bank of Vietnam was established in 1951. Until 1988 SBV played the role of a Central Bank, setting broad
monetary policies and regulations, and the role of a commercial bank, carrying financial activities of a regular retail
bank. Since 1988, and the reform of the financial system, the banking sector follows a regular two tiers system, with the
establishment of specialised commercial banks. The law on the State of Bank of Vietnam (1998) clarifies the roles and
responsibilities of the central bank.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Vietnam Bank for Social Policies
The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies was established under Premier’s Decision No. 131/2002QD-TTg dated October 4th,
2002 and the Government’s Decree No. 78/ND-CP dated October 4th, 2002 on providing credit for the poor and other
policy beneficiaries; based upon the re-organization of the Bank for the Poor and separation from Vietnam Bank for
Agriculture & Rural Development for purpose of detaching policy lending from commercial lending. VBSP is a Stateowned non-profit credit institution that is currently in charge of providing policy credit to the poor and other policy
beneficiaries.
Vietnam Microfinance Working Group
Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) was founded to create a forum for microfinance practitioners to share
experiences with each other, come together to debate relevant issues, and speak to policy makers with a unified voice.
Founded in 2004 as an informal organization under the VUFO‐NGO Resource Center, according to the Working Group
Guidelines approved by the Resource Centre Steering Committee in April 2003, the MFWG is open to all individuals and
organizations interested in microfinance in Vietnam. The goal of the MFWG is “to enhance the impact of microfinance
on poverty alleviation by promoting quality and sustainability of microfinance in Vietnam both in the practice of
institutions and in an improved enabling environment.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
The Banking With the Poor Network Secretariat, c/o The Foundation for Development Cooperation
FDC House, 137 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia
Tel: 61 7 32172924
Email: info@bwtp.org
ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2008
Fax: 61 7 38460342
Website: www.bwtp.org THE BANKING WITH THE POOR NETWORK, THE FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND THE CITI FOUNDATION