The role of microfinance is crucial in empowering regional and local communities, fostering cohesion, and enhancing cooperation. Key examples illustrate how microfinance and cooperatives can improve access to housing, promote gender equity and equal opportunities, stimulate employment and green entrepreneurship, and drive innovation.
This year, our Annual Conference focuses on strengthening communities through microfinance and social inclusion. Titled “Roadmap to Sustainability and Inclusive Development: Microfinance as a Catalyst for Building Stronger Local Communities,” the event will take place in Cagliari, Sardinia (IT), on🗓️ October 16th-17th. Pre-conference activities on 🗓️October 15th will be held for EMN members. The event is organised in partnership with EMN members, CoopFin and RITMI, at the UNAHOTELS T Hotel Cagliari.
Early Bird Registrations
This year, we have lowered the conference fees to ensure more support for our network. Early bird registrations are now open until 🗓️August 1st. In addition to the early bird rate, EMN members will receive an extra discount.
Early bird registrations are now open for both members and non-members:
✔️ €368 + VAT for EMN members
✔️ €595 + VAT for non-members
Individual Registrations
To register individual tickets, please access the form linked below and enter your personal and organizational information. Next, select the type of early bird ticket (for members or non-members) and continue filling in the rest of the required details. You can choose between online payment or bank transfer, which must be processed within 10 working days from the registration date. Please note that all final payments will include VAT.
Group Registrations
If you are registering for multiple tickets, you have two options:
1.Small Groups: You can complete individual registrations for each participant (you can use the same email address to purchase more than one ticket).
2.Large Groups: Please contact our support team at emn2025@kassiopeagroup.com to request access to the dedicated group area. There, you can register up to 10 participants within a single registration. You will receive your access credentials within one working day to proceed with the registration and payment.
After each registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to a summary of your registration. Payment receipts will be sent once the payment is received, while invoices will be issued before the event.
👉For any inquiries regarding registrations, please reach out to the support team at emn2025@kassiopeagroup.com.
Accommodation
The conference venue is offering special rates for participants who wish to stay at T Hotel Cagliari. The venue is conveniently located near the city center and is easily accessible from Cagliari’s airport. In the attached forms, you can check the rates for each type of room available. Booking confirmation should be sent directly to the hotel’s booking department at reservation@thotel.it before September 10th. All information regarding your booking and payments for the rooms will be managed directly by T Hotel Cagliari and its booking department.
Social Event
At the end of the first day of the conference, we will host a social event at the Convento of San Giuseppe from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. The venue is conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from the conference site.
In the second section of the registration form, you can indicate whether you plan to participate in the social event. EMN will provide bus transportation to and from the venue in two different time slots (more details will be shared before the event). Alternatively, a taxi service is also available.
If you wish to use the bus service, please mark the corresponding section. The social event and transportation are included in the ticket price, but please note that a limited number of seats are available.
Field Visit
On the final day of the conference, EMN is organizing a field visit to the Genna Maria Villanovaforru archaeological site and museum. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the typical Nuraghi constructions, which are symbols of Sardinia. The visit will take place on 🗓️October 17th in the afternoon, and will last approximately three hours, including transportation (the site is a 40-minute drive from the conference venue). If you would like to join, please select the option in the second part of the registration form. The cost for the visit and transportation is an additional 10 euros on top of the ticket fee. Please note that only 50 slots are available.
Agenda
Members’ Day – Wednesday 15th of October
11.00-13.00 Working Groups
- Advocacy and National Network Committee (Room T3A)
- Research Committee (Room T7)
- Non-financial Services Working Group (Room T3B)
13.00-14.00 Lunch Break (Room T2)
14.00-16.30 Member Workshops (Rooms T3A – T3B)
16.30-18.30 General Assembly (Room T4)
18.00-21.00 Member’s Cocktail (Ground floor, outdoor patio)
First Day of the Conference - Thursday 16th of October
09.00-09.45 Registrations & Welcome Breakfast (Lobby 2)
09.45-10.45 Welcome Speeches (Room T1)
Speakers:
- Laure Coussirat-Coustère, President of EMN
- Carla Della Volpe, Coopfin and RITMI – Italian Microfinance Network
- Video Message by Dubravka Šuica, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean
Opening Plenary
Speakers:
- Tomas Boçek, Vice-governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank – CEB
- Alessandra Todde, President of Sardinia Region
- Simone Gamberini, President Legacoop and COOPFOND
- More speakers TBC
Setting the background
Presentation of the Conference map and background information on key EU level inititiaves relevant for the sector
10.45-11.45 Morning Break & Networking Time (Room T2 – Networking space in Room T3)
11.45-13.00 Plenary Panel: “Microfinance and financial inclusion: an efficient tool for communities and cooperation between territories” (Room T1)
13.00-14.00 Lunch & Networking (Room T2)
14.00-15.00 Parallel Workshops
- Workshop 1: “Regulating microfinance in 2025″ (Room T1)
- Workshop 2: “On the ground – Practical workshop on overindebtedness” (Room T2)
15.00-15.15 Afternoon Break (Room T2)
15.15-16.15 Parallel Workshops
- Workshop 3: “Structural Funds, Microfinance and Inclusive Finance – How harmonize instruments and objectives” (Room T1)
- Workshop 4: “Financial health and resilience” (Room 3)
16.15-16.30 Afternoon Break (Room T2)
16.30-17.30 Parallel Workshops
- Workshop 5: “Microfinance and migrants entrepreneurship in Mediterranean countries” (Room T1)
- Workshop 6: “Investments vehicles and tools. Where we stand?” (Room T3)
19.30 Social Event Bus: Meet-up at T-Hotel
20.00-00.00 Social Event (Convento of San Giuseppe)
Last Day of the Conference - Friday 17th of October
09.00-09.30 Welcome Breakfast (Lobby 2)
09.30-10.45 Opening Key-note Speech
Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President, European Investment Bank – EIB
Plenary Workshop: “Impact assessement” by the Council of Europe Development Bank – CEB (Room T1)
10.45-11.15 Morning Break (Room T2)
11.15-12.30 Fire side chat
Closing Ceremony: “Setting the funding need of the microfinance sector into the next InvestEU”
Maria Nowak Research Fellowship Ceremony
Code of Good Conduct Ceremony
(Room T1)
12.30-13.30 Lunch & Networking (Room T2)
13.30 Field Visit Bus: Meet-up at T-Hotel
13.00-17.00 Field visit at Gemma Maria Villanovaforru archeological site
More Info
Organizer
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European Microfinance Network (EMN)
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Phone
+32 280 844 20 -
Email
emn@european-microfinance.org -
Website
www.european-microfinance.org
