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This year’s edition takes place in 📍Barcelona on 📆October 15-16, under the theme “Building an Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Together.” Organised in partnership with Microbank and Autoocupació, the conference will delve into the nuances of creating an enabling environment for inclusive entrepreneurship. Enjoy insightful sessions featuring both practitioners and entrepreneurs as they share concrete innovations, tools, and first-hand experiences. We will also examine the impacts of these ecosystems on entrepreneurs, using evidence from microfinance institutions to align with current policy priorities. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and explore ways to foster collaboration and growth in the entrepreneurial landscape!
Draft Agenda
As usual, the day before the conference (📆October 14th), EMN will host its Members’ Day, featuring a series of activities exclusively for EMN members, including Committee meetings and the EMN General Assembly.
On 📆October 15th, we will kick off the conference with an opening ceremony in CaixaForum’s Auditorium, followed by two plenary panels. In the afternoon, we will organise interactive sessions where participants can engage actively and work in groups. Due to capacity limits, we kindly ask you to select your two preferred options for these sessions. Please note the following:
- Sessions will not be available for selection once the maximum capacity is reached.
- It will not be possible to switch sessions on-site.
- A reminder of your selected sessions will be sent after your registration and closer to the event.
8 SESSIONS
Members' Day
10:00-12:30
Working Groups
Three parallel committee tracks open to EMN members.
10:00-12:00 Microfinance Advocacy Committee (Espai A1)
10:00-12:00 Non-financial Services Working Grup (Auditorium)
10:00-12:30 Research Committee (Sala de Reunions)
Research Comitee Agenda
10:00-11:30 For members of the committee only
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-12:30 Open to all - Presentation of impact study on Shedidit, (Maria Nowak Research Fellowship 2025/2026)
12:30-13:30
Espai A2
Lunch break
One hour break for lunch and networking
13:30-15:00
Espai A1
European Investment Fund (EIF) Workshop (close door session upon invitation)
Closed-door session with the European Investment Fund
13:30-15:00
Sala de reunions
National Networks Committee
National Networks committee session
15:30-17:00
Collaborative session on the revision of the European Code of Good Conduct (attendance upon invitation) – European Commission (upon invitation)
Closed-door session for the revision of the COGC
17:30-18:30
Espai C
EMN General Assembly
For EMN members and partners
18:30-20:30
Espai A
Members’ Cocktail
13 SESSIONS
First Day of the Conference
09:45-10:30
Auditorium
Opening Ceremony Day 1
The opening ceremony will set the tone for the conference by bringing together EU and national policymakers, practitioners, financial institutions and microfinance beneficiaries to celebrate the power of inclusive finance. Through inspiring stories from entrepreneurs and a high-level exchange with European leaders the session will showcase how microfinance creates opportunities, strengthens communities and drives sustainable economic inclusion across Europe.
● Neus GORINA I ANDREU
Marketing and Sales Manager, Autoocupació (Master of Ceremonies)
● Fermí CAPEL MORENO
Business Director, MicroBank (Master of Ceremonies)
● Stefan BUCIUC
CEO, BCR Social finance and Board Member, EMN
Part 1 – Hearing from the regional and national perspective:
Welcoming words from the local partners and from the Catalan government and setting the scene “Microfinance in Catalunya and in Spain”.
● Cristina GONZÁLEZ VIU
General Manager, MicroBank
● Juli FERNÁNDEZ IRUELA
Secretary General, Department of Economy and Finance, Government of Catalonia
● Lorenzo DI PIETRO
General Director, Barcelona Activa
Part 2 - Setting the objectives of the conference through the testimony of beneficiaries with Autoocupació
● Alejandra MARTÍN ORÓS
The Shoot Room
● Helena CONTRAMAESTRE VIERA
Conecta Formación Integral, S.L.
● Guillem ARÍS
Director, Autoocupació
Part 3 – Hearing from the European perspective with a double fire side chat
● Georgiana BUTUROIU
Head of Microfinance, Alternative Lenders and FinTech Division, European Investment Fund (EIF)
● Tomáš BOČEK
Vice Governor for Target Group Countries at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
Closing of the opening ceremony
10:30-11:45
Auditorium
Plenary Panel 1: Future of the funding for the sector
As the European Union prepares its next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), policymakers face difficult choices on how to maximise the impact of limited public resources. This plenary session will explore how microfinance and inclusive finance can support entrepreneurship, economic resilience and competitiveness, while expanding access to finance for underserved entrepreneurs. Bringing together representatives from the European Commission, EIF, EIB, CEB and leading microfinance institutions, the discussion will examine lessons from the InvestEU portfolio guarantee, the opportunities offered by the new EC/CEB Blending Facility for Microfinance and priorities for future EU financial instruments.
