2008 Conference

Sanabel will be holding its Fifth Annual Conference, “Advancing Arab Microfinance: Greater Social Impact through Inclusive Financial Systems”, from May 6th – 8th 2008 in Tunisia under the high patronage of his Excellency Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the President of the Republic of Tunisia. Sanabel’s conference will be preceded on May 5th by the one-day conference, “Microfinance in the Mediterranean: What’s the Impact?” which is being jointly organized by Sanabel and the European Investment Bank (EIB), focusing on the social and financial impacts of regional microfinance.

In a relaxing setting on the Mediterrean Sea, Sanabel’s 5th Annual Conference will be the largest gathering of microfinance professionals and stakeholders in the region. Distinguished international and regional experts will share their insights about the latest developments in the sector and their implications for the Arab world. In addition practitioners and participants will examine the successes and challenges faced by Arab microfinance institutions as they mature institutionally, diversify their products, reach new markets, access new sources of funding, and contemplate transformation while upholding and fulfilling their social mission.
In addition to plenary and break-out sessions, the conference program includes:

 

Conference Sponsors:


 


Welcome to Tunisia

A country with a long and renowned history, Tunisia has within its borders a wide variety of fascinating historic monuments and buildings, magnificent scenery and so much more-making Tunisia a fascinating and memorable country to visit!

Tunisia is mostly known for its 1,100km coastline of the most beautiful beaches of the southern Mediterranean, and around forty percent of the country is Saharan desert with the rest set on fertile land crossed by two ranges of mountains.  But Tunisia also has a long history, in which many civilizations have settled and left their mark on the landscape and culture on the country. Many historical settlements and remains of the Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and Punic eras are found in this country and most of these sites are still in excellent condition. The outcome is an intriguing cross-cultural blend of the European, African and the Arab worlds. 

One of the most famous historical sites in Tunisia is Carthage, just south of the conference’s location. Although effectively destroyed by the Romans in the third Punic War, Carthage to this day still contains splendor of long ago and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carthage contains many magnificent Roman buildings such as the Antonine Baths and the amphitheatre.  Tunis also hosts the Bardo museum which proclaims one of the largest selections of mosaics in the world as well as antiquities that date from prehistoric times through to present-day Tunisia, which is an easy day-trip from the conference site.

Other famous sites which are not to be missed while traveling to Tunisia, include:

The Medina of Tunis: listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tunis’ Medina is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Islamic world. The souk has remained virtually unchanged since the 13th century and still contains its oriental charm.  The Medina is a great place to spend the day shopping and view mosques, palaces and casbahs.

Sidi Bou Said:  An enchanting village on a rocky hill overseeing the Mediterranean Sea.  Known for its blue doors and shutters that contrast against the white facades covered with colorful geraniums and bougainvillea.

Kairouan: the fourth most holy city in the Islamic world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The city displays beautiful architecture, from its city walls and monumental gates to the great mosque of Okba Ibn Nafaa, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. It’s also a great place to shop for copper, brass, leather and of course carpets- it’s the oldest and most renowned carpet-making center in Tunisia.

Dougga: the best preserved Roman city in Africa. Stretching across 65 hectares on a mountainside, Dougga boast grandiose temples and theaters, forum and markets.

Important Facts About Tunisia:

 

Capital: Tunis.

Language: French and Arabic are the main languages and are widely understood. Some English is spoken.

Population: 10 Million.

Currency: The official currency of Tunisia is the Tunisian Dinar.  One Tunisia Dinar is worth 0.84 US Dollar or 0.55 Euro.  The Tunisian Dinar is divided into 1000 millimes.  The Dinar is not easily convertible, and it is prohibited to bring Dinars in and out of Tunisia.  Be sure to save your ATM or Exchange receipt to be able to convert remaining Dinar into foreign currency before leaving.  Without receipts, it will not be possible to reconvert your remaining Dinar before leaving.

ATMs / Credit Cards: Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout Tunisia, and most major credit cards are accepted.  Upper-class establishments also accept most major credit cards.

Airport: Tunis-Carthage International is the international airport serving Tunis, Tunisia.  This is 14 km from the conference site.

