As a way to explore the extent to which there is potential for EIB involvement in the Pacific microfinance sector, the EIB will become a Silver sponsor of the 5th edition of the Pacific Microfinance Week. The event, held every two years since 2007, is the major gathering of microfinance stakeholders in the Pacific attracting participants ranging from microfinance practitioners, advocates, educational institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, NGOs, domestic government agencies and others. The last edition was a success as it gathered more than 150 participants.
The Pacific Microfinance Week is convened by the Microfinance Pasifika Network, an alliance of 21 members committed to supporting disadvantaged people in the Pacific to improve their quality of life through the provision of inclusive and sustainable financial services such as savings, credit, remittances and payment services and insurance.
This year’s sessions will cover a broad range of subjects from microfinance regulation in the Pacific to the growth of micro client’s businesses, going through women’s empowerment. The Pacific Microfinance Week 2015 should also offer excellent networking opportunities and allow identifying both short-term and medium-term new potential counterparties for the EIB. Besides, useful inputs are expected to be collected to support the design of the technical assistance envelope attached to the new Facility.