Workshops

You can download the presentations of the workshops by clicking on the name of the speaker

Workshop 1: “The governance of microfinance organizations in Europe: a motor or a brake for growth?”

The growth of microfinance programmes in Europe depends substantially on the governance of the institutions. What strategy will the governance define? How will the governance bodies try to influence the process? What role will they play in monitoring growth? Will they assure that growth does not threat the mission of the institution? The workshop tried to answer these and other questions with speakers who study governance issues or have been directly involved in governance bodies.  

Workshop 2: "New products and services to accompany your growth"

In order to efficiently respond to the increased demand from microentrepreneurs and socially excluded people, the workshop presented innovative services and products that have been implemented by microfinance programmes in Europe in the area of microinsurance, microhousing, new technology etc.

Workshop 3: "How to grow your institution by reaching more effectively the socially excluded people?"

One of the main challenges regarding the growth of the sector is to make sure that microfinance organisms keep working with the most socially excluded people. The workshop explored how it is possible to reach youth entrepreneurs, to work in rural areas, with ROMAs, with migrants and with ethnic minorities.

  • Moderator : Antoine Saint- Denis (DG EMPL – European Commission)
  • Speakers : Vittorio Nozza (Caritas Italy – Italy); Vlad Mihut (Romcom – Romania); Ana Gorostegui (Incluye – Spain); Tibor Beres (Autonomia – Hungary)

European Microcredit Research Award

Like in 2008, EMN and its Spanish affiliate Fundación Nantik Lum have launched the European Microcredit Research Award. This award valued at €1000 honours new research on microfinance in Europe. The workshop will present and discuss the results of the selected papers.

  • Moderator : Barbara Jayo – (Foro Nantik Lum - Spain)

Workshop 4: "How to manage the growth of your staff?"

Growing an institution implies a number of challenges related to staff management. How should staff be trained to insure a high level of professionalism? How eventually can the growth of the organisation be assured by working with volunteers? How to create staff incentives? These and other questions were discussed by practitioners and trainers.

Workshop 5: "How to fund one’s organisation’s growth for a sustainable development?"

Financing one’s organisation’s growth remains one of the main challenges of most microfinance programmes in Europe. The workshop offered the opportunity to update on the “JASMINE” Initiative (Joint Action to Support Micro-finance Institutions in Europe) launched by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank at the 5th EMN Annual Conference and to explore the various opportunities provided by the private sector.