The European Microfinance Week is being organised from Wedesday 29 November to Friday 1 December in Luxembourg by the European Microfinance Platform.

The conference is a key event on the microfinance agenda, a central meeting point for inclusive finance professionals from around the world. With an unparalleled program and prestigious speakers, the meeting is widely recognised for its high quality sessions and excellent networking opportunities. The 2016 edition attracted nearly 500 participants from 58 countries.

The first day of the conference, on Wedesday, is traditionally dedicated to "Action Group" meetings. These thematic groups, which collaborate throughout the year, continue their work with in-depth discussions and training on central themes such as green inclusive finance, digital innovations, SME finance and rural finance.

This year, for the Thursday and Friday sessions, the platform has set up an exceptional programme with three plenary sessions on the themes "Microfinance in the service of housing" (the subject of the European Microfinance Award 2017), "Women clients ≠ Women's Empowerment: Beyond the Numbers "and" Microfinance: Taking a Stand for the Next Decade".

More than 80 organisations are being represented through more than 30 sessions addressing key topics such as: low-cost technologies for inclusive financial service providers,responsible investor outlets, scaling up in green inclusive finance, rural youth and financing agriculture, investing in Pakistan, social performance management and digital financialservices, housing finance for the base of the pyramid, eco-loan, regulation in Europe and local markets, asset financing and micro-leasing, sustainable financial education, growth of African MFIs and finance for refugees. For the first time, a "TED-style" session will focus on customer-centric digital solutions.

Tthe European Microfinance Award - Microfinance for Housing, will be preseted during the ceremony on Thursday 30 November, to which all participants of the conference are invited.

"The European Microfinance Week continues to grow, evolve and diversify, reflecting the inclusive finance sector and the organisations and people that sustain it, and we look forward to bringing together key experts from around the world to bring they share their experience for innovation in the sector," said Christoph Pausch, Executive Secretary of e-MFP.

The European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) is the leading network of European organisations and individuals active in the microfinance/financial inclusion sector in developing countries. It numbers over 130 members from all geographic regions and specialisations of the European microfinance community, including consultants & support service providers, investors, multilateral & national development agencies, NGOs and researchers.

Up to two billion people remain financially excluded. To address this, the Platform seeks to promote co-operation, dialogue and innovation among these diverse stakeholders working in developing countries. e-MFP fosters activities which increase global access to affordable, quality sustainable and inclusive financial services for the un(der)banked by driving knowledge-sharing, partnership development and innovation. The Platform achieves this through its numerous year-round expert Action Groups, the annual European Microfinance Week which attracts over 400 top stakeholders representing dozens of countries from the sector, the prestigious annual European Microfinance Award and its many and regular publications. Their vision is to be the leading European platform working towards the goal of universal financial inclusion.

For more information or register, see www.e-mfp.eu