Call for papers

Organized by:
European Microfinance Platform
Centre for European Research in Microfinance (CERMi)

2-4 June 2009
Brussels, Belgium

Overview

Microfinance sector is developing at a rapid pace creating a growing demand for experienced professionals but also precise research within microfinance and credit institutions, banks and development investment funds in Europe and abroad. The European Microfinance Platform, in partnership with the Centre for European Research in Microfinance (CERMi) is proud to organize the First European Research Conference on Microfinance, with the purpose to gather leading academic researchers and to develop suitable frameworks in a constantly changing landscape.

Conference format

The conference will be held over three days and consist of plenary sessions and panels based on submitted papers. Keynote speakers will be outstanding scholars in various fields of microfinance, invited as special guests. At present, three Keynote Speakers already confirmed their presence: Professors David Hulme (University of Manchester), Jonathan Morduch (New York University), Jean-Michel Servet, (Institut Universitaire d'Etudes du Développement de Genève).

Submission of Papers

Competitive papers, with a maximum length of 35 pages, are being solicited for the conference in areas relevant to microfinance, including but not limited to the following topics:

• Social Impact                                                                        
• Gender & Women Empowerment
• Governance and Efficiency of MFIs
• Rural Microfinance
• Link between financial and microfinance institutions
• Public Policies
• Innovation of Microfinance products

All contributions must be original, should not have been published elsewhere and should not be intended to be published elsewhere during the review period.

Details about papers submission will be published early November on CERMi website: www.cermi.eu

Scientific Committee

The Scientific Commission in charge of the evaluation of the submitted papers will be composed as follows:

• Beatriz Armendáriz, Harvard University (USA) and University College London (UK)
• Johan Bastiaensen, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
• James Copestake, University of Bath (UK)
• Isabelle Guérin, Université de Provence (France)
• Marek Hudon, CERMi and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management - ULB (Belgium)
• Marc Labie, CERMi and Faculté Warocqué – UMH (Belgium)
• Robert Lensik, University of Groningen (the Netherlands)
• Roy Mersland, University of Adger (Norway)
• Jonathan Murdoch, New York University (USA)     
• Jean-Michel Servet, I.U.E.D. Genève (Switzerland)
• Ariane Szafarz, CERMi and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management - ULB (Belgium)
• Organization Committee: the conference will be chaired by Professor Marek Hudon

Important Dates

• Call for papers: 25th September 2008   
• Call for papers closes: 15th December 2008    
• Acceptance Deadline: 15th, January 2009
• Conference Dates: 2-4 June 2009

Contact

All correspondence regarding this conference should be addressed to:

Petra Solli
Center for European Research in Microfinance (CERMi)
50 av. F.D. Roosevelt, CP 145-01 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 650 6601   Fax: +32 2 650 60 20
[email protected] 
www.cermi.eu