It's now a tradition that the European Microfinance Week opens with a plenary session featuring the finalists of the European Microfinance Award, the €100,000 prize awarded by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. This year on the topic of "Strengthening resilience to climate change", the Award aims to highlight the critical role the financial inclusion sector plays at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities to the effects of climate change.
Welcome words: Christoph Pausch, European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP)
Opening remarks: Manuel Tonnar, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Keynote speech: Tim McDonnell, Journalist and National Geographic Explorer
Moderator: Natalia Realpe Carrillo, HEDERA
European Microfinance Award 2019 Finalists: Sarfraz Shah, APA Insurance Ltd. (Kenya); Rolando Victoria, ASKI Group of Companies, Inc. (Philippines); Pedro Emilio Marchetti, Financiera Fondo de Desarrollo Local, FDL (Nicaragua)