EFSD(+) Workshop for Bankers and MFI Practitioners in Madagascar, Mauritius, and Rwanda
The initiative of the RMCE in regards of mobilising grants and highly concessional financing to build resilience and sustainability in the context of climate change.
In that regard, please find below Agenda for the Workshop that RMCE will be organising in collaboration with Africa Rise and the Mauritius Bankers Association on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
10 00 a.m. – 11 10 a.m.
Session 1: The EU Global Gateway And EFSD(+)
Opening Remarks EU Delegation
by H.E. Oskar Benedikt, EU Ambassador to Mauritius
Opening Remarks Africa RISE
by Manisha Dookhony, Economics and Markets Reform Expert at Africa RISE
Opening Remarks EU DG INTPA
by EU Directorate General International Partnerships (tbd)
“Challenges of (M)SME Financing in Africa”
Keynote by Daniel Essoo, CEO of Mauritius Bankers Association
“The European Fund for Sustainable Development (Plus) as a Catalyst for Economic Growth in Africa”
Discussion moderated by Africa RISE
11:10 AM – 11:30 AM
Break
11:30 AM – 01:00 PM
Session 2: Boosting SME Finance With EFSD(+) Guarantees
Overview of relevant EFSD+ financing programs of European DFIs for banks and
MFIs in Madagascar, Mauritius, and Rwanda
Presentation by Bennet Niemann, Financing Instruments Consultant at Africa RISE
The EDFI MSME Platform as a novel tool for risk sharing
Deep-Dive by William Poole, Guarantee and Syndications Manager at EDFI Management Company
MSME financing with FMO’s NASIRA(+) Program – Experience from Rwanda
Panel talk and discussion moderated by Africa RISE
Ilayda Atalay, NASIRA Structured Finance Officer at FMO,
Christian Abidjuru, Head of Business Banking at I&M Bank Rwanda
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM
Break
02:00 PM – 03:30 PM
Session 3: Strengthening Local Currency Markets With EFSD(+)
Opportunities in local currency financing across Africa
Keynote by Timothy Nuy, CEO of Fin, a pan-African neobank
Hedging and local currency financing with The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX)
Deep-Dive by Demba Tandia, Vice President for SSA at TCX
Experience and conditions for local currency finance.
Discussion moderated by David Weiss, Financing Instruments Expert at Africa RISE