Last update 29-02-2008

29-31 May in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - 11th MFC conference of Microfinance Institutions

Conference Highlights include
• Meet Global Experts in Microfinance
• Microfinance Innovation Awards
• NEW! Microfinance Leaders Fair – MFI leaders will have unique opportunity to display their success
• More opportunities to meet and negotiate with investors during Investors Fair & Investors Day
• NEW! Support Industry Fair – find the right TA providers, consulting and training companies; learn about associations’ and other Microfinance market players achievements and work
• A Mongolian style MFC membership meeting
• Mongolian Feast – special dinner and entertainment for conference participants

More information can be found at: http://www.xacbank.mn/mfc-conference2008/

5-6 June, 2008, Milan, Italy - The Collaborative Enterprise, Creating Values for a Sustainable World - International Workshop at Bocconi University

Call for papers:

Bocconi University jointly with the Business Ethics Center, Corvinus University of Budapest, organizes an International Workshop focusing on the research project “The Collaborative Enterprise. Creating Values for a Sustainable World”.
The research project “The Collaborative Enterprise. Creating Values for a Sustainable World” is an outcome of the CEMS (Community of European Management Schools) – Blocked Seminar “Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: New Perspectives on Business Management” held in September 5-10, 2005 at Bocconi University, Milan.

The project aims to explore ways of organizing and doing business alternative to the currently prevailing competitive model. The current management mainstream seems to be unable to face the challenges related to more sustainable patterns of development. All over the world innovative experiences and approaches have been developing, where enterprises seek to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with all of their stakeholders and try to produce values for their whole business ecosystem.

Issues to be addressed

• Is the currently prevailing competitive model sustainable?
• What are the main weaknesses of the current management mainstream?
• Are alternative ways of organizing and doing business possible?
• Is a collaborative strategy an appropriate answer to the need for innovative solutions to address the challenge of global and local sustainability?
• Do real life examples of the collaborative approach exist and work?
• What are their implications in terms of governance systems, ownership structures, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation and reporting of the organizational goals and performance?
• What are the main strengths of the collaborative strategy at micro-, meso- and macro-level?

Interested participants should send an abstract of their planned presentation (about 250 words) accompanied by a biographical note (100 words) electronically by April 30, 2008 to:
Antonio Tencati email: antonio.tencati@unibocconi.it and Laszlo Zsolnai email: laszlo_zsolnai@interware.hu

Click here to download the full presentation (pdf file).

22-25 juin 2008, Halifax, Nouvelle-écosse, Canada - Congrès mondial du CIPE 2008, Le progrès ou la promotion des petites entreprises et de l'entrepreneuriat : de la recherche aux résultats

Le Conseil international des petites entreprises (CIPE) regroupe des académiciens, des éducateurs, des représentants d’organisations de support aux petites entreprises, des chercheurs, des agents du gouvernement, des étudiants en entrepreneuriat, et des développeurs de politiques.

Appel à contributions et propositions d'ateliers (date limite 18 février 2008)

Joignez vous aux chercheurs, aux éducateurs, aux développeurs de politiques, aux fournisseurs de services aux entreprises, aux étudiants, et aux propriétaires d’entreprises pour :

• Engager un dialogue sur les plus récents sujets dans le domaine de la petite entreprise et de l’entrepreneuriat;
• Rencontrer des chefs de file en recherche, en éducation, en pratique, et en développement de politiques;
• Bâtir votre réseau d’acteurs internationaux de PME du monde entier;
• Socialiser et vous amuser.

Les champs d’intérêts sont les suivants:

Visitez le site Internet du congrès au www.icsb2008.org pour plus de renseignements sur les dates importantes, l’inscription en ligne et la soumission en ligne

June 22-25, 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - 2008 International Council for Small Business (ICSB) World Conference “Advancing Small Business and Entrepreneurship: From Research to Results”

The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) integrates the activities of diverse organizations and professionals who deal directly with small business and is the leading global membership organization for those interested in the theory and practice of entrepreneurship.

