🐦Early Bird 🔗registrations for the EMN Annual Conference 2026 are now officially open! Join us in 📍Barcelona on 📆October 15-16 for this year’s edition themed “Building an Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Together.” Organised in partnership with Microbank and Autoocupació, the conference will delve into the nuances of creating an enabling environment for inclusive entrepreneurship. Enjoy insightful sessions featuring both practitioners and entrepreneurs as they share concrete innovations, tools, and first-hand experiences. We will also examine the impacts of these ecosystems on entrepreneurs, using evidence from microfinance institutions to align with current policy priorities. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and explore ways to foster collaboration and growth in the entrepreneurial landscape!
Draft Agenda
As usual, the day before the conference (📆October 14th), EMN will host its Members’ Day, featuring a series of activities exclusively for EMN members, including Committee meetings and the EMN General Assembly.
On 📆October 15th, we will kick off the conference with an opening ceremony in CaixaForum’s Auditorium, followed by two plenary panels. In the afternoon, we will organise interactive sessions where participants can engage actively and work in groups. Due to capacity limits, we kindly ask you to select your two preferred options for these sessions. Please note the following:
- Sessions will not be available for selection once the maximum capacity is reached.
- It will not be possible to switch sessions on-site.
- A reminder of your selected sessions will be sent after your registration and closer to the event.
Wednesday, October 14th (EMN Members ONLY)
10:00-12:00 Working Groups:
- Advocacy Committee (Espai A2)
- Research Committee (Part 1 – Sal de Reunion)
- Non-financial Services Working Grup (Auditorium)
12:00-13:00 Lunch Break (Espai A1)
13:00-14:30 EIF workshop – Upon Invitation (Espai A2)
13:00-14:30 Research Committee (Part 2 – Sal de Reunion)
14:45-16:15 Informative session on the revision of the European Code of Good Conduct – European Commission – Upon Invitation
15:45-16:15 National Networks Committee (Auditorium)
16:30-18:30 EMN General Assembly – EMN Members Only (Espai C)
18:30-20:30 Members’ Cocktail (Espai A)
Thursday, October 15th: First Day of Conference
09:45-10:30 Opening Ceremony (Auditorium)
The opening ceremony will set the tone for the conference by bringing together EU and national policymakers, practitioners, financial institutions and microfinance beneficiaries to celebrate the power of inclusive finance. Through inspiring stories from entrepreneurs and a high-level exchange with European leaders the session will showcase how microfinance creates opportunities, strengthens communities and drives sustainable economic inclusion across Europe.
- Part 1 – Hearing from the regional and national perspective: Welcoming words from the local partners and from the Catalan government and setting the scene “Microfinance in Catalunya and in Spain” (objective: understand the Spanish and Catalunya ecosystem, how inclusive entrepreneurship policies and microfinance are part of the priorities of public and private actors).
- Microbank with presentation of the venue and context (confirmed)
- Mr. FERNÁNDEZ, Department of Economy and Finance of the Government of Catalonia
- Part 2 – Setting the objectives of the conference through the testimony of beneficiaries with Autoocupació
- Part 3 – Hearing from the European perspective with a double fire side chat
- Marjut FALKSTEDT, Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund
- Tomáš BOČEK, Vice-Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
- Closing of the opening ceremony
10:30-11:45 Plenary Panel: Future of funding for the sector (Auditorium)
This plenary session will explore the future of EU financial support for microfinance, focusing on the need to renew and strengthen the financial instruments available under the InvestEU programme. Representatives from the European Commission, EIF, EIB, CEB and microfinance institutions will discuss lessons from the current EIF portfolio guarantee, present the new EC/CEB Blending Facility for Microfinance and examine the sector’s evolving financing needs. The session will conclude with key advocacy messages to secure continued and enhanced EU support for the sector and improve access to finance for vulnerable entrepreneurs.
- Brigitte FELLAHI-BROGNAUX,Head of Unit Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, European Commission
- Cristina DUMITRESCU, Head of Inclusive Finance at the European Investment Fund (EIF)
- Kristina MASLAUSKAITE,Technical Advisor for Microfinance at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
- 3 practitioners:
- Marcos SALINERO MÚGICA, Managing Director, Bizkaia Mikro
- Linas ARMALIS, CEO, Noviti
- Lorraine DE FIERLANT, CEO, Microstart
- Moderator: Stefan BUCIUC, CEO, BCR Social finance
11:45-12:15 Morning Break (Espai A)
12:15-13:30 Plenary Panel n.2: Driving inclusive entrepreneurship through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (Auditorium)
Taking the form of an interactive mock trial, this session will put AI “on trial” to explore its role in the delivery of microfinance services. Through arguments, evidence and debate, participants will examine how AI can be integrated into both financial and non-financial services while preserving the personalised, human-centred support that is at the heart of microfinance. The session will ultimately consider where AI can add value, where human intervention remains essential, and how to strike the right balance to best serve microfinance beneficiaries.
