Since 1959, the UN has designated International Years in order to draw attention to major issues and to encourage international action to address concerns that have global importance and ramifications. The UN also designates International decades and days.

Though each Year has a different mandate, some guidance for the observance of International Years was offered in ECOSOC Resolution 1980 9/67:

• Years having economic or social themes should be primarily directed towards promoting international development in practical ways.
• Measures and activities to be carried out at the international level should complement and support measures and activities at the national level.
• There should be national committees or other mechanisms for preparing for, conducting and following up the international year on the national level.
• There should be effective coordination of the activities of the United Nations organizations and bodies concerned so as to avoid duplication of activities.

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Following is a brief timeline of events leading up to the launch of the International Year of Microcredit 2005:

Launch of the Year at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

For more information on the launch, click here.

The five key objectives for the Year are designed to unite Member States, UN Agencies and Microfinance Partners in their shared interest to build sustainable and inclusive financial sectors and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The objectives are to:

1. Assess and promote the contribution of microfinance and microcredit to the MDGs;
2. Increase public awareness and understanding of microfinance and microcredit as vital parts of the development equation;
3. Promote inclusive financial sectors;
4. Support sustainable access to financial services, and
5. Encourage innovation and new partnerships by promoting and supporting strategic partnerships to build and expand the outreach and success of microcredit and microfinance.

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To carry out the Year mandate, Member States approved the Secretary General’s Draft Programme of Action [A/58/179] and invited the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) to become joint coordinators for the Year.

In January 2004, UNCDF and UNDESA established a Coordinating Committee chaired by UNCDF Managing Director Mark Malloch Brown and Co-Chaired by Under-Secretary General José Antonio Ocampo to facilitate the observance of the Year, in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the United Nations and the wishes of United Nations Member States as synthesized in the Draft Action Plan of the Secretary General. The Secretariat, responsible for the operational management of coordinating the Year, is housed at UNCDF and includes a core team of four full time staff, augmented by short-term consultants and voluntary advisors.

The Coordinating Committee will undertake specific activities focused on achieving the objectives of the Year intended to encourage, promote and lend support to the activities of National Committees and regional and international partners. The Committee will act as a broker, remain a neutral party and operate within UN polices and guidelines. Click here to see how other UN agencies are involved.

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The United Nations General Assembly resolution on the mandate for the Year [A/58/221] invites "Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate in the preparation and observance of the Year and to raise public awareness and knowledge about microcredit and microfinance."

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There are many ways to participate in the Year of Microcredit. Suggestions range from providing training and capacity building opportunities to grafting the theme of "building inclusive financial sectors" onto major conferences to writing and reporting on local and global microfinance initiatives. For guidelines and inspiration for participation, see "what’s happening"!

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A small group of high-level individuals has been invited to advocate the goals and objectives of the Year. This group represents a wide range of people with a strong commitment to the ideals and principles of the United Nations and the potential of microfinance to build assets and foster social and economic opportunity. According to their specific role and responsibilities, Patrons are working in one of the three groups: Advisors Group, Emissaries Group, and Spokespeople Group. Meet the Patrons Group and hear what they have to say about the Year of Microcredit!

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Paragraph 9 of the General Assembly resolution A/58/488 on the Year encourages "Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and foundations to make voluntary contributions and/or to lend other forms of support to the Year."

Member States and other donor organizations and foundations may voluntarily establish special funds to assist the national committees to implement their own Year plans.

However, individuals and institutions can also donate to the Year of Microcredit, by clicking here.

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The Year will be successful if 2005 is considered one pivotal chapter in the promotion and development of inclusive financial sectors. Considerable follow-up at all levels after the close of the Year will help sustain the momentum achieved by the Year observance. The 60th General Assembly will present a general strategy to maintain the momentum created by the Year following its close.

The Year website will continue in a format to be determined after the close of the observance.

Many initiatives inspired by the Year launched by National Committees, microfinance institutions, students, the UN system and civil society will continue their effort to build sustainable and inclusive financial sectors and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

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