• The USAID IZDIHAR Project
• USAID/Iraq, Economic Growth and Agriculture (EGA) Office
• Office of Private Sector Development, Strategic Investment and Housing, US Embassy/Iraq Reconstruction and Management Office (IRMO)
• Republic of Korea Army, Multi National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) Civil Military Operations
• Ranking Kurdish Regional Government official
• Ranking Government of Iraq official
  

Global Microfinance
Keynote Speaker:  Lene Hansen
Presentation:  Global Microfinance Experiences and their Relevance for Iraq

Session 1
Panel: "Iraqi Microfinance Today"
Current microfinance implementers in Iraq present overviews of their programs, areas, techniques, and lessons learned.

• Moderator:  Leader of IZDIHAR's Sustainable Microfinance component
  Presentation: The State of the MENA Microfinance Industry (on behalf of IFC)
  
• Panelists: Microfinance experts representing three microfinance partner organizations operating in Iraq
  

Session 2
Panel:  "Developing Local Iraqi Microfinance Institutions"
Local Iraqi microfinance institutions discuss their perspectives.

• Moderator:  Microfinance expert from MNF-I C9
• Panelists:  Microfinance practitioners representing three indigenous microfinance insitutions operating in Iraq

Luncheon Showcase
Brief presentation by high ranking official from Iraq Company for Bank Guarantees (ICBG)

Session 3
Panel: “Strategies to Support the Iraqi Microfinance Industry”
Donors and implementers discuss legal and regulatory issues, expectations for microfinance, and potential new developments.  Topics:  Legal and Regulatory Development, Microfinance in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments, Standards and Reporting.

• Moderator:  Lene Hansen
• Panelists:  Microfinance experts from IZDIHAR, Hope International and The SEEP Network
• Topics:
  Legal and Regulatory Development
  Microfinance in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments
  Standards and Reporting
  

Session 4
Concurrent Sessions:  "Towards an Iraqi Microfinance Strategy (I)"
Facilitated discussions leading to outline of issues and suggestions

• Group A:  Objectives of Microfinance
  Discussion focused on what objectives donors seek to achieve through micofinance, and implications for the industry.
  
• Group B:  Microfinance Practice
  Discussion focused on issues facing microfinance practitioners to develop their institutions and the industry, and what technical assistance, training, IT or other support is needed.
  
• Group C:  Legal and Regulatory Issues
  Discussion focused on what an ideal legal and regulatory framework should be in Iraq and how to move towards it.
  

Reception

• Presentation by MTC Atheer (Sponsor)
• Presentation:  Introduction to Mobile Phone Banking by IZDIHAR IT and Infrasture Specialist
  

• Moderator:  IZDIHAR CTO, USAID/EGA/Iraq
  
• Panelists:  Representatives from World Bank, Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), USAID's Community Stabilization Program and Economic Governance II Project, and Iraq's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
  

Showcase:  Support for Provincial Economic Development
Presented by IZDIHAR Chief-of-Party and IZDIHAR Senior Training Advisor

• Group A: North
  
• Group B:  South
  
• Group C:  Central
  

Luncheon Showcase
Brief presentation by Iraq Middle Market Development Fund (IMMDF)

• Group A: Business Development Services and Alternative Delivery Mechanisms
  Discussion of resources and services supporting or linking with the microfinance industry.
  
• Group B:  Information Management and Sharing Systems
  Workshop on IT solutions for microfinance institutions.
  
• Group C:  Establishing an Iraqi MFI Network
  Working group to discuss establishing an Iraqi MFI network, including its form, objectives and next steps.
  

Microfinance Strategy Working Group
Invited participants reviewed findings of working groups, prepared strategy outline, and set timeline and next steps.

For additional information on summit presentations and proceedings, contact us at communications@izdihar-iraq.