Montreal International Microfinance Conference

'Adaptation and resilience: mobilizing the international inclusive finance community to address post-Covid-19 challenges'

Thursday April 22, 2021
08:00 A.M. GMT

(Eastern Standard Time - United States and Canada)

Online on Zoom

On April 22, ADA is actively participating in the first Montreal International Microfinance Conference (#CIMM2021) which will bring together inclusive finance leaders and practitioners to discuss the issues of adaptation and resilience of the sector, during and after the post COVID-19 era.

As a long-term player promoting and supporting the development of inclusive finance, ADA at the onset of the crisis quickly decided to design and implement a "response programme" to help its MFI partners.

During the online conference, ADA will have the opportunity to share its experience of supporting the sector during the acute phase of the COVID pandemic, but also its engagement in the analysis of how different microfinance institutions have managed the situation with resilience and how they are currently re-launching their activities by starting to project themselves in the post-pandemic phase.

The intervention of Mathilde Bauwin, Senior Research Project Officer at ADA, will highlight the most interesting experiences and lessons learned from the different surveys conducted in collaboration with other actors, with a specific focus on the African continent.

About the Montreal International Microfinance Conference

The first Montreal International Conference on Microfinance (CIMM2021) will be held during the 6th edition of the Canada-Africa Business Convention 2021. A great first in Canada, the General Secretariat of the Convention is actively preparing for this event with the support of several strategic partners.

The #CIMM2021 will bring together the international microfinance community as well as leaders in inclusive finance to focus on the current challenges of reviving the microfinance industry post-Covid-19.

Indeed, the financial exclusion of the poor from the formal financial system is a social development issue that is currently receiving attention from leaders around the world.

Thus, the decision to hold this conference is justified by the fact that governments, donors, and international financial institutions recognize that access to financial services can play an important role in reducing poverty and decreasing the vulnerability of poor people.

In Africa, microfinance is a rapidly growing sector that holds great promise for increasing access to financial services for people. This sector has also contributed immensely to the empowerment of women by improving their social and economic well-being.

Africa Microfinance Awards: 1st African Microfinance Excellence Award

The conference will also include the official launch of the Africa Microfinance Awards, the first African microfinance excellence award that aims to celebrate the leadership and achievements of microfinance industry players in Africa. This recognition award is open to all microfinance institutions (MFIs), public and private sector organizations operating on the continent.

It is an initiative of the General Secretariat of the Canada-Africa Business Convention in Montreal, with the collaboration of ADA Luxembourg.

The competition aims to highlight personalities and organizations throughout the African continent. It offers the winners visibility and recognition within the industry and the general public.

The jury is composed of microfinance professionals from various backgrounds who will analyze the applications and select the finalists and winners of this first edition. Dynamism, innovation and creativity will be at the heart of the selection criteria and should be reflected in the product offering and creation, accessibility, digital strategies and risk management.

The official launch on April 22 will be an opportunity to celebrate the pioneers of the microfinance and financial inclusion industry and to hear their inspiring stories of hope and success.