Sustainable Microfinance in the MENA Region
Explore trends, challenges, and strategic pathways for sustainable microfinance across the MENA region.
Co-organized with local experts, partners and networks across the region
Register here
About
Climate change is reshaping the foundations of our economies, with profound implications for the resilience of businesses and the livelihoods of individuals. At the crossroads of this transformation is the concept of inclusive green finance, an approach that recognizes the undeniable interaction between climate change and financial inclusion. Risks from climate change, ranging from energy shortages to extreme weather events, resource scarcity and environmental degradation, pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of low-income communities and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where significant swaths of the population live in areas vulnerable to desertification, sea level rise and water stress.
In the financial ecosystem of this region, all stakeholders have a responsibility to mitigate the impact of climate change and design sustainable development models. The microfinance sector in the Middle East and North Africa, characterized by its wide range of financial services, extensive outreach, and skilled human resources, is uniquely positioned to address these challenges.
By developing environmental strategies, adopting climate risk mitigation measures, and offering green financial and non-financial solutions, microfinance institutions (MFIs) can help the most vulnerable segments of society navigate and adapt to the far-reaching dangers of climate change.
Against this backdrop, our webinar series aims to foster dialogue on trends, challenges,
and strategies crucial to driving the growth of sustainable microfinance in the MENA region.
We will explore the country-specific insights drawn from the
"Sustainable Finance in the MENA Region" study,
conducted last year by HEDERA Sustainable Solutions with the support of the SANAD Fund for MSMEs Technical Assistance Facility.
This webinar series will not only provide an insight into the latest developments of MFIs in the region but will also delve into the measures and actions needed to strengthen the longevity and sustainability of microfinance institutions.
Coordinated by HEDERA Sustainable Solutions and financed by the SANAD Fund for MSMEs Technical Assistance Facility in collaboration with Yemen Microfinance Network, L'Autorité de Contrôle de la Microfinance, TANMEYAH Jordan Microfinance Network, SHARAKA, SANABEL, Centre Mohamed VI de Soutien à la Microfinance Solidaire Maroc and the Lebanese Microfinance Association, this webinar series aims to foster resilient, inclusive, and environmentally friendly finance in the MENA region.
Topics & Audience
The panel discussions will cover crucial aspects of sustainable microfinance, including:
- Sustainable finance strategies
- Green financial inclusion and impact investing
- Regulatory frameworks for sustainable finance
- Advancing green technologies and sustainable practices in financing
- Challenges and opportunities in the microfinance sector
This event is dedicated to all the microfinance institutions interested in fostering sustainable finance in the MENA region.
Specially, we welcome people who are working in the following departments:
- Management
- Credit
- Impact Measurement
- Risk Management
- Social & Environmental Performance
- Marketing
Sessions
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Host: Kateryna Morton
Senior officer, Technical Assistance Management for the SANAD Fund for MSME at Finance in MotionHost: Almudena Márquez
Senior officer, Technical Assistance Management for the SANAD Fund for MSME at Finance in Motion
Register here
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Morocco
Illustration by: Artur Sgambatti Monteiro
October 11, at 10 am CET (Watch Recording)
Download slides: (English/اللغة الإنجليزية) (Français/اللغة الفرنسية), (Arabic/اللغة العربية)
Co-Host: Ms. Naima Sahil
DIRECTOR - CENTRE MOHAMMED VI DE SOUTIEN À LA MICROFINANCE SOLIDAIRE
Ms. Naima Sahil is the Director of the Centre Mohammed VI de Soutien à la Microfinance Solidaire. She brings extensive experience and knowledge to the realm of microfinance, with a focus on promoting environmentally responsible financial practices. Her visionary leadership and commitment to inclusive finance have made a significant impact, ensuring that microfinance continues to be a powerful tool for financial inclusion and environmental responsibility.
Co-Host: Ms. Khadija El Hantal
HEAD OF TRAINING DEPARTMENT - CENTRE MOHAMMED VI DE SOUTIEN À LA MICROFINANCE SOLIDAIRE
Ms. Khadija El Hantali is a seasoned professional committed to sustainable finance and microfinance. As Head of the Training Department at the Centre Mohammed VI de Soutien à la Microfinance Solidaire, she contributes significantly to sector development by fostering skills and knowledge. Ms. Khadija El Hantali's dedication to financial inclusion and sustainability has a profound impact, ensuring that microfinance remains a catalyst for inclusive financial practices and sustainable growth.
Mr. Zakaria Jebbouri
GENERAL DIRECTOR - ATTADAMOUNE MICRO FINANCE
Mr. Zakaria Jebbouri is an accomplished professional in the microfinance industry with over two decades of experience. Currently serving as the General Director at Attadamoune Micro Finance, he has played a pivotal role in the institution's commitment to sustainable and ethical financial practices. With his extensive expertise, Mr. Zakaria Jebbouri continues to make significant contributions to the field of microfinance, fostering financial inclusion and sustainability.
Mr. Hammou Moustain
GENERAL DIRECTOR - BAB RIZK JAMEEL MICROFINANCE
Mr. Hammou Moustain is the CEO of Bab Rizk Jameel Microfinance. With over two decades of experience in the microfinance sector, he has been instrumental in steering the organization toward sustainable and ethical financial practices. Mr. Hammou is passionate about green finance, aligning economic growth with environmental responsibility. His visionary leadership, rooted in compliance and audit practices, drives positive change and innovation in the sector.
Mr. Pierre Champsavoir
CO-FOUNDER - HAPPY SMALA
Entrepreneur, investor, and consultant, Mr. Pierre Champsavoir brings more than 15 years of experience in providing strategic and operational support to the financial sector, particularly in the realm of Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) issues. As the head of international development at Happy Smala, he has amassed extensive experience collaborating with multidisciplinary and intercultural teams in support of regulatory bodies, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, fintech companies, and civil society organizations. Particularly active in Morocco with his teams, he works at the crossroads of risk management, financial inclusion and sustainable finance, with an ethic rooted in audit and compliance practices, and a predisposition for technological subjects and collaborative innovation dynamics.
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Egypt
Illustration by: Artur Sgambatti Monteiro
October 4, at 10 am CET / 11 am Sanaa (Watch Recording)
Download slides: (English/اللغة الإنجليزية) (Français/اللغة الفرنسية), (Arabic/اللغة العربية)
Co-Host: Rany Edward
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – SANABEL, THE MICROFINANCE NETWORK OF ARABIC COUNTRIES
Rany joined Sanabel in 2012 as a Conference and Event Manager, bringing 15 years of practical experience in management, events, training, and client relations across diverse industries. He is a dedicated leader known for achieving business goals through effective change management.
As a resourceful and passionate manager, Rany oversees client and supplier relations, ensuring project success through teamwork and innovation. He manages crucial annual conferences and training events, contributing to Sanabel's long-term sustainability within its larger structure.
Rany's role involves advising executive leadership and collaborating with board members to optimize department activities, training, and development. With a background in commerce and extensive microfinance sector training, Rany is committed to delivering tailored programs and services to Sanabel members.
Rasha Yousry
HEAD OF MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES MSMES DEPARTMENT - CENTRAL BANK of EGYPT
Ms. Rasha has over 20 years of experience at the Central Bank of Egypt, including more than 15 years in on-site supervision. She was a key member of the Central Bank's reform program in cooperation with the European Union from 2005 to 2007, where she played a vital role in developing risk-based inspection procedures and automating the inspection system.
In 2010, Ms. Rasha helped establish the first specialized retail examination team at the Central Bank, focusing on Retail & Microfinance activities in Egyptian banks.
For the past five years, she has headed the Micro and Small Business division at the Central Bank, actively working on initiatives to facilitate MSMEs' access to finance and collaborating with other entities to support the micro and small business ecosystem in Egypt. She also leads the institutional graduation program for Microfinance NGOs in partnership with IFC and the Microfinance Federation.
Ahmed Nawar
HEAD OF MARKETING - ALEXANDRIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (SME PROJECT)
Mr. Ahmed Nawar is the Head of Marketing at the Alexandria Business Association (SME Project). He is a dynamic marketer with a proven track record in various industries, including FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and microfinance.
Ahmed Abdelwahab
SENIOR BANK ADVISOR & MSME EXPERT
Mr. Ahmed Abdelwahab is a highly experienced banking executive and MSME advisor with 25 years in MSME sector development and 15 years in regulated financial institutions. He has worked with major commercial and Islamic banks, including the National Bank for Development and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, as well as microfinance institutions across Egypt and the MENA region.
His expertise extends to training, risk management, product development, green financing, and ESG initiatives, often in collaboration with international donors like USAID, EU, and AFD. Mr. Ahmed has played a key role in tailoring financial products for green purposes.
Ms. Shaymaa El Demery
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER OF SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCE - CENTRAL BANK of EGYPT
Ms. Shaymaa joined the Central Bank of Egypt in early 2021 and currently serves as the Deputy General Manager of Sustainability and Sustainable Finance. With over 16 years of remarkable experience in the Egyptian banking sector, particularly in corporate banking finance, she previously worked at QNB Al Ahli Egypt in the role of Domestic Group Coverage – Large Corporate Lending.
She holds an educational background in Business Administration and obtained her MBA from Edinburgh Business School. She also possesses a deep understanding of marketing, supported by a Master of Science in Marketing from the same institution. Throughout her academic journey, she consistently pursued opportunities to expand her knowledge and engage in meaningful projects.
Ahmed Khorched
CEO & Managing Director - TAMWEELY MICROFINANCE
CEO and Managing Director of Tamweely Microfinance, with over 24 years of diverse experience in banking, project management, business analysis, process re-engineering, change management, and risk management. He led Tamweely's transformation from a start-up to a prominent financial services provider in Egypt, earning awards for excellence and growth. Previously, he held key positions at Tanmeyah Microfinance Services, National Bank of Kuwait, Burgan Bank, BNP Paribas Bank, Alex Bank, and HSBC Bank Egypt.
Khorched holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Cairo University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Maastricht Business School, Netherlands, specializing in Finance and Banking. He's dedicated to building a brighter financial future and excels in establishing and growing companies to achieve their goals.
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Jordan
Illustration by: Artur Sgambatti Monteiro
September 20, at 10 am CET / 11 am Sanaa (Watch Recording)
Download slides: (English/اللغة الإنجليزية) (Français/اللغة الفرنسية), (Arabic/اللغة العربية)
Nisreen Al Khasawneh, the General Manager of Tanmeyah Microfinance Network in Jordan, holds an MA degree in International Political Economy with honors and is pursuing a PhD in Business Intelligence. With a diverse career spanning private, public, and non-profit sectors, she is passionate about merging excellence and creativity for a positive impact. Nisreen leads Jordan's largest official microfinance institution, is actively involved in investment committees, and contributes to national financial inclusion and women's economic empowerment initiatives. She has a track record of fostering international investments, networking, and promoting Jordan as a destination for businesses and employment opportunities.
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Mrs. Bdour Al-Hyari
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - MICROFUND FOR WOMEN
Bdour Al Hyari, Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Microfund for Women, is an experienced professional in business development and strategy, with more than 17 years of experience, including several years of training work. She is a passionate leader with experience in building and managing multi-disciplinary teams in multicultural settings. Bdour possesses effective communication skills and the ability to present and interact effectively at all levels. She excels in building positive relationships across all organizational layers, including with donors. Bdour is skilled in implementing policies and procedures related to youth and education, health, nutrition, emergency and development programs, monitoring and evaluation, and teaching.
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Mrs. Abeer Obwah
DEVELOPMENT MARKETING MANAGER - TAMWEELCOM JORDAN MICRO FINANCE COMPANY
Abeer Obwah is the Business Development Marketing Manager at Tamweelcom Jordan Micro Finance company. Mrs. Obwah has over 12 years of experience in financial institutions, working in consumer protection certification, social and environmental responsibility, and green strategy.
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Tunisia
Illustration by: Artur Sgambatti Monteiro
September 13, at 10 am CET / 11 am Sanaa (Watch Recording)
Download slides: (English/اللغة الإنجليزية), (Français/اللغة الفرنسية), (Arabic/اللغة العربية)
Co-Host: Mr. Mahmoud Montassar Mansour
FOUNDER AND GENERAL DIRECTOR - Autorité de Contrôle de la Microfinance (ACM)
Mr. Mansour has been the founder and General Director of the Autorité de Contrôle de la Microfinance (ACM) since 2012. He has more than 20 years of experience at the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister, specializing in state control of public enterprises, particularly public banks. Also, he has been a professor for over 30 years, primarily teaching actuarial science and financial mathematics at the École Supérieure de Commerce de Tunis (ESCT).
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Dr. Nadia Mansour
ASSOCIATE RESEARCH FELLOW - ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM
Dr. Nadia Mansour wears multiple hats in academia and research. She's a trainer at CREACT4MED, an assistant at The University of Sousse in Tunisia, and a visiting researcher at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Her research interests span Finance, Banking, Green Finance, and Fintech.
She's actively engaged in academia as an academic member and ambassador for the Communication Institute of Greece, a committee member in indexed conferences, and an Editorial Board Member for Taylor & Francis, IGI GLOBAL, and Springer. Dr. Mansour has presented her research at international and national conferences, and she's a keynote speaker and session chair at events in Turkey, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Her contributions also extend to publications, including articles in journals and chapters in books published by IGI Global, Palgrave Macmillan, Taylor & Francis, and Springer.
