Help create the next generation of microfinance innovation and research!

It’s time to usher in the next generation of access to finance. Last year, the results of the most rigorous impact studies of microfinance to date (the first ever randomized control trials) upset not a little conventional wisdom about the effect of microfinance on poverty, and what clients want and need. While some in the industry were disappointed or downright upset by the news, we firmly believe this new data is and should be the beginning of a new era of innovation in microfinance. We finally have the information – now let’s use it to serve poor customers better.

To that end, FAI, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Moody's Corporation, Deutsche Bank and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) are bringing together microfinance researchers and practitioners, so they can put their heads together and move forward.

The conference, “Microfinance Impact and Innovation,” will take place on October 21st-23rd in New York City, and will provide a forum to share knowledge – including the results of new impact studies! – and innovations in both microfinance product design and research.

Topics for discussion include:
•What is the impact of microfinance on the poor?
•How to increase savings behavior among the poor?
•How do interest rates affect the demand for microfinance products?
•How to design appropriate consumer regulation?
•Does business training help microenterprises?
•Microinsurance - impact and product design

Confirmed Speakers Include:
•Fouad Abdelmouni
•Santosh Anagol (Wharton)
•Abhijit Banerjee (MIT/J-PAL/IPA)
•Carlos Danel (Compartamos)
•Esther Duflo (MIT/J-PAL/IPA)
•Chris Dunford (Freedom from Hunger)
•Erica Field (Harvard/J-PAL)
•Xavier Gine (World Bank/IPA)
•Dean Karlan (Yale/IPA/J-PAL)
•Jake Kendall (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
•Asim Ijaz Khwaja (Harvard/J-PAL)
•Asad Mahmood (Deutsche Bank)
•Maggie McConnell (Harvard)
•Michael McCord (MicroInsurance Centre)
•David McKenzie (World Bank/IPA)
•Jonathan Morduch (NYU/FAI)
•Adair Morse (University of Chicago)
•Sendhil Mullainathan (Harvard/J-PAL/IPA)
•Ross Nathan (Urwego, Rwanda)
•Jody Rasch (Moody's Investors Service)
•Jonathan Robinson (UCSC/IPA/J-PAL)
•Rich Rosenberg (CGAP)
•Jen Tescher (Center for Financial Services Innovation)
•Chris Udry (Yale/J-PAL)
•Dean Yang (University of Michigan/IPA/J-PAL)

Day 3 - Microfinance Impact and Innovation Matchmaking  

Create the Next Generation of Microfinance Product Innovation and Research
Day Three of the Microfinance Impact and Innovation Conference will be an open symposium where interested practitioners and researchers present ideas to create the next generation of microfinance innovation and research.  All participants from the first two days of the conference are welcome to attend.  IPA will accept applications from both researchers and microfinance practitioners, then invite finalists to present their ideas publicly on October 23rd, Day Three.  Completed applications are due by September 15th 2010 and winners will be notified by the end of September.

On October 23rd the winners will present and brainstorm with both the practitioner and academic communities to consider (a) the potential value of the innovation to the practitioner community; and (b) how to effectively evaluate such an innovation. Successful matches will be eligible for a special pool of funds for symposium participants.  Thus we invite submissions from:
•Practitioners with ideas seeking researchers and a research methodology will be matched with potential researchers.  Potential projects could include existing program components, pilot programs, or future innovations. Practitioners apply here.

•Researchers with ideas seeking implementers will be matched with potential practitioners.  Potential projects could include new financial products or innovative research designs. Researchers apply here.

Note: The conference location changes from Day 1 to Days 2/3.
Day 1 - Moodys - 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street
Day 2 & 3 - Deutsche Bank - 60 Wall Street
New York, NY