The
United Nations General Assembly resolution on the mandate
for the Year [A/58/488] 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.”
Member States, UN Agencies and Donors,
and Microfinance Partners are invited to build
strategies and work collaboratively to achieve the Year’s
objectives. The following are a few suggestions on becoming
involved, suggestions that are by no means prescriptive,
mandatory or comprehensive.
Help
ensure that the importance of microfinance in eradicating
global poverty is included as part of your country head's
address to the General Assembly at the Millennium Summit
in September 2005 in New York
UN Member States
UN Agencies and Donors
Microfinance Partners
A letter was sent to all Member State governments and U.N.
missions early in January 2004 from the Secretary General
inviting Member States to establish National Committees or
focal points with responsibility for promoting activities
related to the preparation and observance of the Year (see
paragraph 6 of GA Resolution). The formation and participation
of strong National Committees are central to the success
of the Year. The wide national constituency for microfinance
should be represented in the composition of National Committees,
and in the planning and observances for the Year. The Committees
should engage and include a broad range of country-level
actors, including: local governments, Central Banks, UN Country
Teams, private sector leaders, the NGO community and microfinance
clients. Committees are encouraged to develop inclusive strategies,
and implement a diverse set of activities. Committees may:
- Host meetings, conferences and special events
- Establish national committee websites and links to the
official website of the Year
- Engage the private sector in initiatives that recognize
the connectivity between private sector development and
microfinance;
- Work on establishing microfinance supervision and regulation
training and tools
- Explore the hindrances for rural and agricultural microfinance
- Engage education and school-based programs
- Establish systems for aggregating data and information
on the national microfinance landscape
- Examine property rights and contract enforcement issues
- Organize national awards for
microentrepreneurs and innovative microfinance providers
- Report on activities to the Year of Microcredit Coordinating
Committee through the submit
an event form on this site
- Undertake a “made by entrepreneur” program
- Conduct a general promotional and public awareness program
Contact Your National Committee Today!
Argentina National Committee
Chair: Daniel Arroyo, Ministry of Social Development
Av. 9 de Julio 1925 piso 15, C1073ABA
Buenos Aires - Republica Argentina
Tel: (54-11) 4379-3694
Email: darroyo@desarrollosocial.gov.ar
Australia National Committee
Mr. Clay O'Brien, General Manager Special Projects, Opportunity
International Australia
(Contact the Committee via UNIC Sydney: Jennie Watson, National Information Officer)
Level 5, 46-48 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: 61 2 9262 5111 or 61 413 082 650
Fax: 61 2 9262 5886
Email: jwatson@un.org.au, unic@un.org.au
Website: www.microcredit.org.au
Azerbaijan National Committee
Chair: Gadir Huseynov, Director, National Entrepreneurship
Support Fund
Ministry of Economic Development
3, UN 50th Anniversary St.
Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ 1001
Tel: 994 12 494 19 81
Email: fond@economy.gov.az
Website: www.microfinance.az
Bangladesh National Committee
Chair: Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, Managing Director, Palli Karma-Sahayak
Foundation
Focals: Mr. Okond Mohammed Rafipul Islam; Mr. Md. Abdus Sattar
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation E-4/B
Agargaon Administrative Area
Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
Tel: 880 2 9140246
Fax: 880 2 9134431
Email: fahmed@pksf-bd.org
Website: www.pksf-bd.org/un_microcredit05.asp
Belgium National Committee
Charles Tollenaere
Directorate General for Development Co-operation
Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Development
Co-operation
Brederodestraat, 6
B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 32 2 519 06 26
Fax: 32 2 519 06 83
Email: Charles.Tollenaere@diplobel.fed.be
Benin National Committee
Chair: Martin Gbedey, Tech Counselor, Ministry of Economics & Finance
(Conseillet Technique à l'Economie du MFE)
01 BP 2663 RP COTONOU
Tel: 229 30.01.34
Email: gbedeymartin@yahoo.fr
Bhutan National Committee
Chairs: Marie Pedersen, Sunita Giri
PO Box 162
Thumphu, Bhutan
Tel: (975-2)32 24 24 ext.207
Email: marie.pedersen@undp.org; sunita.giri@undp.org
Website: www.undp.org.bt
Bolivia National Committee
Chair: Carlos A. Martins, Secretario Ejecutivo, FONDESIF
Email: cmartins@fondesif.gov.bo
Bosnia and Herzegovina National Committee
Chair: Ms. Sadina Bina, Coordinator of AMFI B&H activities,
President of Year of Microfinancing Committee in B&H,
and MCO EKI Director
Association of Microfinance Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina - AMFI B&H
Envera Sehovica 54
Tel: 387 35 300 462, 033 658 550
Fax: 387 35 300 479
Email: sbina@mkoeki.com; amfi@bih.net.ba
Website: www.mi-bospo.org
Botswana National Committee
Constance Formson, UNDP
1st Floor UN Place, Khama Crescent
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 267 3952121 x218
Email: constance.formson@undp.org
Website: www.unbotswana.org.bw
Brazil National Committee
Chair: Paul Singer, Ministry of Work and Employment
Email: paul.singer@mte.gov.br
Bulgaria National Committee
Maya Nyagolova, Elena Panova, UNDP Bulgaria
Tel: 359 2 96 96 167; 359 2 96 96 125
Email: maya.nyagolova@undp.org; elena.panova@undp.org
Website: http://www.undp.bg/en/year_microcredit_2005.php
Burkina Faso National Committee
Chair: Lucien Bembamba, General Director of the Treasury
and Public Accounting
Tel: 50 32 60 95
Email: bembamba.lucien@cenatrin.bf
Website: http://www.tresor.bf
Burundi National Committee
Chair: Bikebako Pontien, Président du Comité Exécutif
Réseau des Institutions de Micro Finance (RIM)
(contact via Ndayishimiye Cyprien, Secrétaire Exécutif Réseau
des Institutions de Micro Finance (RIM))
Boulevard de la Tanzanie
BP2415, Bujumbura, Burundi
Tel: 257 22.28.88
Fax: 257.22.84.51; 257 990 790
Email: ndayishimi@yahoo.fr
Website: http://rimburundi.civiblog.org/blog/AnneMicrocrdit
Canada National Committee
Chair: Kim Brand, Senior Manager Corporate Social Responsibility
Scotiabank
Scotiaplaza, 6th Floor
40 King Street West
Toronto, ON
M5H 1H1
Tel: (416) 866-3400
Fax: (416) 866-5929
Email: Kim_Brand@scotiacapital.com
Website: www.microfinance.ca
Central African Republic National Committee
Davide Stefanini
VNU Economist (UNDP)
Tel: +236-05 42 07
Email: davide.stefanini@undp.org
Moise Zami
Government Focal Point
Expert au CSLP
Tel: +236-50 24 94
Chile National Committee
Chair: Irene Philippi Resident Representative, UNDP Chile
Tel: (56 2) 337-2400
Email: irene.philippi@undp.org
Colombia National Committee
Chair: Maria Jose Rubio, Technical Secretary of the Year
Email: redesarrollo@supercabletv.net.co
Website: www.aimcolombia.org
Comoros
National Committee
Chair: Monsieur Said Abdallah Cheikh, Président
du Comité National des Comores
Email: sacheikhsoilihi@yahoo.fr
Ecuador National Committee
Ricardo Zurita
Email: rzurita@rfr.org.ec
El Salvador National Commitee
Chair: Haydeé de Trigueros, Executive Director CONAMYPE
41 Ave. Nte. o Av. Scouts de El Salvador
# 115, Edif. Roosevelt.
San Salvador, El Salvador
Tel: 503 22-60 9261
Fax: 503 22-60 9259
Email: trigueros@conamype.gob.sv
Web: www.conamype.gob.sv; www.undp.org.sv
France National Committee
Chairs: Martha Stein-Sochas, Anne Clerk
5 Rue Roland Barthes
75598 Paris cedex 12, France
Tel: 33 1 53 44 36 85; 33 1 53 44 41 51
Fax: 33 1 53 44 37 33
Email: stein-sochasm@afd.fr; clerca@afd.fr
Germany National Committee
Chair: Ulrike Haupt
Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium
fur Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, BMZ), Head of Private Sector
Division
Friderich-Ebert-Alle 40
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: 49-0- 228 535 0/535 3500/3230/3774/3775
Email: ulrike.haupt@bmz.bund.de;
(receptionist: uta.goldmann@bmz.bund.de)
Website: http://www.bmz.de/en/issues/Microcredit/index.asp
Ghana National Committee
Chair: Gladys Ghartey, Coordinator, Microfinance Unit, Ministry
of Finance and Economic Planning
Tel: 233 21 686163
Email: gladysghartey@yahoo.com
Guatemala National Committee
Chair: Lic. Carlos Herrera Castillo, Vice Minister of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MIPYME) of the Ministry of
Economics
8a. Avenida 10-43, Zona 1, Nivel 6 del Ministerio de Economía
Tel: 2-253-1459 Ext. 6402
Email: cherrera@mail.mineco.gob.gt
Guinea Bissau National Committee
Chair: Excellence Mr. Issufo Sanha, Ministry of Economy
Ministerio da Economia
Avenida Amilcar Cabral
CP no 6, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Tel: 205140
Email: isufsanha@yahoo.fr; issufosanha@hotmail.com
Iran National Committee
Ali Farzin
UNDP, UN Building, No. 39, Shahrzad Blvd.
Darrouss, Tehran, Iran
Tel: 021-2869309
Fax: 021-2869547
Email: ali.farzin@undp.org
Italian National Committee
Chair: H.E. Mr. Mario Baccini, Minister for Public Administration,
President of the Italian National Committee and Gian
Paolo Aloi
Ministero degli Esteri
Piazzale della Farnesina, 1
Roma 00194 Italy
Tel: 39 06 39614136
Email: gianpaolo.aloi@esteri.it
Website: www.annodelmicrocredito.org
Ivory Coast National Committee
Chair: Monsieur Charles Koffi DIBY
Directeur Général du Trésor et de la Comptabilité Publique,
Secrétariat (Président) du Comité National de Coordination
de l'Année Internationale du Microcrédit de Côte d'Ivoire.
Email: diby_charles@tresor.gov.ci
Website: www.tresor.gov.ci/investir/micro_fin.htm
Jamaica National Committee
Chair: Maureen Webber
Development Options Limited
Tel: 978-5935, 469-4000, 920-6254,
Fax: 927-9553
Email: lornamfw@yahoo.com
Kenya National Committee
Chair: Beatrice Sabana
Association of Microfinance Institutions
Ndemi Close, Ndemi Road (off Ngong Road)
P.O. Box 10701-00100
Tel: 254-2-576799 or 254-2-561090/1
Email: amfikenya@wananchi.com; b_sabana@iymc.org
Website: www.amfikenya.org; www.iymc.org
Korea National Committee
Social Solidarity Bank
Hong Kwan Choi
100-861 #52-15 Choong Mu Ro 2 Ga,
Choong Ku, Seoul Korea
Phone: +82-2-2274-9638
Fax: +82-2-2274-9643
Email: finance@bss.or.kr
Luxembourg National Committee
Chair: Thierry Lippert
Email: Thierry.lippert@mae.etat.lu
Website: www.microfinance2005.lu
Honduras National Committee
Luis Gradiz
Representante Residente Auxiliar