Submissions can be made for academic papers and workshops.
Areas of Interest:

Archives

14-15 September 2007, Brussels, Belgium - Regulation, Education & Cooperation in Responsible Financial Services - The Stakeholder Parliament organised by European Coalition for Responsible Credit

This event will gather consumer organisations, debt and money advisers, bankers, policy makers, alternative finance institutions, academics and politicians. The conference will be in both French and English and takes place in the Albert Hall Complex in Brussels. Issues that will be discussed include Over-indebtedness, Financial Education, recent EU legislation, Microfinance, Credit insurance, and NGO action for responsible credit.
Please visit the conference website to see the programme and to register for the remaining places: http://www.responsible-credit.net/ .The conference starts at 10am on the Friday 14th of September and closes at 4pm on Saturday 15th. Entry is € 80 for non-for-profit institutions.

14-15 septembre, Bruxelles, Belgique - Réglementation, Éducation et Coopération pour des services financiers responsables, 7ème conférence internationale sur les services financiers organisée par la Coalition Européenne pour le Crédit Responsable

Cette conférence réunira les différents acteurs et intéressés des marchés des services financiers : associations de consommateurs, conseillers de dettes, banquiers, scientifiques etc.. Plus de 120 personnes sont déjà inscrites pour échanger leurs savoirs, expériences et points de vues sur des thèmes comme : le surendettement, la pédagogie financière, la réglementation de l’UE, la Micro-finance, l’assurance emprunteur, et les activités des ONGs pour un crédit responsable.
Programme complet et inscription sur le site http://www.credit-responsable.net. La conférence aura lieu à l’Albert Hall et commencera à 10h le vendredi 14 septembre. Les organisations à but non lucratif sont particulièrement encouragées à participer avec des droits d'inscription réduits à 80 €..

Slovakia 13-14 September, 2007

EMN organises a New Exchange Visit that will take place in Slovakia on 13-14 September, 2007. European Microfinance Practitioners will have the opportunity to learn more about the Slovak Microfinance Sector and specially about gender programmes.
This visit is organised in partnership with Integra Venture. Integra’ microfinance activities are usually implemented within the MED programme for women. This programme operates out of four offices in different regions of Slovakia. The goal of the MED program is to increase the economic and social standing of women in the target communities and help them to break free from the cycle of dependency and poverty through self-employment and microenterprise development.
Target beneficiaries are women at risk (single and divorced mothers, unemployed women, widows and handicapped women, gypsy women, etc.).

If you are interested in attending this Exchange Visit, you can download the preliminary programme and register on EMN website.

Please note that translation services will be provided during the Exchange Visit. The registration deadline has been postponed until the 3rd of September 2007 so don’t forget to register on time!!

Slovaquie les 13 et 14 Septembre 2007

Le Réseau Européen de la Microfinance organise une Nouvelle Visite d’Echange qui aura lieu en Slovaquie les 13 et 14 septembre . Les professionnels européens du secteur de la microfinance auront l’opportunité de découvrir le secteur de la microfinance Slovaque.
Cette visite est organisée en collaboration avec Integra Venture.
Les activités de microfinance d’Integra sont généralement développées dans le cadre du programme MED pour les femmes. Ce programme est mis en place au travers de 4 délégations réparties dans différentes régions slovaques. L’objectif du Programme MED est d’accroître le niveau de vie tant économique que social des femmes dans les communautés cibles et de les aider à briser le cycle de dépendance et de pauvreté au moyen de l’auto-emploi et du développement de la microentreprise.
Les femmes cibles sont des femmes en situation de risque (mères célibataires et divorcées, femmes au chômage, femmes veuves et handicapées, femmes issues de la communauté gitane, etc.).

Si vous souhaitez participer à cette visite d’échange, vous pouvez vous visionner le programme préliminaire et vous inscrire sur le site du REM

Veuillez noter que des services de traduction seront disponibles durant la Visite. La date limite d’inscription a été repoussée au 3 Septembre alors n’oubliez pas de vous inscrire à temps !!

