6th European Microfinance Day: Weathering the Storm

The European Microfinance Day was launched in 2015 as a tool to highlight the impact of the microfinance sector in Europe from a social and an economic perspective. It is jointly organized by the Microfinance Centre and the European Microfinance Network. (EMN)

Sign up for the EMD Campaign

The main objectives of the European Microfinance Day are:

To raise awareness among European citizens on the existence of microfinance and on its value to fight unemployment and social exclusion.
To draw the attention of European media on how microfinance works in Europe and how it supports and helps the unemployed and European citizens excluded from the traditional financial sector.
To exchange experiences within the European microfinance sector by giving visibility to the work of EMN & MFC members.
To allow local members to draw the spotlight on their achievements and their missions at local level

These objectives remain the same and will define the spirit of the 6^th European Microfinance Day, with a unifying thread allowing participants to reflect upon the various actions taken and lessons learned by microfinance sector during the first strike of the COVID19 crisis.

Local EMD Actions

Adie, France

How to create one’s own business online with Adie

Date: 29.10.2020

Location: Online Registration: HERE

Objective: To present potential entrepreneurs with a new non-financial service that is made available for free on Adie’s website, an online platform allowing any entrepreneur to develop his/her project through 4 learning modules (topics range from defining your project idea, carrying out a market study, quantifying your financial needs, to support in administrative issues). In each module, aside from learning content, many different tools are available (exercises, tests, templates, case studies). For Adie, it is crucial to be able to provide this online service to their clients and to any potential entrepreneur, especially during this uncertain period, for it means that even if travel restrictions are back in place in the future, Adie will be able to accompany them in developing their projects.

Online forum: “Albanian Microfinance under the new normal: Weathering the storm”

Date: 18 or 19 November (TBD) Venue: Online

Objectives: This online forum aims at gathering all stakeholders, government representatives, regulators, international financial institutions, international government agencies active in the area of microfinance and financial services, banks and association of banks, capital market actors, MFI-s and non-bank financial institutions, etc., and convey the message that microfinance activities remain the backbone of financial services offered to MSMEs and vulnerable layers in the society, and that all efforts should therefore be made to ensure that these segments are sustainably provided with access to finance.

1. “Responsible Borrowing” brochure Objective: Promote the brochure “Responsible Borrowing” implemented by the Association together with WB / IFC in cooperation with the RS Ministry of Finance and the RS Regulatory Agency. The brochure will be promoted and distributed in the offices of our Members of the Association, in order to educate all clients of the microfinance sector. This educational campaign is an excellent opportunity to provide additional information and education to clients of the microcredit sector.

2. Webinar on the impact of COVID 19 on the operations of the microfinance sector in BiH

Date: 30 October 2020

Location: Online

Objective: To raise awareness on the contribution of microfinance in the fight against unemployment and social exclusion.

3. Webinar on Financial Education Objective: To raise awareness amongst microcredit clients about quality and wise borrowing, investing money on purpose, while avoiding over-indebtedness. 4. Webinar on Digitization in the Microcredit sector Objective: To highlight the importance of digital transformation in the microcredit sector.

1. Online campaign Description: BCR Social Finance will have a social media and web campaign to promote the European Microfinance Day 2020. BCR Social Finance, together with BCR and Erste Foundation, provided €70,000 of financing in support of “Digital People”. The program targets people, who due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have lost their jobs or are technically unemployed, and are interested to start a career in IT. Also, in the context of COVID-19, BCR support the entrepreneurs who experience difficulties by maintaining a section on their website dedicated to “Challenges and financial solutions for micro-enterprises affected by the pandemic in 2020”.

Social media campaign Objective: MI-BOSPO intends to raise awareness on microfinance and its benefits for BiH citizens. It supports our clients during COVID time, to send the message that the microfinance sector, and not only in Bosnia & Herzegovina, is by their side, and that together we can “weather the storm”.

more coming soon!

The Brussels (online) event

The Brussels event is here to highlight the work done at European level in this regard. On 29 October, it will serve as a kick-off for our members’ local actions taking place mostly in November. The programme for this online edition includes:

opening speeches from both networks’ presidents – Lucija Popovska (MFC) & Elwin Groenevelt (EMN); opening remarks by Manuela Geleng, Director for Skills at DG EMPL of the European Commission, a keynote address by Joaquim Oliveira Martins, Deputy Director of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities.

It will also feature a high-level panel discussion on ensuring access to finance for entrepreneurs during COVID-19 and a virtual ceremony for microfinance practitioners that recently complied with the European Code of Good Conduct, presented by Ann Branch, Head of Unit at DG EMPL of the European Commission.