Desarrollo Rural Sostenible
UNDP Honduras
Tel: +504 220 1100/231 0102
Email: luis.gradiz@undp.org
Madagascar National Committee
Chair: Francis Blaise Rajoelina
Coordonateur National de la Microfinance
Direction Generale Du Tresor, Ministere De L'Economie, Des Finances et du Budget
BP: 616 Antaninarenina
Bât du Trésor 3ème étage, Porte 303
Antananarivo 101
Madagascar
Tel: 261 20 22 383 85
Fax: 261 20 22 621 95
Email: coordmicrofinance@netclub.mg
Website: www.onu.dts.mg; http://www.madamicrofinance.mg
Malawi National Committee
Chair: Mr. Sylvester Kadzola
General Manager of the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (MUSCCO)
Website: www.undp.org.mw
Mali National Committee
Bakary Diarra
Coordinator of the Support Organ for the Descentralized Financial Systems CAS/SFD
- Mali
Email: diarraf@datatech.net.ml
Mexico National Committee
Chair: Dr. María del Carmen Díaz Amador
National Coordinator of Microfinance Program on the Ministry of Economy
Tel: (5255) 56299514
Fax: (5255) 56299500x 27697
Email: diaz@economia.gob.mx
Moldova National Committee
Chair: Iulia Iabangi
Head of Small Business Development Department, Ministry of Economy
Email: iuliaiabanji@moldova.md
Monaco National Committee
Jérome Froissart
Administrateur Coopération internationale
Dervice des Relations Extérieures
9, rue Princesse Marie de Lorraine
MC 98000, Monaco
Tel: 377 93 15 89 63, Fax: 377 97 77 73 22
Email: jfroissart@troisseptsept.mc
Mongolia National Committee
Chair: Mr. Zandanshatar
Chairman of the National Committee
Contact via Ms. Ulzii (Secretary)
Tel: 976-11-318185
Fax: 976-328701
Email: ulziisuren.j@xacbank.org
Website: www.yearofmicrocredit.mn
Morocco National Committee
Chair: Leila Barakat
leila.barakat@undp.org
Nepal National Committee
Chair: Dr. Harihar Dev Pant
Tel: 977.1.4228369
Email: hdpant@hotmail.com
Website: www.cmfnepal.org
Netherlands National Committee
Chair: Mr Stijn Albregts
Chair of the Netherlands National Committee (Netherlands Platform for Microfinance
- NPM)
Tel: 31-(0)70-3421831
Fax: 31-(0)70-3614461
Email: info@microfinance.nl
Nicaragua National Committee
Chair: Maria Cristina Arguello
Email: spar@ideay.net.ni
Nigeria National Committee
Chair: Tunde Lemo
Deputy Governor (Financial Sector Surveillance) Central Bank of Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: 234 (0) 9 616 38053; 234 (0) 9 616 38199
E-mail: tlemo@cenbank.org
Website: http://www.cenbank.org; http://www.cenbank.org/microcredit/
Pakistan National Committee
Mr. Ashraf Khan, Chairperson; Mr. Tahir A. Shah, Vice Chair
Mr. Ashraf Khan, Chairperson Pakistan Microfinance Network, Director SMED
Mr. Tahir A. Shah, Vice Chair Pakistan Microfinance Network
2nd Floor, Block 14, Civic Centre, G-6
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: 092-021-021-9212431; 021-2453719
Fax: 092-021-9212506
Email: ashraf.khan@sbp.org.pk; rahmeenus@yahoo.com
Website: http://iymc-gma.com.pk
Philippines National Committee
Chair: Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., Governor, Central
Bank of the Philippines
Contact via Ms. Pia Roman
518, 5-story Building, BSP Complex
Manila
Tel: (63-2) 523-6130
Fax: (63-2) 521-2629
Email: PRoman@bsp.gov.ph
Website: http://www.microfinance.com.ph;
http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about_bsp/microfinance/default.htm
Poland National Committee
Chair: Mr. Grzegorz Galusek
Secretary: Ms. Elzbieta Dec: microfinance@mfc.org.pl
ul. Koszykowa 60/62 m 52
Warsaw, Poland
Tel: (48 22) 622 34 65
Fax: (488 22) 622 34 85
Email: microfinance@mfc.org.pl; grzegorz@mfc.org.pl
Website: http://www.unic.un.org.pl/rok_mikrokredytu/; www.mfc.org.pl
Portugal National Committee
Carolina Estroia
Tel: 351 21 3824525
Fax: 351 21 3862140
Email: carolina.estroia@ipad.mne.gov.pt
Russia National Committee
Mr. Andrei V. Sharonov
Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation
1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Str., 1/3, 125993, GSP-3, A-47