20-22 September 2007, Lisbon, Portugal - Leadership for a New Europe – The Third Sector Solution

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Organised by Euclid, this conference is a unique opportunity for peer to peer learning for third sector leaders from
across Europe. Improve your skills and develop cross border collaboration through shared experiences.

Malcolm Hayday, director of Inaise, is a speaker in the session: From charity to social investments (Explore the emerging field of social investments and share innovative ways to fund the sector making it financially sustainable and safeguarding its independence. Speakers will explain their experiences in this field).

Full programme and registration on Euclid website

17 October 2007,Brussels - Fair Trade: a lever for change

This International conference organised by the Fair Trade Advocacy Office and EuroCoop will discuss how the EU can successfully combine its international development objectives with the growing consumer interest in Fair Trade. The contribution of Fair Trade to sustainable development, poverty reduction and consumer awareness raising has been repeatedly recognized by European Institutions.

Further information and registration form available for download on Fair Trade Advocacy website or by sending an email to sjolund@fairtrade-advocacy.org. Deadline for registration is Thursday, 11th October 2007.

Autumn 2007, United Kingdom - Understanding Risk Management, Risk Management Seminar Programme

A risk management practitioner is calling on charities to embrace risk as a potential for opportunity and not just problems.
The Charity Bank’s Simon Thorrington, who has worked in banking and charity for a combination of 32 years, says that risk, when it's well managed, can be turned to advantage, and questions whether charities are actually taking enough risk, as part of their duty of care.

Says Thorrington: “Charities need to learn not to fear risk – in fact by engaging with the process of identifying and managing potential issues, they can sometimes turn risks into opportunities to better deliver their mission. In my experience when things do go wrong, it’s usually because of poor governance and a head-in-the-sand approach that makes difficult issues even more likely to arise.”

Thorrington and his colleagues will be exploring these issues in a series of risk management seminars across the country this autumn, which he will be hosting alongside Oliver Boyle from Thomas Miller Investment, a member of the Thomas Miller Group
Boyle, who is also chairman of the Institute of Risk Management's charities' special interest group, recently suggested charities should employ risk managers to coordinate risk strategies at all levels of operation.

The autumn seminars, entitled ‘Understanding Risk Management’, and which are free of charge, aim to give charity trustees and management an in-depth look into financial planning, risk management and asset management.
The seminar leaders will explore how a user-friendly programme of risk management is crucial and underpins the principles of good governance, and will provide a guide to risk components and the steps required to identify, assess, and manage them.
They will also look at the implications of risk and risk management for financial and business planning, as well as demonstrating the importance of understanding and managing the inherent risk contained with any investment decision.

The autumn schedule, following on from the success of the first programme in the spring is:
Edinburgh: 27 September, The Royal Scots Club, 29-30 Abercromby Place
Exeter: 18 October, Southgate Hotel, Southernhay East
Oxford: 25 October, venue tba
Bristol: 8 November, venue tba
Leeds: 15 November, venue tba

To book, or for further information, go to www.charitybank.org or contact Emma Ivory on +44 (0)1732 774043 or by emailing emmaivory@charitybank.org

Training cycle: "Developing common tools for public authorities and financial institutions so as to promote fundamental rights in the European Union" ('eufin") - Thursday 6 September 2007, Paris - Thursday 27 September 2007, Bucharest, Romania - Tuesday 16 October 2007, Hamburg, Germany - Thursday 15 November 2007, London, UK

Are you thinking about developing or improving partnerships with public authorities, financial institutions and/or community finance organisations?

If the answer is yes, then you may find it useful to attend the trainings on different partnership topics that have been developed by the Réseau Financement Alternatif, member of Inaise, in collaboration with the Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Economique, ADIE in France, Enigma Siebte Saüle Microlending in Germany, Microfinance Coalition in Romania and the Community Development Finance Association, CDFA in the United Kingdom.

