FULL TITLE: What is the Cutting Edge for Microfinance in Rural Areas and Arid and Semi-Arid Land? ROOM: Tsavo A Translated session: English & French PANEL: Chair: Mr. Wolday Amha, Executive Director, Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institution (AEMFI), Ethiopia Panelist: Mr. Issa Barro, Inclusive Finance Specialist, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Senegal Panelist: Mr. Mwangi Githaiga, Managing Director, Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT), Kenya

1. What is the Cutting Edge for Microfinance in Rural Areas and Arid and Semi-Arid Land? The case of UNCDF intervention in sierra leone Africa-Middle East Regional Microcredit Summit April 7-10, 2010 Nairobi, Kenya Issa Barro Consultant

5. UNCDF Conceptual Approach UNCDF supports the Building of Inclusive Financial Sectors, both through investments in emerging microfinance institutions and through the UNCDF Sector Development Approach to Inclusive Finance: 1.1 Gather data on access to financial services to establish a Baseline and measure results. 1.2 Evaluate legal, regulatory and policy framework, and financial services infrastructure requirements. 1.3 Evaluate human and institutional capacity and constraints. 1.4 Formulate program document that summarizes the process, identifies key constraints to inclusive finance and provides initial basis for steps 2 and 3. 1. Financial Sector Assessment 4.1 Address policy issues identified in National Strategy and Action Plan. 4.2 Establish Investment Fund and Investment Committee. 4.3 Scale up investments in Financial service providers and infrastructure. 4.4 Gather data on access, quality and quantity of financial services providers, financial service provider sustainability and investment results. 4. Implement National Action Plan 2. Pilot Initial Activities 3. Develop Nationally Owned Policy, Strategy & Action Plan 2.1 Train key policy makers on issues related to inclusive finance. 2.2 Research legal options for Fund for Inclusive Finance and establish Investment Committee. 2.3 Identify and pilot investment mechanism, solicit initial proposals and hold Investment Committee. 3.1 Develop supportive legal, regulatory & policy environments, 3.2 Strengthen capacity of financial service providers to provide products and services to all market segments.

16. Thank you