- Dr. Arvind ASHTA, Senior Consultant and Academic Author on Financial inclusion and AI in Finance (prosecution)
- MFIs/practitioners:
- Emanuele CABRAS,CoopFn/ RITMI (witness for defense)
- Marco SMIT, Managing director, Qredits (defense)
- Talía JIMÉNEZ ROMERO, Director, Fortell Impact (independent expert)
- Rafael DRUMMOND BORGES, Advisor, CRESAÇOR (Judge)
13:30-15:00 Lunch Break (Espai A)
15:00-16:15 1st Parallel sessions
Workshop 1: Building partnerships to foster inclusive entrepreneurship (Espai C)
In this interactive workshop, we will explore how partnerships between microfinance institutions, banking actors, public authorities, philanthropic organisations, financial institutions, business support organisations and the private sector can strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship and improve support for underserved entrepreneurs specifically through partnerships to provide non-financial services.
- Autoccupació, Microbank and Visa Foundation
- Andreas STEFANIDIS, President and Director Academy of entrepreneurship
- Filippo CHIESA, Project leader and account manager, PerMicro
- Martina GRIGOROVA, CEO SIS Credit
- Moderator: Vanessa COTTERELL, European inclusive entrepreneurship alliance/ Unitee
Workshop 2: Practical Tools to Support Entrepreneurs: Informal Entrepreneurs and low-income communities (Espai D)
This workshop will explore practical ways to support NEETs and informal entrepreneurs. Participants will exchange good practices, identify tools to improve access to finance, mentoring and business support, and develop practical recommendations that can be applied in their own organisations.
- Alban AGBO, Regional Director, ADIE
- Karla ESTRADA, Coordinator Europe Specialist Self Employment, Foundation Nantik Lum
Romanian Microfinance Sector’s Insight Session PT.1 (the workshop will be in Romanian – Espai B)
16:15-16:45 Afternoon Break
16:45-18:00 Parallel sessions:
Workshop 3: By MFIs, for MFIs: learning from each other (Espai C)
This interactive, peer-to-peer workshop will provide microfinance institutions (MFIs) with a unique opportunity to learn directly from one another by addressing real business challenges in a collaborative setting. Through open discussions and practical exchanges, participants will share experiences, explore innovative approaches to advancing financial inclusion, and receive actionable feedback from fellow practitioners and sector experts.
- Marie BIRNA OLAFSDOTTIR, Founder and CEO, Finklusiv
- Toni SIERRA, Director, Treball Solidari
- Cristina DUMITRESCU, Head of Inclusive Finance at the European Investment Fund (EIF)
Workshop 4: Strengthening inclusive entrepreneurship for vulnerable groups: World café (Espai D)
This interactive World Café will explore how microfinance can better support vulnerable groups through discussions on school entrepreneurship, financial health, volunteering, and funding in the context of new regulation. Participants will exchange practical experiences and identify collaborative solutions to strengthen financial inclusion.
- Marco SMIT, Managing director, Qredits,
- Marie José JUMEZ, National Volunteer Coordinator, ADIE
- Stamatis VELEGRAKIS, Director, AFI
- Facilitator: Alex RANKIN, Deputy Managing Director, EMN
Romanian Microfinance Sector’s Insight Session PT.2 (the workshop will be in Romanian – Espai B)
20:00-00:00 Social Event: Time Out Market Barcelona
Friday, October 16th: Second Day of Conference
09:00 – 09:15 High-level Spechees (Auditorium)
09:15-10:30 Pleenary Panel 3: Learning from the Philantropic sector on Inclusive Entrepreneurship (Auditorium)
This workshop will explore how philanthropic capital can advance inclusive entrepreneurship notably through microfinance by bridging financing gaps, de-risking lending and enabling innovative solutions. It will highlight how partnerships between philanthropic organisations, microfinance providers and public institutions can strengthen MFI capacity, sustainability and social impact while improving support for underserved entrepreneurs and shaping a more enabling ecosystem.
10:30-11:00 Morning Break (Espai A)
11:00-12:15 Plenary Panel 4: Impact Assessment in 2026 and Beyond: What to expect and how to prepare (Auditorium)
How can the microfinance sector better demonstrate its impact? This panel will explore the development of a common impact assessment framework, starting with an update from the European Commission and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) on their ongoing work. The discussion will examine how a shared approach could strengthen investment decisions, improve access to EU funding, and help the sector better demonstrate its value, before concluding with practical perspectives from microfinance institutions and sector organisations on the opportunities and challenges of implementation.
12:15-12:45 Closing Ceremony (Auditorium)
12:45-14:00 Lunch (Espai A)
14:30-17:00 Visit at Poble Espanyol (upon registration)
Tickets & Registrations - LOW AVAILABILITY
Regular Rates (September 1st – October 7th):
- EMN Members: 460 EUR
- EMN Non-Members: 650 EUR
Please note that VAT will be included in the total ticket price.