Many (17) European partners have participated in the knowledge transfer to enable Réseau Financement Alternatif to implement this training. This will ensure the training is based on best practice from across Europe.

Please check the website (www.eufin.org) for registration information and day agendas.

Cycle de formations : Développer des outils communs aux pouvoirs publics et aux institutions financières en vue de favoriser les droits fondamentaux dans l'Union européenne - jeudi 6 septembre 2007, Paris - jeudi 27 septembre 2007, Bucarest, Roumanie - mardi 16 octobre 2007, Hambourg, Allemagne - jeudi 15 novembre 2007, Londres, Royaume-Uni

Etes-vous intéressé(e) à l’idée de monter ou développer un partenariat avec des autorités publiques, des institutions financières et/ou des organisations non-gouvernementales ?

Si votre réponse est oui, vous serez certainement intéressé(e) par les formations que le Réseau Financement Alternatif donne sur différents thèmes en partenariat avec l’Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Economique ADIE en France, Enigma Siebte Saüle Microlending en Allemagne, Microfinance Coalition en Roumanie et Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) au Royaume-Uni !

Plusieurs (17) partenaires européens ont participé à des ateliers dans le but d’identifier les meilleures pratiques en matière de partenariats public/privé. Les connaissances acquises lors de ces sessions seront transmises et discutées à l’occasion de ces formations.

N’hésitez pas à consulter le site internet (www.eufin.org) concernant les modalités d’inscription et l’agenda des journées.

23 May 2007, Dublin, Ireland - COMMON CENTS 2007

Common Cents is the 11th Annual Conference organised by Clann Credo and The Social Investment Fund
The panel of Speakers is varied and they will provide an insight into Social Finance in Ireland today. This should be of interest to all working in the Community, Voluntary and not-for-profit sectors especially those with an interest in the future development of Social Finance and supports for accessing Social Finance in Ireland.
This conference follows on the historic launch earlier this year, by Minister Brian Cowen T.D. of the Social Finance Foundation (SFF), the panel includes Peter Quinn, Chairman SFF and Brendan Whelan, Chief Executive SFF.
The Foundation was established by in response to proposals made over recent years by Clann Credo and others, promoting the development of Social Finance in Ireland. By enhancing the level of resources available for social finance lending the new foundation aims to mobilise the potential present in all communities to ensure that the quality and standard of local community and social infrastructure is commensurate with the level of Ireland's economic development.
Frances Byrne, Chief Executive of One Parent Exchange and Network (OPEN) will provide an insight into how Social Finance assisted the development of their organisation as a National Network, which provides services and supports for lone parents within their communities and campaign for policy changes that recognise family diversity.

Click here to access the Agenda and here to access the conference booking form. If you are interested in attending, please complete and return the booking form by Friday 4th May as places are strictly limited to 80.

More information: contact +353 1 400 2100 info@clanncredo.ie

5 & 6 February, 2007, London, UK - Bioenergy Europe 2007 - Markets and finance for biofuels and biomass

At Bioenergy Europe 2007 you will be brought right up-to-date on the latest EU legislation and incentive schemes that aim to produce a dramatic increase in the use of biomass and biofuels across the 25 member states. You will benefit from insights and analysis from top-level specialists from a broad range of organisations, including: Economic drivers for bioenergy, Update on the EU Biomass Action Plan, Market opportunities in biofuels, Ethanol vs biodiesel, Attracting capital into the bioenergy sector, Pros and cons of venture capital and public equity markets, How the CDM is boosting biomass, Market trends in renewable obligation certificates, Risk management challenges in biofuel projects.

For a full list of speakers and in-depth details of the programme, please click here.
 

