2010 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Forum Agenda Monday, October 11th 9.00 – 17.00 Asia Network Summit 2010 Ivy Rooms Hosted by the BWTP Network. Network Organised in cooperation with the SEEP Network and ADA (invitation only) Tuesday, October 12th 8.30-12.30 Ivy Rooms Asia Network Summit 2010 Organised in cooperation with the SEEP Network and ADA (invitation only) 14.00 –15.15 Ivy Room 3 BWTP Network Member’s Informal Roundtable 15.15 – 17.30 Ivy Room 1 & 2 BWTP Network Member General Meeting 19.00 –19.30 Atrium Cocktail Reception 19.30 – 21.30 Opening Dinner Oak Ballroom 20.00 Craig Wilson, Executive Director, FDC 20.05 Rajendra Theagarajah, CEO, HNB 20.10 Glen Rase, Country Head and CEO, Citi Sri Lanka 20.15 Koshy Mathai, Resident Representative, Sri Lanka & Maldives, IMF 20.30 Dinner 21.00 Cultural Presentation (invitation only) (invitation only) Understanding Financial Inclusion Governance and Management Client Education Policy, Regulation and Investment Products and Services e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Conference Day 1 Wednesday, October 13th 9.00 – 9.20 Oak Ballroom Welcome Remarks Traditional opening ceremony Chandula Abeywickrema, Abeywickrema Deputy General Manager (Marketing & Retail Banking), HNB, Sri Lanka and Chairman, BWTP Network Shirish Apte, CEO, Citi Asia Pacific 9.20 – 9.45 Oak Ballroom Opening Address Priyantha Fernando, Fernando Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka 9.45 –10.15 Networking Break (Pre-function Area) 10.15 – 12.00 Opening Keynote Panel: The Role of Microfinance in Achieving Financial Inclusion Oak Ballroom Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Moderator: Philip Brown, Managing Director and Director of Risk, Citi Microfinance Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO, Women’s World Banking Dolores Torres, President and CEO, CARD MRI, Philippines W M Karunaratne, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka There is broad international agreement on the importance of financial inclusion as a policy goal for all governments, including the developing countries of Asia. While microfinance is an important tool in achieving greater inclusion, it is increasingly clear that delivering on the mandate of financial inclusion is broader than just providing access to credit. To remain a growth sector the microfinance industry is undergoing another period of re-evaluation with a focus on improved client understanding and product and distribution channel innovation. Feedback from the region’s leading national microfinance networks suggests that while many governments understand that financial inclusion policies are essential, the important role of sustainable microfinance as a valuable tool is not. This facilitated keynote panel of industry leaders will generate a discussion on the role of microfinance in achieving financial inclusion. It will highlight the challenges in scaling up the current business model and delivering products and services which will contribute to financial inclusion. This session will also consider how the microfinance sector can better work with the region’s policy-makers to ensure microfinance’s role in financial Inclusion is recognised. 12.00 – 13.30 Lunch (Atrium/Ivy Rooms/Cedar Room) Sponsored by LOLC Group 2 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 1 Wednesday, October 13th 13.30 – 15.00 Oak Ballroom Governance and Management Translation Sinhalese/Tamil OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Plenary Session: Governance and Management Moderator: Rajendra Theagarajah, Theagarajah Managing Director and CEO, HNB, Sri Lanka Greg Chen, Regional Representative for South Asia, CGAP, USA Alok Prasad, CEO, Microfinance Institutions Network, India Nimal Mamaduwa, Mamaduwa General Manager/CEO, SANASA Development Bank, Sri Lanka Recent years have revealed significant challenges for those responsible for maintaining the mission, growth and sustainability of Asia’s microfinance institutions. A key trend in those MFIs that have maintained strong portfolios, continued a healthy growth trajectory, limited staff turnover and continued to attract investment is the strength of their overall governance and management. However, experience is uneven across the region. The recent annual ‘Microfinance Banana Skins’ reports consistently identify greater governance and management difficulties in Asia than in other regions.. This session will discuss the importance of robust institutional governance and management structures to the growth of the industry by discussing lessons learned, identifying some of the key traits of a successful MFI and some of the lessons learned from recent crises in some national sectors. This session will review the functioning of current successful (and unsuccessful) MFI boards and management teams. 