The Microfinance Centre (MFC) is proud to announce the resounding success of the 26th MFC Annual Conference Embracing Diversity for Inclusive Finance. Held on May 14-15, 2024, in Cracow, Poland, the event gathered approximately 400+ participants from 39 countries, creating a dynamic atmosphere for insightful dialogue and networking.

The conference attracted the microfinance providers from 127 microfinance and social enterprise finance providers, 12 microfinance national associations, 28 investors, 13 consultancies, 9 policymakers and regulators, and 5 IT & digital services providers.

Attendees highlighted key aspects of the event: 64% valued meeting potential business partners, 61% found the sessions highly informative, and 71% appreciated the relevance of the sessions to their work and the professionalism of the speakers. Furthermore, 89% of participants felt they had ample time to engage with other participants, leading to numerous significant connections and discussions (*).

The conference featured a diverse array of sessions addressing pressing issues in microfinance. Participants engaged in thought-provoking conversations led by industry experts and thought leaders, exploring topics such as pathways to inclusive finance, innovative approaches to climate change, leveraging technology for greater financial inclusion, ESG reporting as a catalyst for microfinance transformation and the intersection of finance and social impact. Sessions underscored microfinance’s role in empowering vulnerable entrepreneurs, navigating trends in inclusive finance, and harnessing artificial intelligence for diverse and inclusive microfinance.

The Microfinance Center had privilege of hosting distinguished speakers and moderators, including Cristina Dumitrescu from European Investment Fund (Luxembourg), Surjit Chana from Beneficial State Bank (United States), Florian Ott from Erste Group Bank AG (Germany), Elvina Garayeva from Incofin Investment Management (Belgium), Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux from European Commission, DG EMPL  (Belgium), and many more esteemed experts (the full list of speakers is on: www.2024mfc.org/speakers). Their insightful presentations and expertise greatly enriched the conference.

During the conference, MFC hosted a landmark roundtable with representatives from the National Banks of Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, alongside delegates from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Participants deliberated on strategies to promote sustainable growth in the microfinance industry, with a focus on financial stability and consumer protection. Regulators discussed addressing challenges within their respective countries, while ADB and IFC representatives shared their extensive experiences, offering valuable advice on regulatory frameworks.

The roundtable concluded with a commitment to ongoing knowledge sharing and policy discussions aimed at fostering a supportive regulatory environment. A subsequent networking lunch furthered opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, including additional representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and national microfinance associations.

The MFC Annual Conference provides a unique opportunity to establish new partnerships between funders and social finance providers. Each year, we are happy to welcome new stakeholders joining the MFC family – remarked Archil Bakuradze, MFC Council Chairman and Chair of the Supervisory Board at JSC MFO Crystal, Georgia.

Ewa Bańkowska, MFC Deputy Director emphasized:  The microfinance sector continues to diversify by welcoming new types of financial providers, funders, but most importantly by expanding the outreach to vulnerable groups such as migrants or social enterprises. The diverse and dynamic interactions during the conference underscored the importance of embracing diversity to achieve financial inclusivity.

The conference was generously supported by sponsors: European Investment Fund (EIF), responsAbility Investments AG, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, BlueOrchard, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Finance in Motion, The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), partners:  Agents for Impact GmbH, Accion, Aspekt, Incofin, Triple Jump, Polish Bank Association, CGAP’s FinDev Gateway.