11 décembre 2006, Paris, France - Les Entretiens de la Finance Solidaire

Ces entretiens sont le rendez-vous incontournable des professionnels du secteur de la finance solidaire.
Si jusqu’ici, ils s’étaient focalisés sur le marché français, l’édition 2006 se placera résolument sous le signe de l’Europe ! Vous y découvrirez :

• un état des lieux de la finance solidaire dans 7 pays de l’Union européenne ;
• le nouveau label international des produits d’épargne solidaire : pourquoi un tel label est-il nécessaire ? A quels critères devront répondre les produits d’épargne pour se voir labellisés ? …
• les indicateurs de l’épargne solidaire mis en place pour quantifier et qualifier le secteur de la finance solidaire à l’échelle européenne.

Ces nouveaux outils sont l’aboutissement de l’étude « Fineurosol », réalisée cette année dans 7 pays d’Europe. Dirigée par Finansol, le Réseau Financement Alternatif et Febea, elle a regroupé les acteurs financiers solidaires de 7 pays : Bank für Sozialwirtschaft en Allemagne ; Crédal en Belgique ; Merkur Bank au Danemark ; Caixa Pollença en Espagne ; Crédit Coopératif en France ; Banca Popolare Etica en Italie, the Charity Bank Ltd au Royaume-Uni.

Pour le programme complet et le formulaire d'inscription (clôture le 22 novembre) visitez le site web de Fineurosol.

11 December 2006, Paris, France - Discussions on Solidarity Finance - Entretiens de la Finance Solidaire

This event is part of a series of meetings for professionals in the sector of solidarity finance.
Until now they focused on the French market, but the dominant theme for the 2006 session will be Europe! You will find there:

• an inventory on solidarity finance in 7 countries of the European Union
• the new international label for solidarity savings products: why is such a label necessary? what are the labelling criteria selected for savings products to be labelled? etc
• the solidarity finance indicators implemented to describe and quantify the solidarity finance sector on a European scale.

These new tools are the results of the “Fineurosol” study conducted this year in 7 European countries. It was led by Finansol, the Réseau Financement Alternatif and Febea, and gathered the solidarity finance participants of 7 countries: Bank für Sozialwirtschaft in Germany; Crédal in Belgium; Merkur Bank in Denmark; Caixa Pollença in Spain; Crédit Coopératif in France; Banca Popolare Etica in Italy; the Charity Bank in the United Kingdom.

For the full programme and registration (deadline November 22) please visit Fineurosol website. 

25-28 October 2006, Lyon, France - Forum for a Responsible Globalisation

The Forum is the key event of dialogue for everyone who is concerned by the global stakes of this century and who believes that they can act to make a difference, each in their own way, each in their own local area.
The Forum 2006 topics are:

• Topic 1: towards a more balanced global chain of production and exchange
• Topic 2: what kind of financing and governance for a fairer development?
• Topic 3: making local areas active partners in globalisation

The forum is organised by Ville de Lyon, Grand Lyon and RhôneAlpes region.

For more information and registration http://www.global-economic-and-social-forum.com/index.php

25-28 octobre 2006, Lyon, France - Forum pour une Mondialisation Responsable

Le Forum est le grand rendez-vous d'échanges de tous ceux que l'enjeu planétaire de ce siècle préoccupe et qui croient pouvoir agir pour y répondre, chacun à sa place, chacun sur son territoire.

Les thèmes du Forum 2006 sont les suivants :

• Thème 1 : vers une chaîne mondiale de production et d'échanges plus équilibrée
• Thème 2 : quelle finance et quelle gouvernance pour un développement mieux partagé ?
• Thème 3 : rendre les villes et les territoires acteurs de la mondialisation

Pour plus d'information, le programme complet et l'inscription http://www.forum-economique-et-social.com/

Ce forum est organisé par la ville de Lyon, le Grand Lyon et la région Rhône-Alpes.

9-10 November 2006, Oslo, Norway - Microfinance and the Added Value of Multiculturality in Business Creation

This conference is organised by the European Microfinance Network and Nettverks Kreditt in Norway. The first day will focus on the European experience and the second day on Norwegian experience.