Moscow, Russia
Tel: 7-095-200-0353
Fax: 7-095-251-6965
Email: Sharonov@economy.gov.ru
Senegal National Committee
Chair: Mr Tafsir Amadou Mbaye
Directeur de la Micro Finance, Ministère des Petites et Moyennes Enterprises
de l'Entreprenariat Feminin et de la Microfinance
Tel: 00 (221) 822 36 94
Email: tafsirmabye@yahoo.fr
Website: http://senegal.portailmicrofinance.org/
Singapore National Committee
Dr David Henley
Email: arihdef@nus.edu.sg
Asia Research Institute
National University of Singapore
AS7, Level 4, 5 Arts Link
Singapore 117570
Fax No: 6779 1428
South Africa National Committee
Lionel October, Deputy Director General, Department of Trade
and Industry
Email: Lionelo@thedti.gov.za
Website: http://www.dti.gov.za/samaf/samaf.htm
Spain National Committee
Chair: Mr. Moratinos, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President
of the National Committee;
Antonio Claret Garcia, Presidente Caja Granada
Mr Moratinos:
MINISTERIO DE ASUNTOS EXTERIORES Y DE COOPERACIÓN, Dirección: Plaza
de la Provincia, 1 - 28012 Madrid, ESPAÑA
Mr Claret:
Sede Central de Caja GRANADA, Ctra. Armilla, 6. Planta 6, 18006 GRANADA, ESPAÑA
Tel: 91 379 97 00 (Ministry)
Email: presidente@caja-granada.es
Website: www.pignus.org
Togo National Committee
M. Kokoumeh FEDY
President of the Microfinance National Committee and president of the Professional
Institutions of Microfinance (APIM-Togo), and General Director of FUCEC-TOGO
Tel : (228) 222 10 88
Fax : (228) 222 25 70
E-mail : fucec@tg.refer.org
Trinidad and Tobago National Committee
Chair: Angelita Charles
Co-ordinator, Policy Unit, Enterprise Development Division in the Ministry of
Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development (MLSMED)
Email: talits1@yahoo.com
Tunisia National Committee
Chair: Ms Semia Mansour, Deputy Director for micro credits at
the BTS
56 avenue Mohamed V - 1002 Tunis
Tel: (216) 71 844 040
Fax: (216) 71 799 285
Email: s_mansour_bts@yahoo.fr
Turkey National Committee
Burcu Güvenek Arasli
Microfinance Sector Development
Project Manager
Tel : +90 312 454 1191
Fax : +90 312 496 1463
Email : burcu.arasli@undp.org
Berna Bayazit
Microfinance Sector Development
Program Associate
Tel : +90 312 454 1126
Fax : +90 312 496 1463
Email : berna.bayazit@undp.org
UK National Committee
Chair: Dr. Phyllis SantaMaria, Roger Whitcomb
Tel: 44 207 839 0844; 44 771 500 4303
Email: psantamaria@planetfinance.org
Website: www.microfinanceworks.org
United States National Committee
Chair: Kate McKee
US Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, rm 2.11-11
Washington DC 20523-2110
Tel: 202-712-5578
Fax: 202-216-3228
Email: KMcKee@usaid.gov
Website: www.microlinks.org
UzDG team
Uzbekistan Development Gateway
Uzbekistan Development Gateway
Center for Economic Research
Tel: 998 712 54-39-67/68/70
E-mail: gateway@cer.uz
Website: www.microfinance.uz; www.gateway.uz; www.cer.uz; www.cagateway.org; www.communityempowerment.net
Zimbabwe National Committee
Chair: Ms Ethel Hlabangana, Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises
Development; The Secretary Zimbabwe National Committee
P.O. Box MP 1151
Mount Pleasant
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 263 4 704953
Fax: 263 4 720359
Email: zamfi.info@utande.co.zw
Please note that if you do not see your country listed below,
you may contact your country's mission to the United Nations
for more information. Mission contact information is available
at: http://www.un.org/Overview/missions.htm
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UN Agencies and Donors hold a pivotal position in the development
of sustainable microfinance. The contributions of both of
these groups can significantly sway the long-term impact
of financial sector development. In addition to contributing
to the Year of Microcredit website, UN Agencies and Donors
are encouraged to post their activities on their own websites.
