Proposal for a revised EU definition of microfinance and microcredit The existing EU definition of microfinance i.e. the maximum amount of 25.000 € is not satisfactory as it does not recognize the specificities and the developments of the sector. MFC and EMN joined forced and in consultation with their Members in 2017 worked out a new definition of microcredit and ...

  Dear Readers, Our second project newsletter brings you important milestones for the EaSI TA project: namely the successful completion of the Second Call for Expression of Interest, as well as the conclusion of the pilot phase of the EU Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (“the Code”). We are pleased to share updates to the Code, as well as ...

The pilot phase testing the European Code of Good Conduct for microcredit provision with some microcredit providers has come to an end in April 2017. This test phase has allowed some conclusions to be drawn in order to better meet the needs of the microcredit market in Europe. Revision of the APR clause: The networks have voiced some concerns about ...

Europe’s first microcredit provider (MCP) to receive certification for compliance with the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (referred to as ‘the Code’) is the Dutch firm Qredits. Qredits was founded as a non-profit organisation in 2009 to assist the social and financial inclusion of micro-entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Elwin Groenevelt, the General Director of Qredits welcomed this certification ...

            We are pleased to share with you the new brochure about the instruments and activities that are available for financial intermediaries under the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme*. Download the brochure in English, French & German.   *The Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme aims at promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and improving ...

The workshop took place in Sofia, Bulgaria on 10 November 2016. It was jointly hosted by the Bulgarian Association of Credit Cooperatives and Microfinance Organizations (BACCOM) and fi-compass. The event welcomed 34 practitioners from credit cooperatives and microfinance organizations, who discussed opportunities and obstacles within the Bulgarian microfinance sector. The speakers presented useful information regarding the EaSI Technical Assistance, EIF ...

  Funder: The European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Partners: Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, European Microfinance Network (EMN) The MFC (as part of a consortium including the European Microfinance Network and the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management), is delivering training  in good governance (including social performance), management information systems, strategic planning, and risk management. MFC also ...

Still confused or curious about the European Code of Good Conduct? Don’t know if it applies to you? Need to learn how to use it? Our 4-minute video is for you!  To sign up for the ECoGC please complete the form and send it to: European Commission – DG Regional Policy – Unit B3 – European Code of Good Conduct for ...

We are pleased to announce that EIB’s fi-compass programme has issued its second Call for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for EaSI technical assistance (EaSI TA) services with the goal of selecting up to 34 European microcredit providers in the period of 2016 – 2017. For more information, please visit the fi-compass website What is EaSI TA? EaSI TA is ...

Using the self-regulation guidelines known as the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision? We can help! We work with microcredit providers to assess current compliance levels, in particular to: • Review the organization’s self-assessment results • Clarify specific clauses of the Code, their applicability and compliance levels • Propose strategies to address areas of weaknesses and poor compliance ...