To secure your ticket(s), please register using the link below. In the registration form, you will be able to provide all the necessary information regarding your ticket(s) and select your preferred method of payment. After completing your registration, a confirmation message will appear, and within 5 working days, you will receive a summary email that outlines your registration details and payment information. To validate your ticket, please ensure that payments are processed within 5 working days. Invoices will be sent out after the event.
Payment Methods
Both bank transfer and online payments are available. Please note that on-site registration and payment will not be possible. In the summary email received after registration, you will find details for executing a bank transfer, or if you choose online payment, a dedicated link for processing payments.
Additional Information:
- At the payment link, you can select the quantity of tickets you wish to purchase.
- For large groups, a dedicated group link is available, allowing the purchase of groups of 10 tickets at a time (by selecting the quantity, you will select 10 tickets each time).
- The online payment links display ticket prices with VAT already included.
If you need specific information, please feel free to reach out to the EMN Secretariat.
Cancellation Policy
- 100% reimbursement up to 14 days before the event
- 50% 7 days before the event
- and no reimbursement less than 6 days before.
Conference Venue
The conference will take place at CaixaForum Barcelona, which is located in the former Casaramona textile factory, a notable work by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. This site is one of the most outstanding examples of Catalan industrial modernist architecture from the early 20th century.
The venue is conveniently situated in a central area of the city and is well-connected. You can reach CaixaForum from Barcelona El Prat Airport by public transport or taxi services available outside the airport. For public transport, take the bus from Terminal 1 (T1) of the airport heading to Plaça Catalunya – Andana Central, and then stop at Gran Via Corts Catalanes. The venue is just a 4-minute walk from there.
If you are coming from Barcelona city center, you can take Metro Line 1 from Plaça Catalunya in the direction of Hospital de Bellvitge and get off at the Espanya station. The venue is approximately 500 meters away from there.
Social Event - LOW AVAILABILITY
On 📆October 15th, from 20:00 to 00:00, EMN will host a Social Event at Time Out Market in Barcelona. Entrance to the event is included in the ticket price, and no additional cost will be charged for attendees who are part of the conference. However, attendees who do not attend the conference will need to pay an entry fee. You can contact EMN Secretariat for more information.
Time Out Market is conveniently located in the Ciutat Vella area of the city and is easily accessible from the event venue by public transport or taxi.
Learn More about Time Out Market HERE.
Visit at Poble Espanyol - LOW AVAILABILITY
To close the event, on 📆October 16th, EMN is offering a visit to the nearby Poble Espanyol after the morning session. This guided visit has 25 slots available for English speakers and 25 for Spanish speakers. During the visit, you will discover the architectural and cultural heritage showcased at the Poble Espanyol, which was built in 1929 for the International Exposition. This open-air village features more than 100 life-sized buildings in a unique setting, along with facilities, museums, exhibitions, and over 18 artisan workshops—providing an immersive experience into the culture and history of Spain.
Please note that participation in the field visit is not included in the conference ticket. To secure their slot, the first participants to express their interest will receive a dedicated link for booking. Availability is limited, and the option will close once the maximum number of participants is reached.
The visit will be confirmed with a minimum of 10 participants; if this number is not met, the tickets will be automatically reimbursed. More logistical information will be shared closer to the event.
Accommodation
We strongly recommend that participants book their accommodation as soon as possible. To assist with this, EMN has partnered with Hotel Indigo Barcelona Plaza España to offer participants a 15% discount on the best available rate at the time of booking.
If you are interested in this offer, please contact Hotel Indigo and include “EUROPEAN MICROFINANCE X INDIGO” in the subject line of your email. Please note that EMN is not responsible for confirming the booking, as this process will be handled solely by the hotel.
Furthermore, additional hotel suggestions can be found here, listed in order from the closest to the venue, along with the area of the city where they are located:
- Hotel Acta Azul Barcelona (Montjuïc / Poble-sec)
- Hotel Best Auto Hogar (Poble-sec / Paral·lel)
- Hotel Viladomat (Eixample Esquerra)
- Arco Barcelona Hotel (Eixample / city centre)
- Hotel Best Aranea (Eixample Dreta / Sagrada Família area)
- SM Hotel Teatre Auditori (Glòries / Sant Martí)
- Hotel Ilya (Poblenou area)
- Hotel Best 4 Barcelona (Poblenou / Diagonal Mar)
- Hotel SB Icaria (Vila Olímpica)
Event Sponsors
EMN Members' Platform
Support the EMN Network
EMN members will receive updates on the event program and speakers through EUDONET’s dedicated platform for the network. This platform will compile all essential and relevant information about EMN activities and developments within the sector, and it will soon be available to members.
Would you like to support EMN’s activities? When you purchase your conference ticket, you can choose to make a donation.
Interested in becoming a member? Please contact the EMN Membership Manager.
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