The Microcredit Summit Campaign
Summits and Conferences

Overview

More than 1200 delegates from 85 countries attended the Africa - Middle East Regional Microcredit Summit in Nairobi, Kenya the second week of April, the fourteenth gathering in a series of global and regional summits organized by the Microcredit Summit Campaign. Co-hosted by the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya (AMFI) and the Campaign, delegates assisted in a spectacular four days of learning and networking. Download the Summit report here. 

Summit Features

  • Plenary sessions and simultaneous workshops on issues voted to be the most interesting and relevant to Campaign members.
  • Simultaneous interpretation in French/English for all plenary sessions and 60% of workshops.
  • Interaction with microcredit clients on field visits to local microcredit projects organized by AMFI.
  • Additional training in day-long courses ranging from Microfinance 101 to Financial Self-Sufficiency for MFIs and associated sessions organized by partner institutions.  
  • In addition to these sessions, AMFI and the Campaign hosted an exhibition tent featuring Kenyan farmers and artisans with their products as well as local MFIs and international institutions promoting their work.  

Notable attendees included the President of Kenya Mwai Kibaki, HM Queen Sofia of Spain, HRH Princess Máxima of The Netherlands, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus.  They and delegates from around the world discussed microfinance and its relation to the environment, agriculture, and health with a strong focus on empowering the world's poorest families, especially the women of those families.

Delegates discussed the importance of: 

  • Supportive regulatory environment for MFIs
  • Tools for greater outreach to rural areas and urban slums
  • New technology to increase efficiency and decrease costs
  • African and Middle East practitioners to commit to the goals of Campaign

Sam Daley-Harris, founder and director of the Campaign, challenged delegates to change our way of thinking in his opening and closing ceremony speeches. He said, "The technical side of microfinance is important, but only if it serves the transformational dimension...[to effect] redemption that restores peoples' honor and worth" and sets them free.
 
To view and download the powerpoint presentations from the Kenya Summit, visit http://www.slideshare.net/Microcredit. Share them with your friends, post to your Facebook page, and comment on what you learned!

 

What Delegates Said

"Topics of plenaries and workshops were very relevant. Excellent panelists and good representatives from Africans as well as westerners. This is very important!"

"Sessions were so educative and they made people know more innovative ways to fight poverty."

"The Jamii Bora presentation and success is a sure example that we in Microfinance can do something for the urban poor even in better in their living environments."

"Inspirational! A turning point in my life!" 
 
"Inspiring! A rallying call!"
 
"Field visits were excellent! Very informative."

Leave your comments, too!  Visit our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

 

Photos from the Summit

The official photographer took took some wonderful photos at the Africa - Middle East Regional Summit, and we've posted them on PhotoBucket.  What about you?  Share your photos with the Microcredit Summit Campaign; email them to us and we'll post them -- or post them to your own PhotoBucket account and tag them "Nairobi Microcredit Summit". 

Notice: By sending your photos to the Microcredit Summit Campaign, you give permission to use your photos in our materials.  MCS will credit you and/or your institution

 

Why you should attend the Global and Regional Microcredit Summits

Great Networking Opportunities. The Microcredit Summit Campaign's conferences are the largest microfinance gatherings in the world, which assemble a full range of those active in the field of microfinance including practitioners, advocates, investors, UN agencies, donors, domestic government agencies, and many more.

Exciting Opening Ceremony Speakers. Along with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the Microcredit Summit Campaign anticipates the participation of Heads of State, high-level government officials and other VIPs at its Opening Ceremony and throughout the conference.

Contemporary Global Issues in Africa and the Middle East. Discussion of major topics in the international microfinance field and those specific to the region will be offered at each Global Regional Microcredit Summit.

In-depth Plenary Sessions. Plenary sessions will discuss the hot topics of the day featuring leaders in the field.

Broad Range of Workshop Sessions. At least twenty workshops covering a variety of topics will be presented by specialists in their field.

Interactive Day-Long Courses. Five intensive day-long courses would be one option for delegates on the fourth day of the Summit.

Field Visits. Field visits to the host country's most dynamic microfinance institutions will be offered during the Summit.

Opportunity to Present Work. Delegates may apply to host an Associated Session on a topic of their choice or to organize a booth in the exhibition hall.