International microfinance leaders expected to attend WOCCU conference

MADISON, Wis. – Among the estimated 200 attendees expected at the Best Practices in Savings Mobilization Conference hosted by the World Council of Credit Unions and the German Confederation of Cooperatives, and scheduled to be held Nov. 5-6 are the Vice President of Uganda and banking representatives from Rwanda and Vietnam. Other international policy-making representatives are also expected at the two-day conference that will be held in Washington, D.C. Renowned savings experts will participate in roundtable discussions on various pertinent topics including: understanding the savings patterns of the poor; transitioning to savings-based financial intermediaries; designing, managing and marketing innovative savings products; assessing the costs of savings mobilization; and effectively supervising savings. WOCCU President/CEO Arthur Arnold said the conference “is an excellent opportunity for credit unions to share their lessons learned in successful savings mobilization programs with the international microfinance community.”