Four representatives from the Reserve or Central Banks in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and two representatives from microfinance institutions in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea will be part of the Pacific delegation to attend the Boulder Institute of Microfinance training that will be held in Turin, Italy from July 18th to August 5. 

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) has provided funding for travel and accommodation for the seven participants, who had benefitted from scholarships to support their tuition.

The bank officials’ tuition cost are provided by the European Union while the MasterCard Foundation provided scholarships to the representatives of the microfinance institutions. PFIP made a special effort to sponsor female microfinance managers from around the Pacific region. Both PFIP supported applicants were extended scholarships, as well as all PFIP central bank partners.

The 17th annual Boulder Microfinance Training Program is often cited as the primer Microfinance training in the world, and has a strong focus on sustainability, management, policy and regulation.

The training provides an excellent opportunity for learning, dialogue, and debate with expert faculty and microfinance professionals from leading institutions around the world.The six participants supported by PFIP include George Guants (Bank of Papua New Guinea), Atalina Enari (Central Bank of Samoa), Christina Rokoua (Reserve Bank of Fiji), Caroline Kanoko (Central Bank of Solomon Islands), Patricia Fred (VANWODS Microfinance, Vanuatu) and Maggie Onao (PNG Microfinance Limited).

“This is the second group of Pacific islanders who are being supported by PFIP to attend this training. PFIP is committed to strengthening the capacity of regulators and microfinance service managers to create more inclusive financial sectors which will benefit low income women, men and micro entrepreneurs, ” said Jeff Liew, Regional Capacity Adviser of PFIP.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) is a Pacific-wide programme helping to provide sustainable financial services to low income households. It is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and operates from the UNDP Pacific Centre.