6th AFRICAN MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE

An important conference for the microfinance industry in Africa is being planned for the 13-15 August, in Durban South Africa. This year’s theme is “Financial Inclusion: From Policy to Practice”, and focuses on the key challenge of expanding financial inclusion. The African Microfinance Conference Series was started in 2003 by a range of stakeholders based in South Africa. Growing from strength to strength, this bi-annual conference has grown from 250 participants in 2003 to almost 600 in 2011. Visit the conference website here

Among the five sub-themes of the conference, housing finance has been highlighted as a key area of attention. From the programme:

Sub-theme 3: Policies and Practice in Housing Finance in Africa

This sub-theme will focus on the trends in policies and practice in housing finance in Africa drawing from experiences in African markets and elsewhere. The sessions will explore policy interventions that lead to growth in the housing and housing finance sector, case studies of housing microfinance products in microfinance institutions, practices that have been introduced and tested in the region and general trends in the housing finance sector in Africa.

The Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa is working with the conference organisers to develop this aspect of the programme – if you’d like to offer any suggestions, please contact Olga Koma on olga@housingfinanceafrica.org. Over the next few months we will circulate further details, but in the meantime, please mark your diaries and plan to attend this event.

Who Should Attend?

The African Microfinance Conference series is renowned as a meeting place for a wide spectrum of stakeholders. Therefore you will benefit in attending and participating as a:
• Practitioner
• Service provider
• Researcher
• Policy maker
• Opinion former
• Regulator
• Supporter

Housing microfinance practitioners will especially find this useful as it covers some of the most critical issues experienced within the sector.

Date and Venue

The conference will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) from 13 – 15 August 2013. A focal point of Durban’s business district, the International Convention Centre Durban is a functional space in an aesthetic environment.

Registration Fees

Official registration for the 6th African Microfinance Conference has opened (All rates are inclusive of Value Added Tax)
Early Registration to 28 June 2013: R5 500
Registration: R7 750

Exhibition and Sponsorship

The 6th African Microfinance Conference will offer delegates a unique opportunity to participate and visit the industry focused exhibition that will run with the conference. Delegates will be able to establish new contacts and learn about new products and services during refreshments and lunch breaks. Exhibitors will have a commercial opportunity to interact with present and potential clients in a captive environment that is highly focused but with a broad African approach. HMF practitioners can also take advantage of the exhibition stage to highlight the work that they do. The platform will enable you to interact with other stakeholders within the field. A Conference/Exhibition is a unique promotion opportunity that addresses the topics of “problem and solution” to delegates during a conference with the integration of direct and relevant business on its doorstep in the form of an exhibition. Various sponsorship opportunities are available. Please visit the website for further information.

Accommodation and Transport

The Conference Secretariat has negotiated special group rates with various hotels in close proximity to the ICC. A hotel/ICC shuttle service will be provided. To ensure that all delegates will enjoy preferential and highly competitive rates, please view the conference website for details on these hotels and click on the Accommodation Tab. Airport transfers will be available for all delegates at an additional cost between King Shaka International Airport, Durban and the various Conference hotels from 10 to 15 August 2013. Both your accommodation and transfers may be booked alongside your registration to attend the conference.

Contacts

Conference Secretariat: Melanie Sillince, Core Competency. Tel + 27 11 786 5683, or email amc6@corecompetency.co.za
Exhibition Organizer: Dee Reuvers, SA Confex. Tel + 27 82 565 6700 or email deer@saconfex.co.za