6th Annual Toronto International Microfinance Summit, Oct 4
2014 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL MICROFINANCE SUMMIT
Microfinance for Social Justice
How Can Microfinance Lead the Way?
Keynotes
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG
Ashoka “Global Great”, Founder and Chairman, BRAC
“Microfinance Multiplied”
Rupert Scofield
Co-founder, President and CEO, FINCA International
“Creating Brighter Futures: Improving Lives Through Social Enterprise”
Marilyn Fitzgerald, PhD
Author, If I had a Water Buffalo
“The Partnership of Economic Development and Social Justice”
“The gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing….
We must do more to empower individuals through decent work, support people
through social protection, and ensure the voices of the poor and marginalised are heard.”
– UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon –
Feb 20, 2014 World Day of Social Justice
Canada’s Premier Microfinance Event, in its 6th year, is sponsored by Oikocredit Canada-Central Alterna Savings and JVL Global Corp, with financial assistance for 100 students to attend from The MasterCard Foundation. This year, we examine social justice through a microfinance lens.Political philosopher, John Rawls, defines social justice as the “ability people have to realize their potential in the society where they live” (A Theory of Justice, 1971). It’s a level playing field, a fair shot, a chance. According to Rawls, social justice guarantees equal access to opportunity, not equal outcome. It’s a delicate balance of fairness and freedom. Other influential thinkers have called social justice an “ideal” of democratic governments (David Miller); or even a “mirage” (Friedrich Hayek).
Can microfinance – financial services and entrepreneurship for low-income individuals – drive sustainable development and achieve social justice? Can this “hand up” poverty reduction tool bring security, clean water, food, housing, sanitation, education, healthcare, decent work and prosperity -the building blocks of social justice? And if so, how? You decide. Spend a full day interacting withdevelopment professionals and social finance innovators who fight poverty overseas and at home. Learn why increased income alone is not the solution; but a holistic approach, integrating economic and social development tools, may be. Be inspired by people, programs and models that are breaking through financial and social barriers and innovating!
Keynotes by global trailblazers frame the conversation. Expert breakout panels will drill deep into issues and topics including:
- Financial Inclusion and Social Justice: Microfinance as a Means to Human Development;
- Using your Investment Dollars to Support Microfinance and Poverty Reduction;
- Urban Projects: Scarborough and Detroit;
- Mining, Partnerships, Financial Literacy and Gender Justice;
- BRAC’s Holistic Development Model Explained; and
- Sustainable Development: Microfinance and Indigenous Peoples.
There’s more Q&A this year! Plus, the 2014 Summit falls within UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon’s500 Days of Action – a final push to achieve the eight UN Millennium Development Goals the world adopted in 2000, to be accomplished by September 2015. This is an opportunity to accelerate progress in the last 500 days. Join us. Take action. Take part in this interactive forum for open, meaningful dialogue that is certain to spark new ideas and critical thinking; to foster cross-pollination, innovation and action.
It’s year two of our successful microbookblog www.torontomicrofinancebookclub.com. This year, the blog team invites you to read and discuss If I had a Water Buffalo: Empowering Others Through Sustainable Lending by Marilyn Fitzgerald, PhD, a 2014 keynote speaker. The book club blog waslaunched in 2013 with Ian Smillie’s book, Freedom from Want: The Remarkable Success Story of BRAC, The Global Grassroots Organization Winning the Fight Against Poverty.
We are extremely fortunate to have BRAC Founder and Chairperson, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG,as our 2014 opening keynote. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010, he was called “one of the most dynamic and selfless humanitarians of our time” by Queen Rania of Jordan. We are also fortunate to have Rupert Scofield as keynote. An agricultural economist, he is Co-founder of FINCA Internationaland President and CEO of FINCA Microfinance Holding Company, a first-of-its-kind, socially-responsible investment partnership for microfinance. Currently, FINCA International has 1.7 million clients across 5 continents and a loan portfolio of more than $800,000. Of note, Mr. Scofield’s Social Entrepreneurs Handbook is designed to help people with big ideas improve the world.
The popular, all-day micromarketplace returns this year, showcasing the work of micro-entrepreneurs and social innovators, their products, services and initiatives. Contact us atmicromarket@microfinanceconference.ca if you are interested in showcasing and/or selling yours.Books will be sold here and she will be available for signing by the authors.
We continue the journey from man in the streets of Toronto to women in the developing world, and back. A brand NEW 2014 microwalk video will debut featuring a fantastic local Scarborough project. If you can’t wait, take a previous microwalk NOW at http://tinyurl.com/k7kma5k
Everyone is welcome
Participants include microfinance, development and business leaders, social innovators, government officials, politicians, entrepreneurs, academics, students, the media and anyone with an interest inentrepreneurship, social and economic innovation, sustainable development, poverty reduction and social justice.
For more information including all the great speakers, the program and session descriptions, visit:
www.microfinanceconference.ca
Questions? Contact:
info@microfinanceconference.ca or media@microfinanceconference.ca
Get your ticket/s TODAY!
