June 10th 2005 Cordaid Congress
International Year of Microcredit 2005
'Investing in the Poor'

Microfinance needs an impulse
Microfinance in the South needs an impulse. Succes stories from all over the world prove the possibility to supply poor people with credits. Often a small producer can be sufficiently supported with a credit of only a few hundred dollars to make just enough profit to free his or her family from the hopelessness of poverty. Usually these recipients turn out to be quite able to pay back the suppliers of microcredit (microfinance institutions or MFI's). These stories make it clear that loans often make more of a difference than gifts.

Social investors
MFI's in the South first experience a period of growth before being able to operate autonomous. Besides the pressure to reach more and more customers they need to meet the high commercial and financial standards demanded by banks and besides loans they also need to supply the poor with new and flexible financial services like savings accounts and insurances. To meets these standards MFI's more often make an appeal to social investors and social investment funds. At the same time there is a great need for financial expertise.

Cordaid Congress 
Cordaid's Finance Business Unit supplies loans and guarantees to small producers in the South and often cooperates with local MFI's. To share and broaden her and her partners expertise and to actively involve social investors and financial experts from the North into microfinance for the poor in the South, Cordaid organises on the 10th of June the congress: International Year of Microcredit 2005: 'Investing in the Poor'.

Information
Primarily this congress is focussing on an already addressed public consisting of partners and financial and social investors. If you really would like to attend the congress or wish to receive more information on microfinance in the South, please contact Jacob Winter or Tony Fernandes.
Download the congress brochure (pdf 395 KB)