Exchange visit - United Kigdom

EMN organised its second exchange visit 19-22 April 2005 in partnership with the cdfa (Community Development Finance Association), the UK trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions.

During the four day programme, participants had the opportunity to discover the working methods of several British microfinance organisations, spread all over the country. There they were able to deepen their understanding of the particularities of microcredit in the UK as well as share their own professional experience.

The 19 participants, visiting the cdfa headquarters in London and the 7 host organisations in different cities, were able to meet clients and institutional partners, as well as being explained the specificities of the organisation visited.

The participants included some professionals from Eastern European countries, who were particularly interested in opportunities for expansion learned through other European microfinance institutions, as well as representatives from German, French, and Spanish institutions.

Representing 11 microfinance institutions from 6 European countries, participants of this event illustrated the diversity of the European microcredit field. The institutions represented were:

As for the first one, this second exchange visit was very successful and once again, participants gave it a very positive evaluation and expressed the desire that other such events be held in the near future.

You can download the minutes and the evaluation of the exchange visit.