INCLUSIVE MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE 2014

“Making microfinance work for the un-served; inclusion of persons with disabilities”

INCLUSIVE MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE 2014

Kampala, 11- 12 November 2014

THEME SESSIONS AND GUIDELINES

Key words: (barriers, inclusion, disability, microfinance, enterprise, partnership, research and sustainability)

1)Introduction:

The INCLUSIVE MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE 2014is the forum for the presentation of practices, innovations and research results in the fields of Microfinance, Disability and Inclusion. The conference will be a fully inclusive conference involving development agencies, disability organizations, academia, researchers, financial service providers, policymakers, software providers, livelihood based organizations, and others in the domain of interest from around the world. It will be an interactive and reflective knowledge sharing opportunity; to create a setting in which cutting-edge research, as well as strategies developed by disability and development partners, policymakers and practitioners can be exchanged to enhance new research, program and policy initiatives.

The conference theme shall be extensively explored to constitute discussion panels, scientific papers and presentations as explained below:-

  1. Discussion Panels:

Panel presentations at the conference will be limited to 10 minutes each, allowing all the participants opportunity to speak. The workshop presentations can be up to 10 minutes, unless otherwise specified. PowerPoint facilities will be available for speakers who wish to use it to support their presentations. We would encourage speakers to use presentations to provide additional support to participants with audio and other impairments and to those who do not have English as their mother tongue. All panelists participate in the discussion that will seek to answer a set of previously defined questions (moderator will be briefed beforehand to ask specific questions to specific panelists) with the aim of having a focused debate.

Four (4) panels of discussion have been identified as below:

  1. Financial inclusion policy frameworks: the role of government, regulatory bodies and development partners

This session will demonstrate the role of government, regulatory bodies specifically the Central Bank(s) as institutions that promote the formulation, dissemination and implementation of the financial inclusion policy. We will highlight the growing importance of involvement of development partners/agencies in building a more inclusive finance industry and sharing relevant experiences from Uganda, countries in Africa; and provide insight to local and regional stakeholders enabling them to build partnerships that improve their development strategies and results of their actions. The aim is to explore mechanisms of operationalizing the financial inclusion policy to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Suggested Panelists:

  • Ms. Beatrice Nalule Kaggya; Ag. Commissioner Elderly and Disabled – Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
  • Mr. Henry Mbaguta; Ag. Commissioner Microfinance – Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development
  • Ms. Linda Suvatne; Development Advisor – Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD)
  • Mr. Mackay Aoamu; Project Manager Financial Inclusion – Bank of Uganda
  • Ms. Adebiyi Olubunmi; Central Bank of Nigeria

Moderator: Mr. Wilson Twamuhabwa – AMFIU President

  1. Addressing barriers to financial inclusion for unserved clients: bridging the exclusion and information gaps

Access to financial services provides stability and accelerates equitable development and growth for households and businesses. Making microfinance programs accessible for persons with disabilities has great social and economic impact. This panel will aim at highlighting the prevailing barriers to financial inclusion as well as showcasing the innovations by practitioners to handle the financial needs of the excluded households and entrepreneurs with disabilities in a sustainable manner. The panel will recognize the contribution made by various stakeholders at national, regional and global level; including wholesale lenders, software providers and finance service providers in making financial services accessible to unserved groups including persons with disabilities.

The panel will identify the means by which microfinance and disability apexes can help promote the inclusion campaign through use of success stories and positive trends that allow for a more enabling environment for business in Africa.

Suggested Panelists:

  • Ms. Charlotte McClain-Nhapo; Coordinator Disability Inclusive Development – USAID
  • Mr. P. Rajasekharan; Director V-shesh
  • Mr. Fabian Kasi; Chief Executive Officer - Centenary Bank
  • Mr. Simon Ssenyonga; Business Development & Project Manager – Opportunity Bank
  • Mr. Edson Ngirabakunzi; Executive Director – National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU)

Moderator: Mr. Joseph Walugembe; Country Director - Action on Disability & Development (ADD)

  1. Enhancing strategic alliances for inclusive business models and sustainable enterprise development.

Enterprise development has a role to play to create sustainable and inclusive growth in local communities; some leading entrepreneurs and stakeholders are capable of bringing real improvements to the lives of the most vulnerable including persons with disabilities. One of the challenges is to identify how governments and funding partners can support and accelerate the impact of social innovation of business at the base of the pyramid.

This panel will aim to showcase the contribution of the private sector towards inclusive enterprise growth and development; proposing recommendations for synergies between local governments, disabled peoples’ organizations, microfinance practitioners and Civil Society Organizations in development cooperation processes.

Numerous successful projects have highlighted the importance of strategic collaborations including local ownership and sustainability for instance the AMFIU-NUDIPU partnership.

Suggested Panelists:

  • Mr. Svein Brodtkorb; Head of International Department – Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD)
  • Mr. Charles Ocici; Chief Executive Officer – Enterprise Uganda
  • Mr. David Baguma; Executive Director – Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU)
  • The Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Local Government
  • Mr. Gideon Bagadawa; Chief Executive Officer - Private Sector Foundation Uganda
  • Ms. Anne Leymat; Technical Advisor – Handicap International

Moderator:

Ms. Ritah Ngarambe; Chief Executive Officer – Association of Microfinance Institutions of Rwanda (AMIR)

  1. Evidence from the field: research findings and their interpretation in supporting inclusive finance.

A discussion panel comprising experts in academia, research, disability and practitioners will explore the importance of research in determining inclusive interventions and the role of the media in popularizing the inclusion agenda. We will discuss how through collaborations with disability organizations, MFIs, academia and research institutions can support evidence based approaches to improving livelihoods of marginalized groups including persons with disabilities.

Panelists:

  • Prof. Roy Mersland; Microfinance Expert/Researcher – University of Agder
  • Prof. Kjetil Bjorvatn; Research Coordinator – Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
  • Ms. Anneke Maarse; Managing Consultant – DOUBLE LOOP
  • Mr. Charles Lwanga Ntale; Regional Director for Africa, Development Initiatives (DI)
  • Ms. Caroline Abbotts; International Program Officer - Christian Blind Mission
  • Ms. Fiona McConnon; Lead Coordinator - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

Moderator:

Mr. Joshua Goldstein; Principal Director – Centre for Financial Inclusion at ACCION