About The Event

South Asia’s Financial Inclusion Training (S-FIT) will be a 5-day residential training that aims to bring together a diverse group of professionals from across the world representing microfinance banks, non-bank microfinance companies, donors, regulators, investors and larger FinTech industry under one roof to participate in a series of interactive and informative sessions.

WHERE
Metropolitan Hotel, Dubai

WHEN
Sunday to Thursday
May 22 to 26, 2022


Training Key Features:

One of the largest platforms providing a great opportunity for peer-learning experience and build a strong network of professional contacts, and to learn from the best trainers and renowned speakers in the industry.

Key Features:
1. Training workshop sessions to further enhance management skills of the participants in the areas of product development, risk management, governance, digital transformation, strategic leadership, customer satisfaction and financial analysis.
2. Power Talks with renowned industry leaders where participants will take part in discussion with them on emerging trends in the financial inclusion, climate change and microfinance space, learn about key institutional lessons learned and a variety of transformational leadership approaches.
3. Recreational Activities for team members to relax, explore Dubai and network with other participants from the region.

 

South Asia Micro-Entrepreneurs Network

SAMN

The South Asia Micro-Entrepreneurs Network (SAMN) is a regional network aiming at enhancing capacity, financing and regional dialogue in the microfinance sector of South Asia. SAMN governance is composed of leading Apex Institutions from the countries of the region along with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED). SAMN also partners with MFIs, Investors, Banks and other key microfinance stakeholders to fulfil its objectives.
SAMN was established in 2008 with a vision to improve financial inclusion among low-income population in the region. The early foundation of SAMN was laid by ACTED, a French INGO along with ACCESS Development Services and other regional and global microfinance stakeholders.


Training Schedule

South Asia Microfinance Training
Bootcamp
  • Day 1

    July 13, 2023

  • Welcome note from Prof Adam Habib, Director, SOAS University of London

    Welcome Address by Md. Abdul Awal, Chairperson – South Asia MicroEntrepreneurs Network (SAMN)

    Address by Ms. Ase Bergstedt,Chairperson – Financial Inclusion Forum UK


  • Professor Christine Oughton,Professor of Management Economics, SOAS University of London

    Lecture followed by Q & A

  • Session Chair: Mr. Luis Anton,, Senior Financial Sector Specialist - The World Bank

    Panellists:

    Mr. Pranav Prashad, Technical Expert- Social Finance and Impact Insurance - International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Mr. M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director, COAST Foundation – Bangladesh

    Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar, Managing Director & CEO – CreditAccess Grameen Ltd.

    Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, Managing Director – Kashf Foundation - Pakistan


  • Session Chair: Ms. Swati Sawhney, Senior Financial Sector Specialist - CGAP

    Panellists:, Chairperson – Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

    Mr. Arinjoy Dhar, Senior Director, BRAC Microfinance - BRAC Bangladesh

    Mr. Vivek Tiwari, Managing Director & CEO – Satya MicroCapital Ltd. - India

    Mr. Sadaf Sayeed, CEO – Muthoot Microfin Limited - India

    Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO – National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)

    Mr. Vinura Jayanaka, Strategist - Future Life Investments Ltd – Sri Lanka


  • Focus Session 1: Evolving Microfinance Landscapes - Future of Group Lending

    Session Chair:Dr. Mohammed Kroessin, Non-Executive Director, Financial Inclusion Forum

    Panellists:

    Mr. Advin Banurjee, Executive Director - Pidim Foundation - Bangladesh
    Mr. Dibyajyoti Pattnaik, Director - Annapurna Finance Pvt. Ltd.
    Mr. Venkatesh N, Managing Director, IIFL Samasta Finance Ltd.


