Diagnostic to Action: Microfinance in Africa,- Multi-Stakeholder Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya
 Women's World Banking (WWB) and the African Microfinance Action Forum (AMAF) hosted the Multi-Stakeholder Conference on ‘Diagnostic to Action: Microfinance in Africa". Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) also supported the hosting of the Conference that was held on June 4th 2009 at United Nations Offices in Nairobi, Kenya.
Opening remarks were done by His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., M.P. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of The Republic of Kenya; with key Remarks by Her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Opening Remarks | Key Remarks
The Conference was held to Generate Next Steps for African Leaders and International, Regional, and Local Institutions Dedicated to Microfinance and Women's Empowerment in Africa
Africa is the Cradle of humanity. It is a very rich Continent. Every type of wealth is available in Africa. The development of Nations like America and Europe thrived from raw materials and human sweat from Africa. Sadly, World Bank year to year records Africa as one of the poorest Continents with more of its people living on less than a dollar per day.
The Conference thus aimed to introduce a paradigm shift. A paradigm shift reinforcing the fact that despite the various languages introduced in Africa many years ago, languages that are used to divide Africans, we who live in Africa must realize that Africa is not property to anyone. Economic Development and Human Welfare is our responsibility.
It is the same reason why,
Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) supported the hosting of the Conference "Diagnostic to Action: Microfinance in Africa". KWFT has the largest national micro-finance network in Kenya with a capacity of accessing sustainable financial and non- financial services to economically active, low income women entrepreneurs, and with deep rural penetration, making it the best choice for the majority.
The Africa Microfinance Action Forum is a voluntary think tank and advocacy group of African leaders who are committed to the advancement of microfinance in Africa. Its members are recognized as advocates for development in Africa and have a strong presence in the global microfinance community. AMAF's vision is to anchor effective microfinance solutions in the realities of the African continent and provide lasting economic and social benefits for low income families in Africa. AMAF seeks to build a movement that will serve as an impetus for more accountable approaches to microfinance development and is committed to contributing and mobilizing resources to achieve this goal. AMAF has 20 confirmed members, with Dr. Jennifer Riria of Kenya serving as Chair.
Intended to generate next steps for African microfinance leaders, as well as for local, regional and international institutions committed to development in Africa, the one-day conference showcased findings from Diagnostic to Action: Microfinance in Africa, a joint study by AMAF and WWB conducted in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, the Government of Luxembourg, ADA, and Care. His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., M.P., President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of The Republic of Kenya and Her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg addressed the conference.
"It is essential to adopt an African-driven social enterprise model that addresses all dimensions of poverty," says Dr. Jennifer Riria, Chairperson of AMAF and CEO of Kenya Women Finance Trust. "There is also a pressing need to develop an African agenda and an African-driven strategy for accelerating the development of business through sectors and institutions that target poor people, in particular using approaches that are based on accurate data from an African perspective. The Diagnostic to Action: Microfinance in Africa conference is a positive step in this direction."
The Government of Kenya, has demonstrated support for Microfinance development as key in the achievement of the 20/30 goals; and, the achievement of the Development Millennium goals as well.
The Government of Spain and Luxembourg have long supported Microfinance in Africa and have been instrumental to development of this new paradigm shift.
"This conference therefore brought together diverse stakeholders from around the world to identify a common vision for the way forward in expanding access to financial products and services that can help move millions of African micro-entrepreneurs and their families out of poverty," adds Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking. "Microfinance will be a key component of any successful growth and economic development strategy for Africa, but for it to succeed, collaboration among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors is required."
The conference featured leaders of the microfinance industry in Africa; African regional and sub-regional organizations such as the African Union, Africa Development Bank, NEPAD, the Economic Commission for Africa and regional economic and monetary unions; representatives of other development organizations; ambassadors representing developed countries in Kenya; African and Spanish women's organizations; NGOs working in the field of women economic empowerment and microfinance; and national policy makers who are recognized as champions of the poor and women in Africa.
AMAF's Vision has received a great deal of support from Casa Africa, African-Spanish Women's Network for a Better World and UNIFEM, and ADA in addition to WWB and AMAF, There is also significant support of this school of thought and approach locally by Craft Silicon Ltd., UUNET, Spasys Ltd, Victoria Furniture's, Toyota Kenya, Simba Colt Motors Ltd, and Camus Building Contractors.
Women's World Banking (WWB) is a leading global network of 41 microfinance providers and banks, working in 29 countries to bring financial products and services to low-income entrepreneurs, especially women. The network is supported by an international team of experts based in New York who deliver expertise in product design and distribution, access to capital markets, and customer care and insight. The network serves over 21 million micro-entrepreneurs. For more information on WWB, please visit www.womensworldbanking.org.
About The Africa Microfinance Action Forum
The Africa Microfinance Action Forum is a voluntary think tank and advocacy group of African leaders who are committed to the advancement of microfinance in Africa. Its members are recognized as advocates for development in Africa and have a strong presence in the global microfinance community. AMAF's vision is to anchor effective microfinance solutions in the realities of the African continent and provide lasting economic and social benefits for low income families in Africa. AMAF seeks to build a movement that will serve as an impetus for more accountable approaches to microfinance development and is committed to contributing and mobilizing resources to achieve this goal. AMAF has 20 confirmed members, with Dr. Jennifer Riria of Kenya serving as Chair. |
