January-June 2011 Issue 4

Micro finance for All Alliance Newsletter

As an exceptional case, the quarterly issue was not published, please accept our apology.

Together, we can and we must create more inclusive financial sectors. Kofi Annan

Focus Senegal
Partnership Agreement Facilitating Access to Microcredit for PSHs signed between HI and U-IMCEC
Handicap International (HI) and the Union des Institutions Mutualistes Communautaires dEpargne et de Crdit (U-IMCEC) have signed a partnership agreement with the principal objective to facilitate access to credit for people with disabilities supporting projects of professional inclusion. Sponsors whose applications are accepted may, if they wish to do so, receive a credit from the U-IMCEC. They prepare applications for this purpose. Such applications are reviewed in the Credit Committee of the IMCEC following its own criteria, but taking into account the provisions of the partnership agreement. 85 microprojects for professional inclusion have already been submitted to the GSC which is the guidance and selection committee created after the agreement was signed. 18 projects were accepted specifically in the field of handicrafts and services.

In this issue:
Focus: Senegal - A partnership agreement signed between HI and U-IMCED - Interview with Bassirou Ndour, Director of an IMCED office in Senegal The Center for Financial Inclusion launches the Smart Campaign which is establishing the principle of nondiscrimination as essential Participation in the European Microfinance Week organised in Luxembourg, from November 2 to November 4, 2011

A borrower from the U-IMCEC in front of her production of hibiscus juice

Interview with Bassirou Ndour, Director of the IMCEC Office in Kolda: This partnership makes it more possible for us to reach vulnerable populations.
What I especially appreciate in the work of Handicap International is that they have established the Guidance and Selection Committee (GSC), a committee to which the sponsor defends their project. The GSC is made up of various participants, including HI and the U-IMCEC. I am privileged to represent the
Moussa DIAMANKA, HI Project Director

U-IMCEC on this Committee. During the GSC, projects are preselected after often rich exchanges which reflect the variety of expertise on the committee. After the GSC, credit applications are submitted to our institution. The opinions expressed in the GSC facilitate our review of

Moussa Diamanka, HI Project Managerr, President of the Kolda Chamber of Trades and U-IMCEC Borrowers

It must also be emphasized that sponsors receive training in entrepreneurship and management before the financing is granted and regular monitoring by HI and the UIMCEC. To ensure consistency, HI makes our institution responsible for training, which enables us to have more knowledge about sponsors.

The Center for Financial Inclusion Launches the Smart Campaign and Declares the Non-Discrimination Principle Essential
The most positive estimates now confirm that less than 0.5% of people with disabilities are clients of IMFs. But, more than 650 million people are disabled, now representing 12% of the world population. By prohibiting all discrimination against people with disabilities and more generally against disadvantaged populations, the Smart Campaign has made great progress in protecting the rights of marginalised populations. Eliminating any ambiguity, this new rule provides that the selection and processing of applications shall not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, disability, religion or sexual orientation. Nondiscriminatory treatment is essential to enable access to financial services with total confidence in the service provider. Placing the emphasis on basic rights leads international microfinance to a leadership position in the battle for equal rights and access for disabled persons, as recommended by the CIDPH in 2006

European Microfinance Week Focuses on Disability

The theme selected for this European event is inclusive finance for excluded persons. More than ever, people with disabilities and vulnerable populations are at the centre of the discussions. Handicap International will speak at the event on the following theme: Guaranteeing access to microfinance services for disabled people: from theory to practice This week, we hope to open up opportunities for cooperation with participants in microfinance. European Finance Week will take place in Luxembourg, from November 2 to 4, 2011.

A Financing Opportunity
EuropeAid has published guidelines for the ACP/EU Microfinance call for proposals, specifically targeting microfinance for excluded and vulnerable persons. Entrepreneurs du Monde, in partnership with ECIDEC has made Handicap International a partner in its project dedicated to promoting social and inclusive microfinance.

Would you like to learn more about the Alliance?

Please contact Grgory Doucet, Microfinance For All Alliance Coordinator

gdoucet@handicapinternational.org