The first semester of SIFTA activities was a success

In the first half of 2024, SIFTA (Social Investment and Finance Training Academy) continued to deliver impactful learning experiences, reaching a total of 242 participants. The events included:

  • 4 webinars
  • 4 workshops
  • 1 study visit
  • 1 peer-to-peer session
  • 2 Code trainings

These activities were designed to foster knowledge exchange, skill development, and networking among professionals in the social finance and microfinance sectors.

Featured Experts and Speakers:

Our sessions featured 27 expert speakers from various fields, including microfinance, social enterprise, technology, and financial management. The lineups included:

  1. Bożena Olszewska
  2. Michał Gumkowski (Progression)
  3. Mikołaj Tajchman (Progression)
  4. Piotr Koryński
  5. Adrian Romańczak (FRW)
  6. Justyna Grobel (FRW)
  7. Teresa Zagrodzka
  8. Adrian Nasui (FILBO)
  9. Robert Maftei (FILBO)
  10. Alexandra Grecu (FILBO)
  11. Laurentiu Branzoiu (FILBO)
  12. Daniela Bojinca (FILBO)
  13. Elena Dobre (FILBO)
  14. Eduardo Sierra Martin (EIB)
  15. Andre Kravchenko (HesFinTech)
  16. Renata Sarvari (GiniMachine)
  17. Mark Rudak (GiniMachine)
  18. Gift Mahubo (Accion)
  19. Silke Mueffelmann (Frankfurt School of Finance and Management)
  20. Perlat Sulaj (FedInvest)
  21. Surjit Chana (Harvard Fellow)
  22. Martina Paterniti (ENSIE)
  23. Cyrille Langendorff (Phitrust)
  24. Giampietro Pizzo (RITMI)
  25. Aldo Moauro (MFR)
  26. Claudia Belli (BNP Paribas)
  27. Benigno Imbriano (PerMicro)

Key Topics Explored:

The first half of the year offered a diverse range of topics aimed at enhancing the capacity of microfinance and social finance professionals:

  • EU funding opportunities to cover non-financial services in micro and social enterprise finance: focus on EU Horizon Program (webinar)
  • AI powered solutions for SEFP – Responsible AI Machine Learning and Practical Use Cases for Microfinance and Social Finance Institutions (webinar)
  • Artificial Intelligence in Sales and Marketing Processes (workshop online)
  • Key trends and developments in inclusive finance – Building Collaborative Response to Global Challenges&Disruptions (workshop onsite)
  • Exploring Microfinance Innovations: a Study Visit to FILBO, a Microfinance Fintech in Romania (study visit)
  • Finbee Peer-to-peer Visit to Fundusz Regionu Wałbrzyskiego (FRW) (peer-to-peer)
  • European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision (code training)

Looking Ahead: SIFTA Plans for H2 2024

We are excited to announce that SIFTA Programme, as a consortium partner of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and the European Microfinance Network, we will be organizing a range of local workshops for microfinance and social finance institutions in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Poland in the second half of 2024.

Upcoming Events Include:

  • Local workshops on instruments to support social finance, legal frameworks, and market development.
  • Study visits, peer-to-peer exchanges, Code trainings, and tailored training sessions.
  • Webinars on crucial topics such as ESG demands, financing for green transitions, and smart technology integration.

If you’re interested in SIFTA training or have suggestions for future workshops and webinars, please contact Joanna Żukowska, SIFTA Project Coordinator at joanna@mfc.org.pl

We encourage you to watch the SIFTA webinar on “AI-Powered Solutions for SEFP: Responsible AI Machine Learning and Practical Use Cases for Microfinance and Social Finance Institutions.“

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with SIFTA’s vibrant community of finance professionals!