    Focus Session 2: Responsible Finance, Interest Rates & Consumer Protection in the Context of Digitisation, Evolving Risks

    Session Chair: Ms. Jayshree Venkatesan, Senior Director, Consumer Protection & Responsible Finance - Center for Financial (CFI)

    Panellists:

    Mr. Shankar Arora, Social Finance Risk Head - CITI
    Md. Emranul Huq Chowdhury, Founder & Principal Adviser, ANTAR Society for Development - Bangladesh
    Mr. H P Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Satin Creditcare Network Ltd.
    Syed Kabeer Naqvi, CEO & President – Ubank - Pakistan


  • Session Chair: Mr. Yasir Ashfaq, CEO – Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC) - Pakistan

    Panellists:

    Dr. Nomita Halder ndc, Managing Director - Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) – Bangladesh

    Dr. Alok Misra, CEO & Director – Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) – India

    Mr. Vivek Tiwari,Managing Director & CEO – Satya MicroCapital Ltd. - India

    Dr. Amjad Saqib, Executive Director – Akhuwat - Pakistan

  • Day 2

    July 14, 2023

  • Session Chair: Dr. Alok Misra, CEO & Director – Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

    Panellists:

    Mr. Tom Sanderson, Head of Profession, Private Sector Advisory Cadre - Foreign, Commowealth & Development Office (FCDO)

    Mr. Sadaf Sayeed, CEO – CEO – Muthoot Microfin Ltd.

    Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar,Managing Director & CEO – CreditAccess Grameen Ltd.

    Syed Kabeer Naqvi, CEO & President – Ubank – Pakistan

  • Session Chair: Mr. David Constantijn Kruijff, Inclusive Finance Consultant – CGAP

    Panellists:

    Md Nore Alom Mahadi, Director - Microcredit Regulatory Authority

    Dr Alok Misra, CEO & Director – Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

    Mr. Venkatesh N, Managing Director, IIFL Samasta Finance Ltd.

    Mr. Muhammad Imran Khan , Additional Director, Agriculture Credit and Financial Inclusion Department (ACFID) - State Bank of Pakistan


  • Focus Session 1 - Financial Inclusion to financial Health

    Session Chair: Mr. Paul Blyth, Director – Financial Inclusion Forum

    Panellists:

    Ms. Jayshree Venkatesan,Senior Director, Consumer Protection & Responsible Finance - Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI)

    Mr. Mifta Naim Huda, Executive Director, Centre for Development Innovation and Practices (CDIP) – Bangladesh

    Session Chair: Mr. Paul Blyth, Director – Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF) UK

    Mr. Vivek Tiwari, Managing Director & CEO – Satya MicroCapital Limited - India

    Mr Harish Raghu,, Managing Director & CEO, SaGgraha Management Services Pvt.



    Focus Session 2 – Power of data, how can data analytics make the MFIs more impactful and customer centric

    Session Chair: Mr. Michael Rothe, Director - Financial Inclusion Forum

    Panellists:

    Mr. David Constantijn Kruijff, Inclusive Finance Consultant – CGAP

    Mr. Arinjoy Dhar, Senior Director BRAC Microfinance - BRAC Bangladesh

    Mr. Nanaiah Kalengada, Managing Director – Equifax Credit Information Services Pvt. Ltd.

    Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO – National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)



    Focus Session 3 - How digitisation can help to accelerate the gender inclusivity

    Session Chair: Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, Managing Director – Kashf Foundation – Pakistan

    Panellists:

    Md. Shah Alam, Joint Secretary, Financial Institutions Department (FID) - Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Govt

    Mr Shirish Panda, Business Head, Microfinance, Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd.

    Mr. Vineet Chattree, Director - Svatantra Microfin Pvt. Ltd.



  • Session Chair: Mr. Vineet Chattree , Director, Svatantra Microfin Pvt. Ltd. - India

    Panellists:

    Ms. Urja Jain, Sustainable Finance Associate, Ethos

    Mr Shalabh Saxena, Managing Director & CEO, Spandana Sphoorty Financial Ltd.

