Technology and Innovation
How the development of innovative strategies and new technologies are changing the face of microfinance.
April 4, 2012
8:15am – 4:30pm
University of San Diego
Microfinance institutions and the small businesses they support are often challenged to accomplish more with fewer resources. Join us as we survey innovative microfinance models and explore new technologies that are being used to encourage business growth and create positive change in the San Diego community and beyond. Have you participated in previous summits? This year’s event promises to offer fresh topics and new speakers as we focus on highlighting the innovative strategies contributing to positive microfinance efforts in the greater San Diego region.
The 2012 San Diego Microfinance Summit will feature Chris Dunford as the plenary speaker. Dunford is the past president of Freedom from Hunger, with over 35 years of rural development experience in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. He is a key architect of the innovative ‘Credit with Education’ model, a microfinance methodology combining savings, micro-loan and life skills education. He currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow, continuing to represent the organization and speak at microfinance conferences and gatherings.
Held at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego, the 2012 San Diego Microfinance Summit is a full-day event that features high profile speakers from the microfinance industry, provides an opportunity to meet and support local microfinance clients, and offers the best microfinance networking of the year.
Highlights of this year’s event include:
- Pre-summit networking mixer at the Ritual Tavern, a local microfinance client
- Breakfast provided by clients
- Catered lunch provided by local restaurateurs who are microfinance clients
- Artisan marketplace wherein microfinance clients will showcase their wares and services
- Three afternoon breakout topics offered during two sessions
- Closing reception featuring giveaways from client businesses
Want to learn even more about Microfinance? At this year’s Summit event, there will be a bookstore where you can purchase some of the best books on microfinance so you can continue learning about the field even after the event. The Summit Bookstore will be supported by Warwicks, a local San Diego bookstore in La Jolla. Visit http://www.warwicks.com/ for more information on their business.
The 2012 San Diego Microfinance Summit is made possible through generous support from Citibank