● Brigitte FELLAHI-BROGNAUX
Head of Unit Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, European Commission
● Cristina DUMITRESCU
Head of Inclusive Finance, European Investment Fund (EIF)
● Kristina MASLAUSKAITE
Technical Advisor for Microfinance, Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
● Bruno ROBINO
Deputy Head Advisory Financial Institutions Division, European Investment Bank (EIB)
● Marcos SALINERO MÚGICA
Managing Director, Bizkaia Mikro
● Linas ARMALYS
CEO, Noviti Finance
● Lorraine DE FIERLANT
CEO, Microstart
● Ștefan BUCIUC
CEO, BCR Social finance (Moderator)
11:45-12:15
Espai A
Morning Break
Coffee, snacks and a chance to connect.
12:15-13:30
Auditorium
Plenary Panel 2: Driving inclusive entrepreneurship through digitalisation and artificial intelligence
AI is on trial. In this interactive mock trial, two opposing sides will argue whether Artificial Intelligence will ultimately strengthen or undermine financial inclusion in microfinance.
The prosecution will present evidence on potential risks such as exclusion, discrimination, lack of transparency and the loss of human interaction, while the defence will argue the case for AI as a tool to expand access, improve affordability, personalise services and strengthen efficiency.
Expert witnesses will provide evidence from different perspectives, and the audience will act as the jury, questioning the parties and witnesses before delivering the final verdict: do the opportunities created by AI outweigh the risks for financial inclusion in microfinance, or do the risks outweigh the opportunities?
● Dr. Arvind ASHTA
Senior Consultant and Academic Author on Financial inclusion and AI in Finance
● Charles BELANGER
AI & Digital Finance Expert
● Marco SMIT
CEO, Qredits Microfinance Foundation
● Talía JIMÉNEZ ROMERO
Director, Fortell Impact
● Rafael DRUMMOND BORGES
Advisor, CRESAÇOR
13:30-15:00
Espai A
Lunch Break
Lunch and networking.
15:00-16:15
Espai C
Workshop 1: Building partnerships to foster inclusive entrepreneurship
In this interactive workshop, we will explore how partnerships between microfinance institutions, banking actors, public authorities, philanthropic organisations, financial institutions, business support organisations and the private sector can strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship and improve support for underserved entrepreneurs specifically through partnerships to provide non-financial services.
● Cristina GONZÁLEZ VIU
General Manager, MicroBank
● Guillem ARÍS
Director, Autoocupació
● Andreas STEFANIDIS
President and Director, Academy of entrepreneurship
● Filippo CHIESA
Head of Social Impact, PerMicro
● Martina GRIGOROVA
CEO, SIS Credit
● Vanessa COTTERELL
Unitee and representative of the European inclusive entrepreneurship alliance (Moderator)
15:00-16:15
Espai D
Workshop 2: Practical Tools to Support Entrepreneurs: Informal Entrepreneurs and low-income communities
This workshop will explore practical ways to support entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds as well as entrepreneurs who haven’t registered their business. Participants will exchange good practices, identify tools to improve access to finance, mentoring and other relevant business support practices, and develop practical recommendations that participants can apply in their own organisations.
● Alban AGBO
Regional Director, ADIE
● Célia MAGRAS
Research Director, Cresus
● Juana MOLINA ARBOLEDAS
Entrepreneurship Skills Expert, Fundación Tomillo
● Karla ESTRADA
Coordinator Europe Specialist Self Employment, Foundation Nantik Lum
● Jo GRAY
Jo Gray, Consultant (Moderator)
15:00-16:15
ESPAI EDUCACIÓ
What have we learned? Lessons learned from EU level advisory support to the Microfinance Sector 2021–2027
The workshop will take stock of the experience of microfinance institutions and EU financial institutions with advisory services delivered during the 2021–2027 programming period. It will explore what worked well, where advisory support fell short and how it has contributed to the capacity and development of microfinance institutions. The discussion will identify practical lessons and recommendations from the sector, including suggestions for improving the future EU-level advisory support.
● Cristina DUMITRESCU
Head of Inclusive Finance, European Investment Fund (EIF)
● Kristina MASLAUSKAITE
Technical Advisor for Microfinance, Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
● Bruno ROBINO
Deputy Head Advisory Financial Institutions Division, European Investment Bank (EIB)
● Rafael DRUMMOND BORGES
Advisor, CRESAÇOR
● Charlotte LUNDBERG
Founder and CEO, Favafond
● Ingrid WESTERFORS
CEO, Mikrofonden Sweden
● Maria DOICIU
Senior Consultant and expert, Romanian Microfinance Association
● Panos TOURNAVITIS
CEO, Cooperative Bank of Karditsa and Board Member, EMN
● Jaime-Manuel DURÁN NAVARRO
Policy Officer, European Commission (Moderator)
15:00-16:15
Espai B
Romanian Microfinance Sector’s Insight Session PT.1 (the panel will be in Romanian)
Dedicated panel for the Romanian sector (hosted in Romanian language without translation)
The 75-minute panel discussion will aim to shed light onto 4 key thematic areas: Demographic challenges (young members, changing clients) Regulatory hurdles (outdated laws, compliance burden) Rapid technological advance (digitalization, fintech competition) Future sustainability (Role for CARs, IFNs and microfinance in 2030)
● Gheorghe IANCU
Economic Director, UNCAR
● Paul PETREANU
President, AsCAR
● Sandu ȘAMATAILO
General Director, Corporația de Finanțare
● Dumitru BUCȘE
Senior Business Development Representative, Natech Banking Solutions
● Cristian JURMA
General Manager, Vitas Romania
● Dan COJOCARU
CEO, BT Mic
● Ștefan BUCIUC
CEO of BCR Social Finance (Moderator)
16:15-16:45
Espai A
Afternoon break
Coffee, snacks and a chance to connect.
16:45-18:00
Espai D
Workshop 3: By MFIs, for MFIs: learning from each other
This interactive, peer-to-peer workshop will provide microfinance institutions (MFIs) with a unique opportunity to learn directly from one another by addressing real business challenges in a collaborative setting. Through open discussions and practical exchanges, participants will share experiences, explore innovative approaches to advancing financial inclusion, and receive actionable feedback from fellow practitioners and sector experts.
● Marie BIRNA OLAFSDOTTIR
Founder and CEO, Finklusiv
● Toni SIERRA
Director, Treball Solidari
● Neus GORINA I ANDREU
Marketing and Sales Manager, Autoocupació (Moderator)
16:45-18:00
Espai C
Workshop 4: Strengthening inclusive entrepreneurship for vulnerable groups: World café
This interactive World Café will explore how microfinance can better support vulnerable groups through discussions on school entrepreneurship, financial health, volunteering, and funding in the context of new regulation. Participants will exchange practical experiences and identify collaborative solutions to strengthen financial inclusion.
● Marco SMIT
CEO, Qredits
● Marie-José JUMEZ
National Volunteer Coordinator, ADIE
● Stamatis VELEGRAKIS
CEO, AFI Microfinance
● Vasileios GANIAS
Chief Financial Officer, Development Agency of Karditsa (AN.KA S.A)
● Alex RANKIN
Deputy Managing Director, EMN (Facilitator)
16:45-18:00
Espai B
Romanian Microfinance Sector’s Insight Session PT.2 (the panel will be in Romanian)
Dedicated panel for the Romanian sector (hosted in Romanian language without translation)
Making impact assessment more manageable—modelling impact. Impact assessment can become complex and time-consuming. During this workshop, we will explore ways to make impact reporting more accessible and achievable. In the second half, we will share practical tools for assessing the financial health of entrepreneurs and encouraging strategic thinking to build resilience.
● Jörg SCHOOLMANN
Programmes Director, EMN
● Violeta OLOGUN
President CAR Unirea Petrosani
● Septimiu LUPEA
Digital Finance Expert, ASCAR
● Ioana SZATMARI
Project Manager, EMN
20:00-23:30
Social Event: Time Out Market Barcelona
An evening dinner at Time Out Market Barcelona, providing an opportunity to network and enjoy views of the Port of Barcelona.
7 SESSIONS
Second Day of Conference
09:00-09:30
Auditorium
Opening Plenary
Starting the day with high level speeches
● Tomás MUNIESA
President, CaixaBank
● Brigitte FELLAHI-BROGNAUX
Head of Unit Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, European Commission
● Emanuele CABRAS
Director, COOPFIN and Vice-President, European Microfinance Network
09:30-10:45
Auditorium
Panel 3: Learning from the Philantropic sector on Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Philanthropic capital can do what public and private finance often cannot: take early risk, fund innovation and build the capacity of institutions serving underserved entrepreneurs. This panel brings together leading foundations, a social finance investor and a policy network to discuss where philanthropy adds the most value to inclusive entrepreneurship, particularly through microfinance. Speakers will share concrete examples of what has worked, including guarantees, first-loss capital, recoverable grants and technical assistance, and what has not. The session closes with the policy changes needed to unlock more philanthropic investment.
● Eduardo PRIETO
Country Manager (Spain), VISA foundation
● Núria DANÉS
Director of Social Inclusion, Fundació La Caixa
● Jana BOUR
Director of Policy & Knowledge, Impact Europe
● Peter SUREK
Head of Group Social Banking, Erste Group Bank AG
● Herjola SPAHIU
EMN Board member and Co- Founder of HES Advisory (Moderator)
10:45-11:15
Espai A
Morning Break
Coffee, snacks and a chance to connect.
11:15-12:30
Auditorium
Plenary Panel: Impact Assessment in 2026 and Beyond: What to expect and how to prepare
How can the microfinance sector better demonstrate its impact? This panel will explore the development of a common impact assessment framework, starting with an update from the European Commission and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) on their ongoing work. The discussion will examine how a shared approach could strengthen investment decisions, improve access to EU funding, and help the sector better demonstrate its value, before concluding with practical perspectives from microfinance institutions and sector organisations on the opportunities and challenges of implementation.
● Brigitte FELLAHI-BROGNAUX
Head of Unit Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, European Commission
● Kristina MASLAUSKAITE
Technical Advisor for Microfinance at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
● Cristina DUMITRESCU
Head of Inclusive Finance at the European Investment Fund (EIF)
● Maria Elena MARTÍN
Communication and Social Impact Area Manager, MicroBank
● Francesco GRIECO
Impact and TA Manager Inpulse (Moderator)
12:30–13:15
Auditorium
Closing Ceremony
Presentation of the results of Impact Study – Fellowship 2025/2026
● Alessandra CAVALLO
PhD Candidate, University of Bologna
● Lien WARMENBOL
Founder and CEO, SheDIDIT
European Code of Good Conduct Award Ceremony
● Brigitte FELLAHI-BROGNAUX
Head of Unit Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, European Commission
● Bruno ROBINO
Deputy Head Advisory Financial Institutions Division, European Investment Bank (EIB)
Signature Ceremony: EIB and BCR Social Finance
● Károly TAKSZ
Head of Division within the Financial Institutions Department, EIB
● Stefan BUCIUC
CEO, BCR Social Finance
Announcement of the 2027 Annual Conference
● Greek partners – HELM (Greek Microfinance Network)
Closing Words from the Co-organizers
● Cristina GONZÁLEZ VIU
General Manager at MicroBank
● Guillem ARÍS
Director of Autoocupació
● Jorgos PAPADAKIS
Managing Director, EMN
13:15-14:00
Espai A
Lunch
Lunch and networking.
14:00-17:00
Visit at Poble Espanyol (upon registration)
A guided visit to Poble Espanyol, an open-air architectural museum showcasing the cultural heritage and traditions of Spain. (Upon registration)
Tickets & Registrations - LOW AVAILABILITY
Regular Rates (September 1st – October 7th):
- EMN Members: 460 EUR
- EMN Non-Members: 650 EUR
Please note that VAT will be included in the total ticket price.
To secure your ticket(s), please register using the link below. In the registration form, you will be able to provide all the necessary information regarding your ticket(s) and select your preferred method of payment. After completing your registration, a confirmation message will appear, and within 5 working days, you will receive a summary email that outlines your registration details and payment information. To validate your ticket, please ensure that payments are processed within 5 working days. Invoices will be sent out after the event.
Payment Methods
Both bank transfer and online payments are available. Please note that on-site registration and payment will not be possible. In the summary email received after registration, you will find details for executing a bank transfer, or if you choose online payment, a dedicated link for processing payments.
Additional Information:
- At the payment link, you can select the quantity of tickets you wish to purchase.
- For large groups, a dedicated group link is available, allowing the purchase of groups of 10 tickets at a time (by selecting the quantity, you will select 10 tickets each time).
- The online payment links display ticket prices with VAT already included.
If you need specific information, please feel free to reach out to the EMN Secretariat.
