“Making Microfinance Works” Course – Period 1: 23/05 – 3/6/2011 Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (VMFWG) and International Labour Organization (ILO) will jointly organize the training course “Making Microfinance Works” – Period 1. The objectives of the course is to raising the activities’ achievement of the organizations which provide credit, savings and other financial services to poor people or low-income households. Read more
APEC offers support for commercially sustainable microfinance
APEC is hosting a workshop in Viet Nam on enhancing access to financial services, including for women entrepreneurs, as part of efforts to boost incomes and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The April 7-8 workshop in Hanoi brings together policymakers and microfinance practitioners to share best practices and build capacity among APEC member economies, particularly developing economies, in this vital area. Read more
Analysis of Market Forcast Trends on Quarter 2/2011 – Vietnam
The Market Forecast is a quarterly survey and report specifically designed for practitioners in the field. The ultimate objective of this initiative is to increase the credibility and transparency of the microfinance sector on a national, regional, and global scale as well as provide information that can inform the business decisions of MFI Executive Directors around the world. There were 13 MFIs which took part in the Market Forecast survey for the 2ndquarter of 2010, nine of them are VMFWG’s members, which are out of 94 respondents in the greater Asia region and 445 respondents worldwide are seen. Read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
ADB – 44th Annual Meeting The 44th Annual Meeting starts on 3 May, alongside a gathering of finance ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, andRepublic of Korea, or ASEAN+3. ADB’s Annual Meeting will end on 6 May. Initial findings of a key study which looks at what the region must do to secure sustainable growth over the next four decades will be discussed at a seminar on 4th May. A panel of top policy makers, including the finance ministers of Bangladesh, France, India, and Japan, plus the Viet Nam central bank governor and the Parliamentary State Secretary of Germany are expected to participate. Read more
Save the Children/ Vietnam – Workshop on Financial Education
Save the Children in Vietnam works in partnership with the HCM Department of Education and Training (DOET) to organize a workshop on financial education named “Why financial literacy for young people needed and what we can do?” on April 27, 2011 in Ho Chi Minh City. The objectives of this meeting are to share experiences in financial education and discuss ways to collaborate together to strengthen financial education in Vietnam. The participants will be 50 people from educational sectors, social development, NGOs and financial institutions. The objectives of this meeting are to share experiences in financial education and discuss ways to collaborate together to strengthen financial education in Vietnam. The participants will be 50 people from educational sectors, social development, NGOs and financial institutions. Read more
MACDI – Training Workshop of Risk Management in MFIs
This three-day course helps microfinance institutions develop and improve the quality of their own risk management processes and focuses on problem prevention and early problem identification and control. Participants are provided with guidelines for establishing operational activities that assist an MFI to identify its vulnerabilities, design and implement controls, and monitor the effectiveness of controls. Through exercises, group discussions, and case studies, participants review concepts such as internal controls, fraud, and internal and external audit. Read more
DONOR CORNER
Microfinance Best Practices “International Awards” 2011 – Deadline: June 30, 2011The Microfinance Best Practices “International Award”, promoted by Fondazione Giordano Dell’Amore is open to any institution or organization from any developing or transition country outside Europe involved in the delivery of microfinance and related services for at least 12 months since the application date. The Award winner will receive 50.000,00 euro. The funds must be devoted to the realization of new projects or towards core business expenses. Read more
BBC’s World Challenge: Nominations open for projects or small businesses at grassroots level – Deadline: June 19, 2011
The BBC World Challenge 2011 seeks to provide recognition to projects or small businesses demonstrating enterprise and innovation at the grassroots level. BBC World News Limited and Newsweek are looking for nominations of social entrepreneurs who are making a difference without costing the earth. The World Challenge 2011 provides recognition to the winner of the competition with an award of US $20,000. The second and their Finalist also receive grant of US $10,000. Read more
AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Human Development Projects: NGOs, INGOs, Government & Individuals can be nominated – Deadline: May 31, 2011
The Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) annually offers the AGFUND International Prize with the aim of inciting and encouraging innovation and creativity in the areas of human development. The Prize identifies successful human developmental projects, provide them with substantial funding and disseminate their best practices and innovation to replicate in other areas. It has a particular focus on supporting projects that improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children in developing countries and covers a range of issues such as poverty, social exclusion, socio-economic marginalization, education and health. There are four categories under the Prize carrying a total cash award of US $500,000. Read more
Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World – Deadline: June 30, 2011
Project Inspire is a worldwide community initiative created on the idea of collaboration and inspiration. We hope socially-aware youth from around the world will pitch their ideas – as a 5 minute video or written submission – on how they want to make a difference and help empower women and girls in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa. We’ll help you make your winning idea to empower women a reality with a US$25,000 grant. Plus, we’re offering a special grant of US$10,000 to the best financial literacy/livelihood program aimed at helping women. Read more