15.00 – 15.30 Networking Break (Pre-function Area) 15.30 –17.30 Sri Lanka Special Session - State of the Industry and Ways Forward Oak 2 & 3 Policy, Regulation and Investment Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Moderator: Nimal Fernando, Managing Director, Inclusive Finance International Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka W.A. Wijewardena, former Senior Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Rienzie Wijetilleke, Chairman, Hatton National Bank, Sri Lanka P.A. Kiriwandeniya, Chairman, SANASA, Sri Lanka Guest for panel discussion: W M Karunaratne, Asst Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan microfinance sector benefits from a well-developed banking infrastructure and several successful community-based financial interventions. As the Sri Lankan economy takes off after several decades of stagnation due to conflict, there is need to build a renewed vision for the microfinance sector. This panel will take on a number of the challenges facing the Sri Lankan microfinance sector, starting with the need to step up the efforts to transition the sector under a common financial and legal regulatory framework. As community-based development initiatives work alongside for-profit corporate entities, there is always the threat of social development goals and the objectives of serving vulnerable segments of the population being overcome by financial bottom-lines. However, this threat can be mitigated if the leaders in the sector share their expertise and knowledge to develop a shared vision build a common set of values, and a common code-of-conduct, to ensure healthy competition, consumer protection and individual measures of success. The future growth and development of the microfinance sector in Sri Lanka is the shared responsibility of the nation’s public and private banking sector and MFIs. The banks and refinancing institutions must be willing to refinance and come half way, as must the MFIs be willing to enhance their performance and demonstrate the capacity to manage these investments. Importantly, there is a great need to continue the rehabilitation efforts in both tsunami-affected and conflict-affected communities, especially in the North and East, as well as addressing the financial needs of communities in the highlands. 3 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 1 Wednesday, October 13th 15.30 – 17.30 Oak 1 Governance and Management OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Transaction and Portfolio Risk Management Inclusiveness and Sustainability Moderator: Nina Nayar, BWTP Network Consultant, India Bai Chengyu, Secretary General, China Association of Microfinance Maud Savary-Mornet, Savary-Mornet Deputy Head, PlaNis, France Sok Voeurn, Chief Operations Officer, Thaneakea Phum (Cambodia) Ltd, Cambodia MFIs in many countries have recently faced severe challenges in terms of portfolio quality resulting from both internal and external factors. This session will discuss transaction and portfolio risk from the perspective of practitioners and networks that have seen significant obstacles in terms of over indebtedness, portfolio management issues, the global financial crisis and the wider credit environment. It will consider the strategies of successful institutions in both overcoming these challenges and building robust internal processes for the future growth, inclusiveness and sustainability. 15.30 – 17.30 Oak 4 Governance and Management Social Performance Management – Ensuring Inclusion Moderator: Ewa Bankowska, SPM Program Manager, MFC, Poland Mike Krell, Social Performance Analyst, the MIX, USA Lalaine Joyas, Executive Director, MCPI, Philippines Thun Vathana, Research Manager, AMK, Cambodia An essential principle differentiating ‘microfinance’ from ‘finance’ is the social mission of microfinance institutions. The Asian microfinance industry especially has long considered itself as having a concerted emphasis on social mission and poverty alleviation. However, like elsewhere in the world commercial imperatives and external pressure is forcing the industry to reconsider the assumptions underpinning its social mission. As a result, social performance, the effective translation of an institution’s mission into practice, and the management of this, is increasingly being recognised as an essential tool. This session will hear the perspectives of different organisations leading the way on social performance management in Asia and internationally. 17.45 – 20.00 Ivy Rooms Workshop C - The Essential Checklist For Successful Investor Relationship Management Facilitated by Symbiotics An activity of the Invest Asia Panel Session and Marketplace (by invitation only) 4 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Conference Day 2 Thursday, October 14th 9.00 – 10.30 Oak Ballroom Policy, Regulation and Investment Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Plenary Session: Policy Making - Are We Getting The Framework Right? Moderator: Rose Cooray, Cooray former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Matthew Titus, Executive Director, Sa Dhan, India John Conroy, Special Consultant, FDC, Australia Gerardo Butardo, Butardo Acting Deputy Director, MSME Finance Specialist Group, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippines In 1998 FDC and the BWTP Network, together with the Asian Development Bank, published the first substantial research into regulation and policy in Asia- ‘Getting the Framework Right’. It highlighted the need for conducive microfinance regulatory environments in the region’s national industries. 