The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg will be among the audience at the 40th Midi of Microfinance and Financial Inclusion at the Banque de Luxembourg on 5 July.  

The conference-debate entitled "Giving" to African entrepreneurs will be devoted to women entrepreneurs in the Hemisphere, their professional challenges, cultural barriers, difficulties in accessing finance, but also successes and prospects for the future.

To this end, four African women speakers will share their experiences and share their vision on a key issue in Africa and Europe:

Ms. Félicité Kambou: Director of the Co-operative Agricultural Services Co-operative (COPSA-C) in Burkina Faso. As a multi-entrepreneur, she has launched several small businesses in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in Africa, but also a country where women's access to finance, education and self-sufficiency remains Particularly difficult. As an entrepreneur and entrepreneur, she will interview three major players in financing for women's entrepreneurship.

Ms Josée Mukandinda: Director of Operations and Head of the Youthstart Program of the UFC (Umutanguha Finance Company) in Rwanda. Established in 2003, UFC is a savings and credit cooperative. At the end of 2016, the Rwandan MFI had 10 branches, 60 employees (40% of whom were women), 101,000 clients (54% of whom were women), a savings stock of 2.4 million euros and a credit portfolio Of € 4 million.

Mrs Marèma Bao: Cofina Deputy Managing Director. She joined COFINA (Compagnie Financière Africaine) in 2012 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) where she will oversee the Quality, Human Resources, Innovation, Marketing and Information Technology departments. COFINA is an institution that exclusively finances SMEs in Africa. Present in four African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea Conakry and Senegal), COFINA is a private structure, with only African capital.

Mrs. Maimouna Gueye: Head of the African Development Bank. She is working on the African Women's Development Fund, which provides a $ 120 million credit line to women entrepreneurs. She works in a very large financial institution, which has made women's entrepreneurship in Africa a priority. She will explain the role of these structures, which are particularly large in size (Presence to be confirmed).

The conference will open in the auditorium of the Bank of Luxembourg at 11:45, concluding at 13:10. The doors will close at 12:00. 

Programme:

11.45: Reception of the participants and placement in the room (for protocol reasons, participants are asked to take their places in the room at 11.45, before the arrival of the Grand Duchess

12:00: Welcoming remarks - Bank of Luxembourg (speaker to be confirmed)

12:05: Conference-debate - Participants exchange on women entrepreneurs in Africa:

12:35: Questions and answers with the public

13:00: Closing of the conference, followed by a lunch cocktail

Registration is mandatory for attendees, before 28 June: http://www.ada-microfinance.org/en/events/midis-microfinance.