For more information or if you like to join the conference, contact EMN emn@european-microfinance.org or + 33 1 56 03 59 68

1-2 juin 2006, Grenoble, France -  Economie Sociale et solidaire en Europe : quel avenir ?

Le Réseau Interuniversitaire de l'Economie Sociale et Solidaire lance un appel à communication pour la participation à ces VIèmes rencontres internationales du Réseau.
Ce colloque vise à faire le point sur l'état d'appréhension de la question européenne par les organisations d'ESS comme de l'ESS par les instances européennes.  

L’appel à communication ainsi que la présentation de ce colloque sont disponibles sur le site de Réseau 21, rubrique «Actualité» - «Agenda»

23 juin 2006, IUT Roanne (42), France - Communication et utopie : promouvoir l’économie solidaire.

Ce colloque international (francophone) a pour but d’identifier les problèmes que rencontrent les acteurs de l’économie sociale et solidaire dans leurs communications (internes et externes) quotidiennes et d’indiquer des solutions. Elle présente l’originalité de mélanger acteurs, chercheurs, élus et journalistes. Entrée gratuite. Inscription fortement recommandée.

Contact : Martine.Court@univ-st-etienne.fr  

16-18 May 2006, Brussels - Working together for growth and jobs - Employment Week 2006

Employment Week offers a great opportunity for practitioners and European decision-makers to connect and discuss the latest policies and trends in employment. The theme this year is "Working Together for Growth and Jobs".
The conference aims to deliver conclusions which will have an influence on the overall EU debate.

The discussions will present a broad vision of the challenges faced by all parties, the policies in place and the actions which need developing and implementing.

Please find out more by visiting Employment Week website: www.employmentweek.com  

16-18 mai 2006, Bruxelles - Travailler ensemble pour la croissance et les emplois - Employment Week 2006

Employment Week offre une excellente opportunité pour praticiens et responsables politiques européens de se rencontrer et de discuter des dernières politiques et tendances en matière d’emploi.
Le thème de la conférence cette année : Travailler ensemble pour la croissance et les emplois.

La conférence aura pour objectif d’établir des conclusions qui influeront le débat sur l'emploi dans l’UE.

Les discussions présenteront une vision globale des défis auxquels l’ensemble des parties prenantes font face, des politiques mises en œuvre et des actions qui doivent être introduites et appliquées.

Pour plus d'information, veuillez visiter www.employmentweek.com  

28-29 Avril 2006, Bruxelles - Le crédit responsable, 6eme conférence internationale sur les services financiers

Organisée à  l’initiative de IFF, Hambourg, Allemagne, cette conférence est la conclusion d’un cycle de réunions dans les différents pays d’Europe. Elle est organisée pour réagir aux excès du projet de directive européenne portant sur le crédit à la consommation. La question de la régulation nécessaire des services financiers, afin de lutter contre les phénomènes d’exclusion bancaire et financière, sera au cœur des débats.

Pour plus d'informations visitez le site web disponible en français, en anglais et en allemand

21 March 2006, Smithfield, Dublin - Common Cents 2006

Clann Credo - The Social Investment Fund, member of INAISE, celebrates it’s 10th Anniversary and is very pleased to announce that the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese will officially open their  Annual Conference. The future development of Social Finance will be discussed as well as taking time to reflect on the achievements of the past decade. 

For more information please visit Clann Credo website or send an email

28-29 March 2006, London - Business-NGO partnerships

This 2-Day Conference is organised by Ethical Corporation.
How to make a partnership work ... so that everyone gets what they want. Key issues include:

• Setting up a succesful partnership: choosing partners, setting targets and avoiding misunderstandings
• Managing the finances: Who pays for what? who takes risk and how do you ensure that the rewards reflect those risks?
• Solving problems: Divising rules of engagement settling disputes, avoiding problems and creating exit strategies
• Communicating internatlly and externally: Getting buy-in, understanding your partner's point of view and raising your profile.

For more information and registration please visit their website.