    Mr. Dibyajyoti Pattnaik, Director - Annapurna Finance – India

    Dr. Amjad Saqib, Executive Director – Akhuwat - Pakistan


  • Session Chair: Mr. Bob Annibale, Senior Fellow, SOAS University of London

    Panellists:

    Md. Abdul Awal, Executive Director – Credit and Development Forum (CDF)

    Dr. Alok Misra, CEO & Director – Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

    Mr. Yasir Ashfaq, CEO – Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC)

    Representative from Sri Lanka

  • Valedictory Address and Vote of Thanks - Syed Mohsin Ahmed, Honorary CEO – SAMN

    Closing remarks - Prof Christine Oughton, Professor of Management Economics, SOAS University of London & Ms. Ase Bergstedt, Chairperson – Financial Inclusion Forum

    Distribution of Souvenirs to Sponsors & Partners

Pricing

Training Fee – USD 2,000*
• Registration & Course Fee
• 5-nights’ Accommodation at a 4-star hotel
• Training Material
• All meals covered
• Recreational Activities
* Airfare and Visa charges are not included

Accommodation Option:
Single/Twin sharing (subject to availability)

Registration Closed


Our Speakers

Syed Mohsin Ahmed

Syed Mohsin Ahmed

Honorary CEO – South Asia Micro-Entrepreneurs Network (SAMN)
Ms. Momina Aijazuddin

Ms. Momina Aijazuddin

Senior Industry Manager, Financial Institutions Group, MCT - IFC
Mr. Arinjoy Dhar

Mr. Arinjoy Dhar

Senior Director, BRAC Microfinance
Md. Fashiullah

Md. Fashiullah

Executive Vice Chairman – Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA)
Md. Abdul Awal

Md. Abdul Awal

Executive Director, Credit and Development Forum (CDF)

Muhammad Zubair Mughal

Muhammad Zubair Mughal

Managing Director - AlHuda CIBE FZ LLE – UAE (Islamic Banking Expert)
Rob Oddi

Rob Oddi

The Change Expert
Dr. Antonis Malagardis

Dr. Antonis Malagardis

Advisor - GIZ / SAR
Mr. Yasir Ashfaq

Mr. Yasir Ashfaq

CEO - Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC)
Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh

Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh

Head (Self-Regulation & Compliance) MFIN

Ms. Sheetal Jain

Ms. Sheetal Jain

Vice President, SRO MFIN
Mr. Ajay Kanwal

Mr. Ajay Kanwal

Managing Director & CEO - Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd
Mr. Stephen Rasmussen

Mr. Stephen Rasmussen

Senior Advisor to the CEO, CGAP
Ms. Deborah Drake

Ms. Deborah Drake

VP, Investing in Inclusive Finance, Center for Financial Inclusion, Accion
Dr. Alok Misra

Dr. Alok Misra

CEO and Director - MFIN

Mr. Blaine Stephens

Mr. Blaine Stephens

Advisor, Inclusive Finance
Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar

Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar

MD & CEO of CreditAccess Grameen Limited (CA Grameen)
Ms. Petronella Chigara-Dhitima

Ms. Petronella Chigara-Dhitima

Managing Director, Mustard Seed Advisory Pvt Ltd.
Mr. Mohammad Akbar Sarwari

Mr. Mohammad Akbar Sarwari

Executive Director, Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA)
Dr. M.A. Baqui Khalily

Dr. M.A. Baqui Khalily

Professor Department of Business Administration - University of Asia Pacific

Mr. Priyantha Dematagoda

Mr. Priyantha Dematagoda

President - Lanka Microfinance Practitioners Association
Ms. Roshaneh Zafar

Ms. Roshaneh Zafar

Mananging Director, Kashf Foundation
Dr. Rashid Bajwa

Dr. Rashid Bajwa

CEO, National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
Mr. Ganesh Bista

Mr. Ganesh Bista

Chief Executive Officer for Centre for Microfinance (CMF) Nepal
Mr. Ghalib Nishtar

Mr. Ghalib Nishtar

President & CEO - Khushhali Microfinance Bank

Mr. Manoj Kumar Nambiar

Mr. Manoj Kumar Nambiar

Managing Director, Arohan Financial Services Limited

Location

South Asia’s Financial Inclusion Training (s-fit), Metropolitan Hotel Dubai