Central American and Caribbean Green Microfinance Forum

Tegucigalpa, September 10, 2015. - Yesterday, the Central American and Caribbean Microfinance Network (REDCAMIF), the Honduran Microfinance Network (REDMICROH) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) inaugurated the Central American and Caribbean Green Microfinance Forum.

The event’s objective was to establish a forum for determining a strategy for the microfinance sector to adapt to environmental conditions and transform potential threats into opportunities for service expansion, in addition to improving the quality of life of beneficiary families.

The two-day event was attended by distinguished guests including Pedro Emilio Banegas, CABEI Country Manager for Honduras; Jacobo Paz, Honduran Minister of Agriculture; Jackson Argeñal, President of REDMICROH; and José Luis González, President of REDCAMIF.

Participants heard keynote speakers, who presented their experiences and practical case studies about green microfinance from both inside and outside the region.

The subjects covered included: climate change, environment and development in Central America and the Caribbean; green microfinance in Central America; general funding and the new frontier of climate and energy efficiency financing; and institutional factors to promote green finance. The event allowed the actors involved in the microfinance sector to share experiences and ideas in order to expand the concept of regional green microfinance.

CABEI also presented the experiences of Project CAMBio and the Green MSME Initiative on a regional level.

As a result of the event, the microfinance sector was strengthened in the following areas: climate change, environmental degradation, capacities of microfinance institutions and their role as a tool for local and national development.