12 years on, the industry has come a long way in terms of regulatory frameworks, but much remains to be done and uneven development has resulted. It is agreed across the microfinance industry that up-todate regulation and policy will play a vital role in the appropriate development of the microfinance sector as it progresses. Essential to this is learning from lessons of the past, other industries and being cognisant of the challenges of commercialisation pressures and foreign investment. This session will review the current state of policy and regulation in the region and look to a way forward. 10.30 - 11.00 Networking Break (Pre-function Area) 11.00 – 12.30 Financial Literacy – Who’s Responsibility? Oak 1 Client Education Moderator: Paula Bennett, Director, Corporate Citizenship, Citi Asia Pacific Benita Sarah Mathew, Manager, Research and Development, ESAF, India Valerie Breda, Microfinance Expert, ILO Regional Office for Asia, Thailand TBC An essential determinant of inclusion is the capacity of clients to fully engage with financial institutions and having a full understanding of both money management and the products being offered. While the number of MFIs providing financial literacy education programs to clients is increasing, there remains the belief that providing these programs is costly and not the core business of financial institutions. The benefits of financial education to clients include better household financial decision-making and capacity to manage loans, savings and other financial services while institutions benefit from lower default rates and client growth. This session will discuss the role and responsibility of MFIs in providing or facilitating some form of financial education around their products and more broadly. 5 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 2 Thursday, October 14th 11.00 – 12.30 Oak 4 Products and Services OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Savings and Inclusion Moderator: Md. Abdul Awal, Awal Executive Director, CDF, Bangladesh Syed Mohsin Ahmed, Ahmed CEO, Pakistan Microfinance Network, Pakistan Dolores Torres, President and CEO, CARD MRI, Philippines Syeda Obaida Haque, Haque Senior Director, Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women, Bangladesh The Savings and Inclusion panel will look at the role of savings in increasing financial inclusion and the benefits for both client and institutions. Although the importance of savings is widely accepted within the Asian microfinance community, the challenges of product development, portfolio management and regulatory constraints remain. Savings mobilisation also provides opportunities for MFIs, however the effective resolution of regulatory, legal, capacity and cost constraints pose limitations. This session will provide a fresh perspective from industry leaders on the role of savings in the growth of the Asian microfinance sector. 11.00 – 12.30 Oak 2 & 3 Policy, Regulation and Investment Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Investing in Asia: Opportunities, Challenges and Impact Moderator: Alok Prasad, CEO, Microfinance Institutions Network, India Liz Larson, Asia Regional Manager, MIX, USA Femke Bos, Fund Manager Triodos Microfinance Fund , Netherlands Michael Rabonza, Investment Officer, Triple Jump, Netherlands Ravi Tissera, Director/CEO, LOLC Micro Credit Ltd., Sri Lanka The Investing in Asia Session is a part of the Invest Asia Marketplace and Panel Session. Participants in the session will discuss the investor landscape from several angles. The session will provide an overview of the current investor landscape for the whole of Asia, and look at the expectations, experience and recommendations of investors working with a range of institutions in the region, with an emphasis on the increased importance of social performance management and ratings. The session will also consider the impact of foreign investment on MFIs in terms of improving processes, governance and innovation, and also consider the prospects for Sri Lanka and challenges of investment in industries with stillemerging regulatory frameworks. 