Madrid Conference
"Fostering Gender Equality : Meeting the Entrepreneurship and Microfinance Challenge"

On 13-14 December 2007 the conference focusing on Gender Equality in microentrepreneurship and microfinance in Europe was held in Madrid, Spain, in the “Círculo de Bellas Artes”.

Women in Europe represent only 30 % of entrepreneurs and they cite access to finance as the most significant constraint affecting the launch, growth and sustainability of their businesses. Microfinance address these challenges directly by offering loans of 25.000 euros and less, often accepting alternative (or not) collateral arrangements.

The Conference gave central stage to internationally known speakers from microfinance organisations, enterprise support providers, government delegates as well as delegates representing EU institutions. Speakers highlighted different approaches with respect to female entrepreneurship in Europe and presented their respective experience. Furthermore, pilot projects and examples of good practices were discussed and recommendations for policy makers, researchers, business support providers and microfinance practitioners were formulated.

This conference was also the culmination of a 15 month EU co-funded project by the DG Employment and Social Affairs. It has been organised jointly by the European Microfinance Network (EMN) and Women’s World Banking (WWB) Spain. EMN is the leading microfinance network in Europe with 53 members from 21 countries. WWB Spain has a long history of providing individualised assistance to women entrepreneurs and is one of the nine organisations participating in the EU project.

The Conference evaluation is available here.

The Conference minutes will be available online soon.

"With support from the European Community-Programme relating to the Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001-2005). The information contained on this website does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission".