InFiNe.lu was present at the European Microfinance Week 2019 organised last week in Luxembourg hosted by the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and supported by the Luxembourg Ministry for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs. During three intensive days, practitioners, investors, and academics gathered and discussed the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in inclusive finance.
Different topics of inclusive finance were at the agenda, such as agri-finance, financial technology, financing access to education, social performance, impact investing. This year, a specific focus was given to resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change through inclusive finance. Mr Manuel Tonnar, Director of the Luxembourg Development Cooperation, kicked off the conference with the opening remarks.
Tim McDonnel, journalist and National Geographic explorer gave the keynote speech of the first plenary session telling the stories of people most affected by climate change in the US, Bangladesh and Guatemala. The finalists of the European Microfinance Award 2019, APA Insurance Ltd Kenya, ASKI Group of Companies Inc. The Philippines and FDL of Nicaragua, presented their programmes and initiatives to strengthen their clients ‘resilience to climate change.The second plenary session was dedicated on “Protecting the working poor in the 21st century through responsible finance”.
The conference was also the opportunity to launch the 2nd edition of e-MFP Financial Inclusion Compass, the annual survey of financial inclusion trends.
To read the final press release “urgent call for action on climate change and debate on the philosophies of choice and responsability wrap up EMW2019” click here
For more information about the European Microfinance Week and the European Microfinance Platform click here