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Mr. Kamel Saibi
CEO - DAAM (before CFE Tunisia)
Mr. Mohamed Kamel Saibi is the CEO of DAAM, previously serving as Deputy CEO since June 2019. With a strong background in microfinance, he spent a significant part of his career at IFC, specializing in credit, leasing, microcredit, and micro-leasing development. His achievements include implementing reforms to enable financing for small and medium-sized enterprises in African and Latin American countries, and establishing the first structure for financing micro and small businesses. Known for his natural leadership and collaboration, he successfully guided DAAM's teams towards achieving their goals.
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Mr. Khereddine Cahia
HEAD OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY- ENDA TAMWEEL
Kheireddine Cahya currently serves as the Head of Agricultural and Environmental Strategy at the microfinance institution Enda Tamweel, based in Tunisia. Throughout his career, he has played a vital role in developing various credit products and expanding Enda's agricultural and rural portfolio. His primary mission involves implementing Enda's agricultural strategy, with a key objective of enhancing the socio-economic impact of financing for small-scale farmers.In addition to overseeing the agricultural strategy, he leads the environmental strategy project at Enda. This initiative focuses on areas such as waste recycling, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the management of the environmental and social management system at the institutional level.
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Yemen
Illustration by: Artur Sgambatti Monteiro
September 6, at 10 am CET / 11 am Sanaa (Watch Recording)
Download slides: (English/اللغة الإنجليزية) (Français/اللغة الفرنسية), (Arabic/اللغة العربية)
Hesham brings a decade of experience in development projects and project management to his role as Managing Director of YMN since February 2023. He holds an MBA from the EU Business School in Barcelona, Spain, and a bachelor's degree in Wealth Management from the European University in Barcelona, Spain.
Previously, Hesham served as a Senior Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation with the Unconditional Cash Transfer Project at the Social Fund for Development – Yemen. From 2014 to 2021, he played a pivotal role as the Projects Officer at YMN, overseeing the Training and Research and Development Units within the network. Furthermore, he contributed his expertise as a macroeconomist for the United Nations Development Programme, where he acted as a national specialist focused on studying the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs in Yemen.
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Mr. Mustafa Al-Ahdal
Operations Manager - Al-Ittihad Microfinance Program
Mustafa Yahya Ibrahim Ali Al-Ahdal, a Yemeni finance professional, holds a Biology degree from the University of Aden and a Bachelor's in Administrative Sciences. He has played pivotal roles in implementing Responsible Finance and Customer Protection Standards at Etihad Finance. With expertise in microfinance, Mustafa is a certified consultant and trainer at Yemen Microfinance Network and Microfinance Academy, specializing in Sustainable Finance.
As the former Director at Union Microfinance, he excels in strategic planning, rural finance, and conflict resolution. In addition to his role as a training specialist, Mustafa is deeply committed to community-focused initiatives, including Rapid Participatory Research at the Social Fund for Development in Aden.
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Mr. Ahmed Baeisa
Social Fund for Development
Ahmed Baeisa is a Yemeni development professional with over 8 years of experience in supporting Yemen's SME sector. He holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University in the USA.
Beginning his career in 2014 at the Social Fund for Development (SFD), Ahmed worked as a Project Officer, focusing on SME development projects. In 2018, he was promoted to Deputy Head of SFD's Small and Micro Enterprise Development (SMED) unit, overseeing the program's development and funding efforts. Ahmed also serves on the boards of microfinance institutions such as the National Microfinance Foundation (NMF) and Al-Amal Microfinance Bank.
Passionate about the SME sector, Ahmed champions its role in Yemen's economic growth and job creation. He is dedicated to collaborating with partners to foster the growth and sustainability of SMEs in Yemen.
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Dr. Ahmed Huzayyin
Manager of the Eco-Industrial Department - Chemonics Egypt Consultants
Ahmed Huzayyin is the Director of the Eco-Industrial Department at Chemonics Egypt Consultants and an Associate Professor at Cairo University, Egypt. With extensive expertise in technology, market sustainability, and the green economy, Dr. Huzayyin's experience spans across 13 MENA countries, as well as Canada and China.
He specializes in assisting the private sector, investors, and financial institutions in seizing opportunities within the green economy. Dr. Huzayyin has provided advisory services to more than 15 banks and microfinance institutions in the MENA region, aiding in the development of successful green and sustainable finance products and the management of sustainable finance facilities.
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