In addition, UN Agencies and Donors may:
- Research the links between microfinance and the MDGs
- Provide financial and technical support and establish
special funds for Year of Microcredit endorsed activities
- Harmonize reporting requirements for microfinance funding
recipients
- Provide training and capacity building opportunities
- Report on activities to the Year of Microcredit Coordinating
Committee through the submit
an event form on this site
- Partner with Member States and provide support to National
Committee strategies
- Establish working groups on cross-cutting themes such
as rural microfinance, gender barriers, post-conflict
issues, and technology
- Devise and agree to donor
best practices
- Partner with the private sector to energize efforts
and discuss barriers to microfinance
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Microfinance Partners is defined broadly to include microfinance
providers, private sector (financial and corporate), academia,
civil society and NGOs; beyond Member States, UN Agencies
and donors – all parties focused on poverty alleviation
and the objectives for the Year. Although microfinance partners
will be principally engaged through National Committees,
they are encouraged to undertake activities that can enhance
the efforts to build inclusive financial sectors throughout
the world. Some suggested activities for different groups
to engage in are described below.
Microfinance Providers and their Clients:
At the heart of the Year are the institutions that provide
microfinance - commercial and state banks, credit unions,
insurance companies, post-office saving banks, NGOs, cooperatives
and so on – and most importantly the millions of poor
and low income clients they seek to serve. The expertise
and experience built over the past three decades provides
the powerful base for moving forward. Microfinance providers
and their clients may:
- Host open houses
- Establish “made by microentrepreneur” product
labeling
- Conduct and document client research and success stories
to post on the official UN website for the Year as well
as on the websites for National Committees and other
institutions
- Organize national awards
for microentrepreneurs and innovative microfinance
providers
- Report on activities to the Year of Microcredit Coordinating
Committee through the submit
an event form on this site
- Organize partnerships with sales outlets and national
airports to host “Year of Microcredit” kiosks
to sell microentrepreneur products
- Participate in the Blue
Book Project
- Design creative initiatives to share expertise and experience,
and build industry capacity both at the client and institutional
level
Private Sector: The private sector and microfinance
are inextricably linked. To highlight this relationship,
activities will seek to involve private companies in building
the expertise, technology, distribution and capacity of the
microfinance sector. The private sector will also be encouraged
to participate in National Committees for the Year. Private
sector companies may:
- Organize training programs, research and development
initiatives
- Graft the theme of “building inclusive financial
sectors” onto major conferences, events and meetings
- Design new financial tools and distribution systems
- Disseminate information on the Year through corporate
distribution systems
- Support microentrepreneurs by buying their products
- Participate in National Committees for the Year
- Conduct research to better understand the critical links
between access to microfinance and local private sector
development
Academia: Attention will be given to the
next generation of microfinance practitioners. Students from
leading universities from every part of the world are asked
to engage their peers in an effort to learn more about the
sector. The result of these initiatives will be an extensive
network of schools undertaking a range of activities to promote
microfinance to students and communities, with careful thought
given on how to reach and engage students and youth in developing
countries. Students and universities may:
- Organize international exchange programmes
- Establish new curriculum, research, and lecture series
- Incorporate microfinance into annual undertakings such
as social venture competitions
- Engage in the Year through writing and reporting on
local and global microfinance initiatives
- Launch focal point programmes where select students
are responsible for communicating the goals of microfinance
to their respective school and alumni through creative
channels
NGOs and Civil Society: NGO’s and civil
society that provide social and advocacy services for microfinance
clients, and support the development of inclusive financial
sectors have the potential to augment and deepen the work
of the Year as they enjoy close ties with local communities.
NGOs and civil society may:
- Engage with and supporting the work of the National
Committees or Year focal points
- Strengthen existing networks and regional cooperation
efforts to improve channels of communication among groups
active in poverty alleviation
- Promote microbusinesses, local markets and other points
of sale
- Organize or host field visits and media trips to MFIs;
and promote exchanges and open-houses at microfinance
institutions
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