MFIs, SACCOs Umbrella Bodies, back AITEC Banking & Mobile Money COMESA conference to empower members

Wheels Media, 23rd Feb-2012--- The African Confederation of Cooperative Savings & Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) has joined a number of umbrella organizations affiliated to the finance sector in East Africa  that will be participating in the AITEC Banking & Mobile Money COMESA conference this year, adding momentum to the overwhelming support garnered by the prestigious conference.

ACCOSCA members will now join the conference frequented by senior central and commercial bankers from the EAC and COMESA region to benefit from rich content in a variety of topics in banking and banking technology.

Speaking during a meeting to negotiate the participation of SACCOs and societies, Sean Moroney, Chairman of AITEC Africa who is also Programme Director of the conference said SACCOs and MFIs stood to benefit immensely from the knowledge generated by speakers and financial experts at the conference, as they sought to improve their services and products to respond to needs of their markets.

“This year’s AITEC Banking & Mobile Money Conference, taking place in Nairobi over 7-8 March, will provide a specialised educational track for microfinance institutions and SACCOs. The conference, will also offer an intensive educational opportunity that will update these financial services players on latest trends and best practices in service delivery and management systems,” said Mr. Moroney.

The conference programme  includes two sessions being co-ordinated by the Grameen Foundation, in co-operation with the Gates Foundation that will  highlight  banking innovation that are enabling  services to reach the unbaked. Another session will review how mobile and other channels are expanding MFIs and SACCOs reach.

To make this educational opportunity accessible to as many relevant organisations as possible the conference organizer announced that they will give for free one delegate space to a senior manager from each institution. It is making this offer available through industry and professional organisations that are partners in the event, including the Kenya Association of Microfinance Institutions (AMFI), ACCOSCA and the Association of Microfinance Professionals.

David Kitusa, Chairman of the Association of Microfinance Professionals, welcomed the offer by the conference as “a unique opportunity” for MFIs to interact with industry leaders and learn from their peers in other institutions about current best practices. “In addition, AITEC always has market-leading vendors on show in the expo and this is a great opportunity for our members to learn about their latest products and technologies,” he said.

PHOTO:
Mr. Sean Moroney (right), Chairman AITEC Africa nd Programme Director for the AITEC Banking & Mobile Money COMESA conference takes Mr George Ombado, Executive Director of the African Confederation of Co-operative Savings & Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) through the conference program when the two organizations met to review plans for ACCOSCA participation.  Its members will be given free delegate spaces to spread the educational impact at the conference to SACCOs.