12.30 – 13.30 Lunch (Atrium/Ivy Rooms/Cedar Room) 13.30 – 17.30 Oak 2 & 3 Invest Asia Marketplace Hosted by the BWTP Network and the South Asia Microfinance Network Sponsored by Citi (invitation only) 13.30 – 17.30 Ivy Rooms Workshop A - Social Performance Management 13.30 – 17.30 Oak 1 Workshop B - Client Protection Facilitated by the Microfinance Centre (by registration) Facilitated by the Smart Campaign (by registration) 6 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 2 Thursday, October 14th 13.30 – 17.30 Oak 4 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Workshop D - Housing Finance Interactive Discussion Hosted by Habitat for Humanity and Lanka Financial Services for Underserved Settlements 13.30 – 17.30 Field Visit Hosted by SANASA Development Banka and South Asia Partnership Sri Lanka Conference Day 3 Friday, October 15th 9.00 – 10.30 Oak 2 & 3 Client Education Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Client Protection: How do MFI’s Mainstream Client Protection? Moderator: Kelly Hattel, Hattel SEEP Network Consultant, USA Leah Nedderman, Nedderman Tool Development Specialist, Smart Campaign, USA Matteo Marinelli, Marinelli Senior Investment Analyst , Blue Orchard Ruben de Lara, Executive Director, TSPI, Philippines One of the fundamental principles of responsible microfinance is the protection of clients from unfair, non-transparent or unethical practices. These are clearly defined in the Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Principle’s - Avoidance of Over-Indebtedness, Transparent and Responsible Pricing, Appropriate Collections Practices, Ethical Staff Behaviour, Mechanisms for Redress of Grievances and Privacy of Client Data. Hundreds of microfinance institutions and stakeholders have signed up to these principles. But the question remains as to how these are how are these mainstreamed into the day-to-day practices of microfinance institutions? This session will look at the issue from the view of the Campaign itself, an MFI implementing these principles as well as from an investor perspective. 7 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 3 Friday, October 15th 9.00 – 10.30 Oak 1 Products and Services OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Alternative Delivery Channels – Overcoming Geographic Exclusion Moderator: Anuratna Chadha, Chadha Managing Director and Head of Citi Microfinance India Aparajita Agrawal, Agrawal Knowledge & Insights Division, Intellecap, India Irma L. Cosica, Chief Operating Officer, ASKI Global Ltd., Singapore Ayesha Baig, Manager of Product Development, First Microfinance Bank of Pakistan Geographic exclusion, whether due to the extreme size of a country like India, large numbers of Overseas Foreign Workers from the Philippines working in Singapore and Hong Kong or the hilly regions of Nepal, is a huge challenge for the industry. Mobile and branchless/correspondent banking and the large flow of international remittances are bringing up a range of alternatives for delivering services to clients at home and abroad. This session, rather than focusing solely on the anticipated scale and benefits of mobile banking, takes advantage of recent research sponsored by the BWTP Network that looks at mobile banking as one element of wider ICT application in India. In contrast, reaching out to expatriate work populations is the subject of recent research by a BWTP member in Singapore. 9.00 – 10.30 Oak 4 Policy, Regulation and Investment Financial Inclusion in the Mekong: Discussion of the BWTP Industry Assessments Moderator: Jamie Bedson, BWTP Program Manager, BWTP Network, Cambodia Tatsanee Setboonsarng, Board Member, NawaChiOne Foundation, Thailand Chea Phalarin, Chairman, Cambodia Microfinance Association, Cambodia Somphone Sisenglath, Managing Director, EMI, Lao PDR Nhan Cu Phan, Director of International Cooperation Dept., VBSP, Vietnam The BWTP Network has long focused on documenting the financial services for the poor in Asia’s emerging sectors. In 2010 the BWTP Network sought to highlight the emerging microfinance industries and financial services for the poor in the Mekong region, in a series of industry reports and country updates covering Laos PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. These reports indicate the great diversity in current ‘microfinance’ activities across the region, from the extremely nascent to the relatively well-developed, implemented by a variety of institutions on a wide spectrum of practice. This session will hear from key players from each sector, as well as an update on progress in Vietnam since the publication of the Vietnam Industry Assessment in 2008 and the last Asia Microfinance Forum held in Hanoi in 2008. 10.30 – 11.00 Networking Break (Pre-function Area) 8 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 3 Friday, October 15th 11.00 – 12.30 Oak 2 & 3 Policy, Regulation and Investment Translation Sinhalese/Tamil OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Responsible Lending: A New Industry Benchmark? Moderator: William Tucker, Tucker Executive Director, SEEP Network, USA P.N. Vasudevan, Vasudevan Founder and Managing Director, Equitas, India Royston Braganza, Braganza CEO, Grameen Capital, India John Conroy, Special Consultant, FDC, Australia The assumption that microfinance is contributing to poverty alleviation and is benefiting the households of poor clients, predominantly women, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, internationally and in Asia. This is difficult topic for the industry to address; nevertheless, several industry leaders are working toward negotiating a consensus amongst the industry as to what responsible lending/pricing means. Interest rate caps are often an anathema to the industry, but the first choice of regulators seeking to protect their constituents. How then does the industry respond? Is self-regulation an industry consensus on what is a responsible way forward? Are return on equity policies, comparative transparency or stronger promotion of competition better attractions? This session will tackle some of the most important questions facing the industry. 