About IAMFI


Mission: The International Association of Microfinance Investors (IAMFI) is a global membership organization with the goal to increase sustainable capital flows to microfinance, thereby expanding access to financial services among the world’s financially excluded.  IAMFI helps commercially oriented microfinance investors achieve their goals by offering industry information from an objective viewpoint, conducting independent research, hosting educational and networking events, and facilitating dialogue among industry actors to improve the global environment for microfinance.

 

Background: Microfinance provides financial services, primarily for income-generating purposes, to individuals who lack access to the formal banking sector.  As more microfinance institutions (MFIs) have proven their investment viability, microfinance funding has evolved from primarily donor to investor sources, and the flow of capital to the sector has grown dramatically, via direct investment in MFIs and indirect, or Limited Partner, investment via microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs).  Yet while total investment in the microfinance sector has expanded to over $35 billion, industry experts estimate that an additional $265 billion is needed to provide financial services to the world’s unbanked poor.

Despite the increase of private sector funds, the microfinance investment environment is plagued by a dearth of information, a low level of transparency and an absence of many investor services common in more established asset classes.  Further, given the youth of microfinance investment, broadly accepted guidelines and standards remain undefined.  Individuals and organizations representing all elements of the microfinance ecosystem expressed support for the formation of an investor-oriented association to address the interests of market-driven investors and investment vehicles.  In response, in 2007 an inclusive Working Group created IAMFI to help investors deploy their capital more effectively in the fight against financial exclusion.

IAMFI launched in early 2008, receiving start-up capital from DOEN Foundation (Amsterdam), Gray Matters Capital (Atlanta) and Omidyar Network (Redwood City).  IAMFI's Board of Directors and Members are leaders in microfinance investment.  Eligible members include financial institutions, pension funds, family offices, foundations, endowments, asset managers and service providers who are interested in market-driven microfinance investment.

Member Benefits:  IAMFI members have direct access to timely information, heighten their visibility in the microfinance sector, and interact more effectively with industry players.  IAMFI has developed many programs and services to meet investors' needs, and membership offers value to Limited Partner Investors, General Partner Investors and Industry Service Providers.  Membership provides the following benefits:

  • Access to a sophisticated, interactive web site providing a repository of third-party information and data about microfinance and microfinance investing, including a password-protected "members only" section
  • Scrubbed microfinance newsfeed delivered to members’ email inbox
  • Independent commentary on research and developments in the sector
  • Original research (investment performance, best practices, trend analysis, etc.)
  • Facilitation of speaking engagements and media opportunities for members
  • Educational activities (webinars, teleconferences, in-person meetings)
  • Issue-focused events for special interest groups within the membership
  • Discounts for international microfinance conferences and publications
  • Access to a voluntary "members only" directory to facilitate networking
  • Participation in the establishment of criteria to advance best practices
  • Consensus-building on sector issues
  • Reference materials and tools for the industry
  • Investor-perspective input to industry organizations and their constituencies
  • Outreach to influencers to develop an enabling environment for microfinance investing

 

Educational Events:  IAMFI hosts frequent educational and networking events for members and the broader public throughout the year in the U.S. and Europe. Educational events include in-person meetings and virtual teleconferences and webinars on topics such as microfinance risk management, foreign currency considerations, ratings, private equity investment, debt performance and industry trends. IAMFI is a regular speaker at industry conferences, representing investors’ viewpoints and presenting the case for scaling microfinance access via commercialization. It frequently arranges speaking panels, offering members valuable visibility. IAMFI Investor Network meetings adapt the venture capital ‘pitch’ model to facilitate contacts between Limited Partners and MIVs. For more information on IAMFI’s events, please view the IAMFI Event Calendar. 

Research:  IAMFI is forming a 501(c)(3) public charity in order to spearhead a comprehensive research program that will focus on increasing knowledge on microfinance investment and building industry infrastructure, in order to increase capital flows to the sector. IAMFI will seek partners for funding the research, which will be available to the public as well as to association members. It has developed a robust project list and identified leading researchers to undertake projects in their respective areas of expertise. IAMFI is committed to industry outreach and leadership in implementing research recommendations. 

IAMFI provides the forum for visionary and dynamic microfinance actors to access valuable information, expand their networks and make more informed decisions about microfinance investing – services that are even more valuable in the current financial climate. For more information, please contact us.