Taxis: All registered Taxis use meters to determine a fare calculated from a combination of distance travelled and time required, and are recognizable by their standard yellow appearance.  The fares increase late at night. 
Cab fare will range between 10 and 15 Tunisian Dinars from the airport to the conference site, and an additional 5 Tunisian Dinars should be paid for heavy luggage.  Barceló Carthage Thalasso, the hotel hosting the conference, was formerly the Carthage Palace Hotel.  It may be helpful to specify to taxi drivers its location in Gammarth’s Touristic Zone (Zone Touristique).

Weather: Average temperatures range from 14° C to 28° C (57° F to 82.4° F) from October to May.

Voltage: The voltage used in Tunisia is 220V.  Plugs are round and double-pronged.

Calling Code: +216


Sanabel's 2008 Regional Award for the Best Micro-entrepreneurs

Sanabel’s annual Microentrepreneur Awards Ceremony celebrates the achievements of exceptional individuals who have demonstrated the true spirit of micro-entrepreneurship. 

 

Thanks to support from the Grameen-Jameel Initiative, Sanabel is able to bring this year’s award winners to Tunis to represent the millions of microfinance clients from across the region who benefit on a daily basis from the work of the industry. 

 

Each year, it becomes more difficult to select “winners” from the many great nominations received by Sanabel.  This year a “virtual committee” made up of judges from five of Sanabel’s member countries faced the task of prioritizing criteria and carefully evaluating applications. 

 

While all successful microfinance clients can be considered winners, Sanabel is proud to introduce the “2008 Microentreneur of the Year” award recipients:

 

  • Kawthar Gameel Soliman
 Al Tadamun Microfinance Program  Egypt
  • Batool Husain Ali
  CHF International / ACSI  Iraq
  • Jamileh Mustafa Saleh Milhem
  Tamweelcom Jordan
  • Amina Beiruti
  Makhzoumi Foundation  Lebanon
  • Lhoussain Chaouai
  Association Marocaine Solidarité Sans Frontières MicroCrédit ( AMSSF)   Morocco
  • Mesbah Jaser Hasab Allah
  UNRWA- Microfinance & Microenterprise Programme  Palestine
  • Nora Al Qunyhan
  Abdel Latif Jameel Programme for Community Services  Saudi Arabia
  • Hussein Elali
  UNDP-Rural Community Development Project  Syria
  • Lamia Al Hmissi
  Enda Inter-Arabe  Tunisia
  • Ameera Omran Salem
   Al-Awael Microfinance Company  Yemen

Participants Directory

You will find attached below the participants directory. If you registered and did not find your name please send an e-mail to the following: lsaid@sanabelnetwork.org


Conference Presentations

Conference Presentations:


Day 1

TUESDAY, MAY 6TH, 2008

09:00 – 10:00  Opening Session & Regional Microentrepreneur Awards

Welcoming Remarks:  Kris Besch, Interim Executive Director, Sanabel, Egypt

Speech: Essma Ben Hamida, Chairperson of Sanabel, Tunisia

Speech: Dr. Nabe Rasheed Mohamad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Syria

Speech: H.E. Ali Chaouch, Minister of Social Affairs, Tunisia

Keynote Speech: H.R.H. Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Saud, President, AGFUND, Saudi Arabia

Introduction of Microfinance Ambassador: Sonia M’barek

Master of Ceremony:  Fouad Abdelmoumni, General Manager, Al Amana, Morocco

10:00 – 11:00 Microentrepreneur Awards Ceremony & Conference Notices

Speech: Mr. Zaher Al-Munajjed, Chairman of Grameen-Jameel

Presentation of Awards

11:30 – 13:00 State of the Industry and Presentation of the Conference Themes

State of Industry: Ranya Abdel Baki, Transparency Manager, Sanabel, Egypt

Measuring and Managing Social Impact:
Martin Greeley, Research Fellow, Institute for Development Studies, United Kingdom

Developing Quality Products to Meet Customer Demand:
Mustapha Bidouj, General Secretary, Fondation Banque Populaire pour le Microcrédit, Morocco

