AFI Policy and Grant Manager Hayder Al-Bagdadi will take part in the upcoming 15th Microfinance Centre (MFC) Annual Conference, held from 29–30 May in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Over the last decade the MFC conference has become a well-known platform for initiating and forging relationships among various microfinance stakeholders. Under the theme, “Business or Development?  Time to Choose” this year’s event will provide an opportunity for participants to learn innovative solutions, discuss current issues and share best practices in the sector through participation in two days of intense dialogue and debate. Participants will include a cross-section of sectoral stakeholders including microfinance practitioners, bankers, researchers/experts, donors, investors, local government representatives, USAID and European Commission representatives, policy makers, central bankers, global banks, private sector, and media representatives.

Initiated in Poland in 1997, Microfinance Centre (MFC) is a grassroots network of 102 microfinance institutions from Europe and Central Asia. MFC plays a catalyst role in bridging the market gap in the provision of financial services and financial education to low-income people through supporting the capacity of MFIs, promoting inclusive finance among policy makers, regulators, the formal banking sector and investors.