NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Co-hosted by the Poland-based Microfinance Centre (MFC) and the Belgium-based European Microfinance Network (EMN), this event’s theme for 2018 is “People and the Digital Revolution: Advancing Our Social Mission through Technology.” Although the agenda of conference is still in development, it will include subjects such as Capitalising on Big Data for Financial Inclusion, MFI (Microfinance Institution) Partnerships with Fintech, Innovative Risk Management Including Alternative Risk Management Tools, and Microfinance Clients’ Financial Health and Ways to Measure It. The event will also include the presentation of the 11th Microfinance Research Award, offering a prize of EUR 1,000 (USD 1,157) to authors on topics such as digitalization in the microfinance sector, job creation, social entrepreneurship or social investment performance measurement.

Background on Organizer: MFC is a network of 111 MFIs operating in 36 countries that aims to promote a socially oriented and sustainable microfinance sector. Its services include knowledge management, policy advocacy, technical assistance, and research and development. As of December 2016, MFC’s member MFIs serve approximately 1.5 million customers.

EMN aims to bring together microfinance practitioners and other industry stakeholders in Europe with the purpose of promoting best practices in microfinance, self-employment and microenterprise development. It also seeks to improve the regulatory framework for microfinance at the EU and member-state levels. The NGO disseminates its information via webinars, conferences, peer-to-peer visits and publications. As of 2018, EMN has 112 members and partners located in 25 European countries.