The Other Missing Middle: Is there a critical financing gap between Micro and SME?

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When

This event took place on 29 Apr 2010 at 6:30 pm.

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Both Microfinance and SME finance have been heralded as critical to poverty alleviation and economic growth.  The "missing middle" is a term coined to describe the lack of capital provided to SMEs in particular, and has been diagnosed as a constraint to developing country prosperity.   However there may be another ‘missing middle’ that is currently overlooked between Microfinance and SME finance.  What support - capital and capacity building - is given to entrepreneurs that are ready to graduate from micro-enterprise to small business?   Is this transition being well managed or essentially overlooked?

 

 

Participants

Hans Dellien

Mr. Dellien is the Director of Microfinance Products and Services at Women's World Banking. His responsibilities include overseeing the introduction of new credit products, support network members improving productivity ratios and portfolio management and provide strategic advice to commercial banks interested in expanding financial services to micro-entrepreneurs.

Margot Brandenburg

Margot Brandenburg is Associate Director at the Rockefeller Foundation, where works on program initiatives that pertain broadly to economic development, including Harnessing the Power of Impact Investing and an initiative focused on the economic security of low-income US workers.

Roger Frank

Roger Frank is one of the pioneers in using the capital markets for social change. After 20 years on Wall Street with a focus on emerging markets, he was part of the team that created the first commercial, cross-border capital raise for microfinance.

Yana Watson

Yana Watson is a Manager with Dalberg Global Development Advisors, a strategic advisory firm specializing in international development and globalization issues. Yana specializes in emerging markets finance, and leads the firm's work in microfinance investment and institutional strategy.

J. Skyler Fernandes

J. Skyler Fernandes is the Chief Operating Officer and serves on the Board of Directors of SACCA.  Prior to this role, he acted as the Vice President of Operations (2007-2009).  As COO, Mr. Fernandes plays a key role in developing SACCA´s global initiatives, managing team operations, and facilitating trans-Atlantic partnerships.