Togo: Official opening this Tuesday of the African Microfinance Week

Started yesterday, the official opening of the 6th edition of the African Microfinance Week (SAM) is held this Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Lomé.

The first day served as a workshop on digital for agricultural development. This platform allowed Mr. Cheikh N’diaye, consultant of Support for Autonomous Development (ADA) to present the Farmer platform (F 2.0) and Mr. Wendpanga Aimé, director of green Hope to also exhibit the Yolsé platform. For Mr. N’diaye, the digitization of agriculture makes it possible to secure agricultural financing. He lamented that only 3% of the world’s farmers are financed in the agricultural sector. Thus, he says, F 2.0 is a space for information exchange in terms of credit application or payment in order to include farmers in banking systems.

The Yolsé platform, according to Mr. Wendpanga Aimé, is a lever that helps increase productivity by offering quality inputs to farmers.

Other workshops will also address digital for agricultural development; research in the field of financial inclusion in Africa; the evolution of regulation in the BCEAO zone; financing instruments for microfinance institutions and the introduction of responsible and inclusive finance.

More than 1300 experts and delegates are expected to attend this 6th edition. They will focus on several themes including «technological innovation for climate action; impact analysis: fostering green inclusive finance through needs assessment and impact measurement; the analysis of the rising security risks in the Sahel and the establishment of a guarantee mechanism to address them».

On Tuesday’s agenda, apart from the opening ceremony, a conference on Africa facing the challenges of climate change is expected. Parallel sessions will provide an opportunity for delegates to reflect on topics such as: Towards a sustainable future in Africa-climate, socio-economic development and inclusive finance; Climate-proof financial institutions-assess risks and strengthen institutional resilience; Beyond taxonomies, the role of regulators in boosting inclusive and sustainable finance; Financial inclusion 3.0, technology as a catalyst for sustainable development and finance.

Justine Ako.