10th Annual Sanabel Conference in Dubai to discuss regional microfinance trends and opportunities amid challenging times

Grameen-Jameel Microfinance Limited (Grameen-Jameel) is the Strategic Partner to the Sanabel (The Microfinance Network of Arab Countries) 2014 Conference being held under the theme “Microfinance at Crossroads; Current Developments and Future Prospects in the Arab States”, which takes place at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City from September 29 to 30. The event is held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development.

The conference is taking place at a crucial juncture, given the challenging political situation in many parts of the Arab world, which has created added pressure on the regional microfinance industry.

The conference aims at providing an overview on the state of the microfinance industry in Arab countries, highlighting current developments and discussing present and future potential opportunities for growth. The conference will serve as the ideal platform for exchanging experiences, ideas, knowledge and discussing good practices among Arab and international stakeholders. It will discuss in-depth wide-ranging topics related to regional and international microfinance, such as trends and opportunities, issues, good practices, innovative approaches, among others.The conference will pave the road to appropriate planning for financial inclusion in the Arab microfinance industry based on regional and international experiences. 400 participants from MFIs, donors, investors and representatives of the global microfinance industry are expected to take part in this event.

Sanabel is the only regional network serving the microfinance sector in the Arab world since 2002, and has always been committed to supporting growth and innovation, and applying good practices and standards for the microfinance sector in the Arab world. Sanabel is a member based network representing over 90 microfinance institutionsfrom 13different Arab countries namely; Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Grameen-Jameel also revealed that it will be hosting its 2^ndPartner Meeting at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City on September 28^th, which will be attended by the top management of the partner organizations from across the region.

“The microfinance sector is today being pressed from all sides to come up with the most feasible solution that will best serve the excluded micro entrepreneurs during these difficult times. This has resulted in a certain level of soul searching that has sent many of us back to the basics. This means that the focus is back on putting the customer first, shifting the mindsets and re-prioritizing, in addition to adapting the product offering more effectively. In the midst of all these predicaments Grameen-Jameel remains committed to its calling to helping the underprivileged by supporting the development of the micro finance industry,” said Zaher Al Munajjed, Grameen-Jameel Chairman.

“Given this backdrop, the Sanabel Conference creates the ideal setting for the microfinance industry to come together and set a road map for the future of the sector, to ensure that it will continue to provide hope and well-being to the needy and underprivileged of the Arab world,” he added.

One of the major highlights of the two-day conference is the two awards, which will be announced during the conference; The Grameen-Jameel MFI Awards 2014 that will recognize Arab microfinance institutions that demonstrate excellence in the categories of Innovation, Leadership and Sustainable Growth, and The GIZ/Sanabel Award, which focuses on the innovative approaches to enhance access of financial services to women in the Arab Countries.

Sanabel will also conduct pre and post training workshops on September 28^th and October 1^st on; Client Protection Principles, Transformation, Youth Focused Financial Services, and The Value of Gender Performance Data.

Sanabel acknowledges the sponsors of its 10^th annual conference namely; The Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, AGFUND, Metlife, The World Bank, GIZ, International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, Silatech, and Sanad Fund for MSME.