News

Development of the ‘Capacity Building for Partnerships in Microfinance’ workshop curriculum is entering its final stages. A formal peer review process is now underway, and a draft has been sent to experts from a range of international institutions. The training materials make up one part of a larger program which is being undertaken with the support of the Citi Foundation and in partnership with the Banking With the Poor Network and future workshops are planned for 2008.

The interaction between communities and the resources sector in developing countries often results in security issues for both actors. For the community, security concerns arise from the lack of or unequal access to livelihoods, basic services, education, and health facilities; whilst for the resources sector concerns frequently relate to reputational risk, physical security, damage to property, personnel and profitability. This workshop aims to focus on cutting-edge methods and tools of engagement to enable the resources sector to meet national and international obligations and in the process secure communities and their business operations. The workshop will take place on the 1st February 2008 in Brisbane, Australia.

Given the success of the first Asia Microfinance Forum in 2006, the BWTP Network is organising a second Asia Microfinance Forum to be held in 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The forum will be held from the 26th to the 29th of August, 2008.

FDC is pleased to announce the launch of the new publication series, FDC Briefing Note. This series of publications will focus on innovative issues in international development and will be published at least on a quarterly basis. The first in the series is entitled Electronic Banking with the Poor – Opportunities and Implications for Microfinance Providers authored by Stuart Mathison (Head- Technology Initiatives). To view the publication click here.

The purpose of this workshop is to learn practical and participatory project management skills, which are used in community development (CD) projects either in Australia or overseas. More…

The BWTP network and the Foundation for Development Cooperation organised a workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia from the 5-7 September on “Linkages and Partnerships in Microfinance” to promote the partnership approach to increase outreach and raise the quality of microfinance services. The event was run over three days and includes a symposium, a training course and a special session on Microfinance and Disaster Management.

In the first event of its kind ever held in the Pacific region, the Microfinance Pasifika Network convened the inaugural Pacific Microfinance Week in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 27 to 31 August 2007.

The Pacific Microfinance Week 2007 in Port Moresby brought together more than 130 microfinance and financial sector practitioners, experts, policy-makers, academics and regulators drawn from more than 20 countries from across the Pacific and beyond for a week-long series of events, discussions, meetings and gatherings. More..