11.00 – 12.30 Oak 1 Products and Services Youth Entrepreneurship – Diversifying Income Generation Moderator: Graham Macmillan, Program Officer, Citi Foundation Chandula Abeywickrema, Deputy General Manager (Marketing & Retail Banking), HNB, Sri Lanka and Chairman, BWTP Network Frans Purnama, Country Microfinance Advisor, Plan International, Indonesia Lara Storm, Director, Youth-Inclusive Financial Services, Making Cents International, USA Over a third of the world’s population is between the ages of 15 – 25 with the majority living in developing countries and in particular in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, economies are experiencing a significant increase in the ageing of their populations. It is becoming evident that in the near future this ageing population will heavily depend on the youth for economic sustainability. Creating youth access to financial services not only will bring down the unemployment and underemployment rates, but also social issues relating to youth vulnerability, trafficking, child labour, prostitution, drug addiction would be reduced if youth are economically enriched and empowered. Financial inclusion is one way that youth can be connected to economic programs and economic progress in the region. Financial education which is greatly targeted to the youth could make them more responsible and more accountable and the opportunities for youth through micro savings, micro entrepreneurship and finance are critical to build a sustainable financial inclusion for youth empowerment. 9 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Conference Day 3 Friday, October 15th 11.00 – 12.30 Oak 4 Policy, Regulation and Investment OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 Human Resources: The Role of Field Officers and a Robust HR Policy Moderator: Nisha Singh, Singh Senior Program Manager, SEEP Network, USA Dr. Vandana Nadig Nair, Nair Partner, CoCoon, India Jacqueline Lord, Chief HR Officer, LOLC Group Ltd, Sri Lanka Shankar Man Shrestha, Shrestha CEO, RMDC, Nepal As the frontline staff of the microfinance industry, field officers and other branch staff play a central role in implementing their MFIs’ mission and achieving maximum outreach. Capable and well-trained staff are key and are dependent on robust human resource policies and training programs. However, many of the region’s sectors are suffering high staff turnover due to increased competition from both within the microfinance sector and from mainstream commercial banks. While field officers and credit officers are often identified as an important link to achieving increased inclusion, a range of imperatives from both management and circumstances in the field can result in the screening out of credit-worthy but more problematic clients. This session will discuss some of the innovative solutions being implemented in the industry and highlights the increased focus on an issue that is gaining increased attention. 12.30 – 13.30 Lunch (Atrium/Ivy Rooms/Cedar Room) 13.30 - 14.00 Closing Keynote Oak Ballroom Hon Dr Sarath Amunugama, Deputy Minister of Finance, Government of Sri Lanka 14.00 - 15.45 Closing Plenary Session Financial Inclusion: What Are the Core Priorities? Oak Ballroom Understanding Financial Inclusion Moderator: Craig Wilson, Executive Director, FDC, Australia Translation Sinhalese/Tamil Chandula Abeywickrema, Deputy General Manager (Marketing & Retail Banking), HNB, Sri Lanka and Chairman, BWTP Network Sanjay Sinha, Managing Director, M-CRIL, India TBC The closing session of the Asia Microfinance Forum is traditionally an opportunity to encapsulate the discussions and emerging issues of the week from the perspective of participants and industry leaders. Moderated by the Chairman of the BWTP Network, this final session of the Asia Microfinance Forum 2010 provides the opportunity for the Asian microfinance industry to come together and set the agenda for achieving Asia’s financial inclusion potential. 15.45 – 16.00 Oak Ballroom Closing Remarks Glen Rase, Country Head and CEO, Citi Sri Lanka Chandula Abeywickrema, Deputy General Manager (Marketing & Retail Banking), HNB, Sri Lanka and Chairman, BWTP Network 10 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA 11 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA 12 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA 13 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Notes 14 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Notes 15 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010 e ASIA MICROFINANCE FORUM 2010 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Notes 16 OCTOBER 12-15, 2010
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