Cancellation Policy
- 100% reimbursement up to 14 days before the event
- 50% 7 days before the event
- and no reimbursement less than 6 days before.
Conference Venue
The conference will take place at CaixaForum Barcelona, which is located in the former Casaramona textile factory, a notable work by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. This site is one of the most outstanding examples of Catalan industrial modernist architecture from the early 20th century.
The venue is conveniently situated in a central area of the city and is well-connected. You can reach CaixaForum from Barcelona El Prat Airport by public transport or taxi services available outside the airport. For public transport, take the bus from Terminal 1 (T1) of the airport heading to Plaça Catalunya – Andana Central, and then stop at Gran Via Corts Catalanes. The venue is just a 4-minute walk from there.
If you are coming from Barcelona city center, you can take Metro Line 1 from Plaça Catalunya in the direction of Hospital de Bellvitge and get off at the Espanya station. The venue is approximately 500 meters away from there.
Social Event - LOW AVAILABILITY
On 📆October 15th, from 20:00 to 00:00, EMN will host a Social Event at Time Out Market in Barcelona. Entrance to the event is included in the ticket price, and no additional cost will be charged for attendees who are part of the conference. However, attendees who do not attend the conference will need to pay an entry fee. You can contact EMN Secretariat for more information.
Time Out Market is conveniently located in the Ciutat Vella area of the city and is easily accessible from the event venue by public transport or taxi.
Learn More about Time Out Market HERE.
Visit at Poble Espanyol - LOW AVAILABILITY
To close the event, on 📆October 16th, EMN is offering a visit to the nearby Poble Espanyol after the morning session. This guided visit has 25 slots available for English speakers and 25 for Spanish speakers. During the visit, you will discover the architectural and cultural heritage showcased at the Poble Espanyol, which was built in 1929 for the International Exposition. This open-air village features more than 100 life-sized buildings in a unique setting, along with facilities, museums, exhibitions, and over 18 artisan workshops—providing an immersive experience into the culture and history of Spain.
Please note that participation in the field visit is not included in the conference ticket. To secure their slot, the first participants to express their interest will receive a dedicated link for booking. Availability is limited, and the option will close once the maximum number of participants is reached.
The visit will be confirmed with a minimum of 10 participants; if this number is not met, the tickets will be automatically reimbursed. More logistical information will be shared closer to the event.
Accommodation
We strongly recommend that participants book their accommodation as soon as possible. To assist with this, EMN has partnered with Atiram Hotels to offer participants a 5% discount on accommodation at all four of their hotels in Barcelona.
The discount code EMN26 will be active for bookings made between 12 and 18 October 2026.
We particularly recommend the following hotels, listed approximately from closest to furthest from the conference venue:
- Oriente Atiram – approximately 15 minutes by public transport to CaixaForum, via metro line L3.
- Mesón Castilla Atiram – approximately 15 minutes by public transport to CaixaForum, via metro line L1.
- Arenas Atiram – approximately 20–25 minutes by public transport to CaixaForum, via metro line L3.
Please note that EMN is not responsible for confirming or managing accommodation bookings, as these are handled directly by Atiram Hotels.
Furthermore, additional hotel suggestions can be found here, listed in order from the closest to the venue, along with the area of the city where they are located:
- Hotel Acta Azul Barcelona (Montjuïc / Poble-sec)
- Hotel Best Auto Hogar (Poble-sec / Paral·lel)
- Hotel Viladomat (Eixample Esquerra)
- Arco Barcelona Hotel (Eixample / city centre)
- Hotel Best Aranea (Eixample Dreta / Sagrada Família area)
- SM Hotel Teatre Auditori (Glòries / Sant Martí)
- Hotel Ilya (Poblenou area)
- Hotel Best 4 Barcelona (Poblenou / Diagonal Mar)
- Hotel SB Icaria (Vila Olímpica)
Event Sponsors
EMN Members' Platform
Support the EMN Network
EMN members will receive updates on the event program and speakers through EUDONET’s dedicated platform for the network. This platform will compile all essential and relevant information about EMN activities and developments within the sector, and it will soon be available to members.
Would you like to support EMN’s activities? When you purchase your conference ticket, you can choose to make a donation.
Interested in becoming a member? Please contact the EMN Membership Manager.
More Info
Organizer
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European Microfinance Network (EMN)
-
Phone
+32 280 844 20 -
Email
emn@european-microfinance.org -
Website
www.european-microfinance.org