Nominations invited for Microfinance India Awards 2010

Microfinance Focus, Sep 6, 2010: In an initiative to recognise institutions and individuals who have made significant contribution towards up scaling microfinance sector in India, the ACCESS Development Services and The Hongkong And Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited will be presenting Microfinance India Awards 2010 on the inaugural day of the Microfinance India Summit on November 15, 2010.

Nominations are now solicited for various categories of the awards. The Jury panel will be chaired by Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head, HSBC India and Malcolm Harper, Professor Emeritus, Cranfield University. The members of the panel consist of Mr. Brij Mohan, Chairman, ACCESS Development Services, Mr. Rakesh Rewari, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI and Mr. Vijay Mahajan, Chairman and Managing Director, BASIX Group

The award in the category of ‘MFI of the year 2010’ seeks to recognise pioneering thought or product leadership or best practices followed by an institution. It has two sub-categories within this institutional category to provide sufficient representation to MFIs with varying portfolio size and outreach. Institutions are required to self nominate for this award.

The first category is for larger MFIs which have completed minimum 3 financial years of microfinance operations and have a total loan portfolio including managed of more than INR 100 crores as per March 2010. The second category if for MFIs which have completed minimum 3 financial years of microfinance operations and have a total loan portfolio including managed of less than INR 100 crores.

‘Contribution to the sector 2010’ Award seeks to recognize individuals who have contributed to building the microfinance sector and supported it to become a part of the mainstream financial sector. Peer nominations from the Microfinance community are solicited to vote for a candidate of their choice. The candidate is required to have at least 10 years of association with the sector.

The Award for ‘Contribution to the Sector by Enabling Institutions’ is for institutions which have contributed to building the microfinance sector and supported it to become a part of the mainstream financial sector. Contribution could be in the form of capacity building services, grading, provision or arrangement of equity/debt capital, policy advocacy for recognition and efficient regulation of the microfinance sector, assisting social performance management, and promoting financial inclusion. Institutions are required to self-nominate in this category.

Nominations are invited from Microfinance support agencies/enabling institutions including technical service providers, international NGOs and donors which actively promote microfinance in India, SHG promoting institutions, lending institutions, investors and assessment agencies for this category.

The nomination forms and complete information is available on the Microfinance India Summit website. The deadline for receiving completed nomination forms is September 15, 2010.

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