Tuesday, November 14, 2006

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

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

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.

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.
  

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Session 5
Panel:  "Funding and Managing Growth"
Donors and experts discuss sources of funding through current and future projects; uses, restrictions, and coordination on such funding; and practitioner strategies for growth.

Session 6

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

Session 7
Concurrent Sessions:  "Towards an Iraqi Microfinance Strategy (II)"
Facilitated discussions leading to outline of issues and suggestions:

• 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.

Session 8
Closing Session
Summary of Discussions and Next Steps