Formalizing the Microfinance Sector: Integration into the Financial Sector:
Luc Rigouzzo, Chief Operating Officer, PROPARCO, France

Technology Revolutionizing the Industry:
Xavier Reille, Lead Microfinance Specialist, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, France

14:30 – 16:30  Concurrent Sessions

Track One - Measuring and Managing Social Impact:

Social Performance in the Arab Region

Katarzyna Pawlak, Deputy Director, Microfinance Centre, Poland

Leïla Akhmisse, Director of Development, Fondation Zakoura, Morocco

Speaker/Moderator: Ozaina Aljundi, Social Performance Management Project Manager, Sanabel, Egypt

Track Two - Developing Quality  Products to Meet Customer Demand:

Rural and Agricultural Lending

Marie-France L'heriteau, Project Manager, PROPARCO, France

Rula Nesnas, Advisor, PARC - REEF, Palestine

Hassine Cherif, President, ASAD, Tunisia

Moderator: Lillian Diaz, Lead International Consultant, SEEP, Vietnam

Track Three - Formalizing the Microfinance Sector:

Crunching the Numbers: Negotiating Funding Terms

Louise Schneider-Moretto, Capital Markets Group Sr. Director, WWB, USA

Youssef Chouk, Charge de Clientele,  BIAT with Riadh Akrout, Finance Director, Enda Inter-Arabe, Tunisia

Bassem Khanfar, Executive Director, Al-Watani, Jordan

Moderator: Shawn Murphy, Executive Director of Fixed Income, Morgan Stanley, United Kingdom

 

Track Four - Technology Revolutionizing the Industry:

Using Technology to Increase Outreach and Decrease Costs

Samir Zghal, Executive Partner, OXIA, Tunisia

James Dailey, Independent Consultant, USA

Jean Marc Lagache, Banking Solution Manager, SOPRA Group, Tunisia

Moderator: Wassim Ali-Hassan, IT Officer, Grameen - Jameel, Dubai


Day 2

DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 7TH, 2008

09:00 – 10:30 Concurrent Sessions

Track One - Measuring and Managing Social Impact:

Training - Women’s Leadership Matters

Deborah Burand, WAM President, USA

Soukeina Bouraoui, Executive Director, CAWTAR, Tunisia

Track Two - Developing Quality Products to Meet Customer Demand:

Empowering Families: Housing and Eduation Loans

Momina Aijazuddin, Program Manager, International Finance Corporation, Dubai

Fatma Triki, Researcher / R&D Coordinator, Enda Inter-Arabe, Tunisia

Anna Gincherman, Network Relationship Manager, Women’s World Banking, USA

Moderator: Hassan Faried, Executive Director, DBACD, Egypt

Track Three - Formalizing the Microfinance Sector:

The Credit Bureau Experience in the Arab Region

Marwan Hamdan, Executive Director, Delta Informatics, Jordan

Arije Al Amad, General Manager, Microfinance Fund for Women, Jordan

Motaz El Tabaa, Executive Director, Alexandria Business Association, Egypt

Moderator: Mohammed Khaled, Managing Partner, MicroServe, USA

Track Four - Technology Revolutionizing the Industry:

Greater Outreach through Gov’t Supported Programs: Opportunities and Challenges

Lamine Hafsaoui, CEO, BTS, Tunisia

Osama Al-Shami, Head of Small and Microenterprise Development Unit, SFD, Yemen

Amal Dalati, Director Assistant, Syria Country Planning Commission, Syria 

Moderator: Chedli Ounis, Enda Inter-Arabe Board Member, Tunisia

11:00 – 12:30 Concurrent Sessions

Track One – Measuring and Managing Social Impact:

Role of Arab Financiers in Advancing Microfinance and Social Impact

Randa Akeel, Economist, World Bank

Ibrahem Badawod, Executive Director, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Service Program, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Bin Salah, Expert, Arab Bank for Development for Africa, Sudan

Jebrin Al-Jebrin, Director of Projects Department, AGFUND, Saudi Arabia

Moderator: Nasser Al-Kahtani, Director, AGFUND, Saudi Arabia

Track Two - Developing Quality Products to Meet Customer Demand:

Reducing Client Vulnerability: Microinsurance

Said Bourjij, Director, Epargne Sans Frontière, France

Ashraf Nassif, Executive Director, First Microfinance Foundation Egypt - The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, Egypt

Ali El Ghazawi, Director General, Development & Employment Fund, Jordan

Moderator:  Youssef Fawaz, Executive Director, Al Majmoua, Lebanon

Track Three - Formalizing the Microfinance Sector:

New Financing Models in the Arab Region

Jean-Luc Perron, Head of Micro Finance Unit, Credit Agricole Bank,  France

Casey Albert Santiago, Microfinance Partnerships Manager, Kiva, USA

Bassel El Hariri, Head of Microfinance, First Microfinance Bank, Syria

Moderator:  Heather Henyon, General Manager, Grameen - Jameel, Dubai

Track Four - Technology Revolutionizing the Industry:

PEER DISCUSSION: Recruiting, Motivating, Retaining Staff in a Dynamic Environment

Facilitator: Ziad Al-Rifae, Chief Executive Officer, Jordan Micro Credit Company (Tamweelcom), Jordan

Facilitator: Deborah Burand, WAM President, Independent Consultant, USA

14:30 – 15:30 Concurrent Sessions

Track One - Measuring and Managing Social Impact:

Consumer Protection and Education: Developing Standards

Maria Perdomo, Technical Advisor - Financial Education,  Freedom From Hunger, USA

Lillian Diaz, SEEP Consultant, Vietnam

Moderator & Speaker: Magdy Moussa, MF Advisor and Managing Director - Middle East,  PlaNet Finance, Egypt

14:30 – 16:30  Concurrent Sessions

Track Two - Developing Quality Products to Meet Customer Demand:

TRAINING: Islamic Microfinance: Innovative Techniques for Greater Sustainability (in Arabic and English ONLY)

Trainer: Khawaja Amjad Saeed, Advisor – Training and Development, Al- Huda, Pakistan

Track Three: Formalizing the Microfinance Sector:

Regulations: Overcoming Obstacles

Michael Tarazi, Policy Adviser, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, United States of America

Rainer Hartel, Senior Sector Expert / Financial & Private Sector Development, KfW Bankengruppe, Germany

Fadhel Moussa, Director of Programs and Training, International Development Law Organization, Egypt

Moderator: Mustapha Bidouj, General Secretary, Fondation Banque Populaire pour le Microcrédit, Morocco

Track Four - Technology Revolutionizing the Industry:

Measuring, Managing and Preventing Risk

Gregory Thys, General Manager, MicroRating International

Sadaffe Abid, CEO Kashf Foundation, Pakistan

Emmanuelle Javoy, Managing Director, Planet Rating, France

Moderator: Louise Schneider-Moretto, Capital Markets Group Sr. Director, WWB, USA

15:30 – 16:30 

Track One - Measuring and Managing Social Impact:

Beyond Financial Services: Greater Impact through Business Development Services

Alia Farhat, Business Development Services Manager, The Lebanese Association for Development - Al Majmoua, Lebanon

Zakia Lalaoui, Director of Research and Development, Association Al Amana, Morocco

Hashim Hussein, Head, UNIDO-ITPO, Bahrain

Moderator: Michael Cracknell, General Secretary, Enda Inter-Arabe, Tunisia


Day 3

THURSDAY, MAY 8TH, 2008
09:30–11:00
Plenary 2 – The Key Ingredient to Success: Quality Governance

Panelist: Nasser Al-Qahtani, Director, AGFUND, Saudi Arabia

Panelist: Samir El Gamal, Chairman of the Board of Directors, DBACD, Egypt

Speaker/Moderator: Martin Steindl, Program Manager, International Finance Corporation, Egypt

11:30 – 12:30  Closing Session and Transparency Awards

Transparency Awards: Hind Tazi, Lead Analyst, Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX)

Recognition of Top Performing MFIs: Ranya Abedel-Baki, Transparency Manager, Sanabel and Kris Besch Interim Executive Director, Sanabel, Egypt

Sanabel in 2008 and Beyond: Essma Ben Hamida, Chairperson of Sanabel, Tunisia

Closing