Sep 03, 2018
 Press Release

Convergences presents the 2018 Microfinance Barometer on the 3rd of September, in partnership with Crédit Coopératif, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and Symbiotics.

With 139 million clients and a credit portfolio of 114 billion dollars, microfinance is reasserting itself as a key tool for the financial inclusion of marginalized populations. And this sector is far from being fully exploited: in Europe alone, the potential demand for professional microcredits is estimated at 17.4 billion euros. But is it profitable?

Entitled "Microfinance and Profitabilities", the 9th edition of the Microfinance Barometer presents the key figures of the sector and explores the topic of profitability in its multiple aspects.

Should microfinance be profitable? If so, can it be profitable while remaining socially responsible? Can it remain true to its aspirations and contribute to lifting nearly 2 billion people out of poverty with no access to banking services through financial inclusion? How to combine social performance and financial profitability to best serve the beneficiaries? From microfinance institutions (MFIs) to investors, the Barometer offers different points of view and highlights the strong interdependence between social and economic performance. From case studies, expert analyses and investor interviews, this edition presents an overview of the profitability of microfinance, and provides important takeaways on the dual return - social and financial - of microfinance.

The launch of this new edition takes place during the 11th World Convergences Forum on the 3rd of September, 2018 at the Palais Brongniart from 4pm to 5:30pm. This event will be an opportunity to discover in exclusivity the figures of the microfinance sector in the world, in Europe and in France. These figures reaffirm the dynamism of the sector and its essential role in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Objectives.

Join e-MFP's Gabriela Erice on Monday 3rd September, at the launch of the 2018 Microfinance Barometer where she'll moderate a panel delving into 'why invest in microfinance?' and which look at key figures of financial inclusion.

Check out e-MFP's article entitled "The illusory inevitability of Social Impact (and why trade-offs matter...)" , on page 12 of the English language version.

To obtain your accreditation for the launching event and any other information: Carine Valette, Communication Officer, Convergences Tel: +33 (0)1 42 65 78 85 | carine.valette@convergences.org

About the Microfinance Barometer

Every year since 2010, Convergences has been publishing the Microfinance Barometer, a publication that aims at showcasing the global trends of the sector, while raising awareness about the high impact microfinance initiatives and promoting best practices. This publication, realised in partnership with the FNCE, the MasterCard Foundation, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and Oikocredit, has contributions from key French and international actors. One of Convergences’ key publications, the Microfinance Barometer is listed at the Top 10 Most popular publications at the CGAP’s Microfinance Gateway (2015 and 2016).

About Convergences

Launched in 2008, Convergences is the first platform for thought, advocacy and mobilisation in Europe to promote the Sustainable Development Goals and the development of a world “Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty.” Its mission is to organize debates, mobilize thoughts and actions, spread good practices and encourage the co-construction of partnerships and innovative solutions. Convergences relies on more than 200 partner organizations represented within its working groups to co-organise the Convergences World Forum, which gathered more than 5000 participants every year, to write studies and publications, and to organize events throughout the year.

For further information: www.convergences.org

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