Hands-on, high-impact sessions designed to strengthen leadership and management capabilities in:
• Product innovation & development
• Risk management & resilience
• Climate finance & sustainability
• Digital transformation & FinTech integration
• Leadership & strategy
• Financial analysis & performance
Hear directly from global thought leaders and practitioners as they share real-world insights on financial inclusion, climate challenges, and the future of microfinance — including lessons that are shaping institutions worldwide.
Connect with professionals from across continents, exchange ideas, and build partnerships that extend beyond the training. Enjoy curated recreational activities and shared experiences that make learning memorable.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Training: Monday, 20 April – Thursday, 23 April 2026
Inaugural Session & Welcome Dinner: Sunday, 19 April 2026
Kick off the experience with an inspiring inaugural gathering followed by a delightful dinner — a perfect setting to meet peers, build friendships, and spark cross-border collaborations.
05:00 pm onwards
Gates open for registration
06:00 pm – 06:15 pm
Welcome Address: Dr. Alok Misra, Chairperson – Global Alliance for Financial
Inclusion (GAFI)
06:15 pm – 06:45 pm
Opening Keynote: “The State of Global Financial Inclusion in 2026 and Beyond” by
Director General – Asian Development Bank (ADB)
An overview of global macroeconomic trends, geopolitics, inflationary pressures, and
climate risks—and their implications for inclusive finance institutions.
06:45 pm – 07:30 pm
Fireside Chat with the Central Bank Leader (Financial Inclusion / Microfinance /
Digital Finance)
RBI representative*
A candid dialogue on regulatory priorities, balancing innovation with stability, and the
future role of regulators in enabling responsible digital finance.
07:30 pm – 08:00 pm
Poll To Get Audience Views on State of The Global Microfinance Trends by Syed
Mohsin Ahmed, CEO – GAFI
08:00 pm onwards
Welcome / Inaugural Dinner
09:00 am – 09:45 am
Power Talk I: Unraveling/Mapping the Overall Reporting for Impact – Measuring
What Truly Matters
As impact expectations rise, microfinance institutions face a complex landscape of ESG,
green reporting, S-1/S-2 accounting, USSEPM, Sixty Decibels, and evolving sustainability
frameworks. This session maps the overall impact reporting ecosystem, highlighting
what truly matters for the microfinance industry—balancing compliance with
meaningful, client-level outcomes. It will explore how robust impact and sustainability
reporting can strengthen credibility, guide better decisions, and create measurable
social and environmental impact.
Speaker: Mr. Nitin Madan, Director of the Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility for
Southeast Asia – Cerise + SPTF
09:45 am – 10:45 am
Panel I: Execution Matters: Building Cross-Border Partnerships That Deliver
Examines practical models of collaboration, joint investments, and knowledge-sharing
that deliver real impact beyond formal agreements/commitments.
Moderator: Dr. Alok Misra, Chairman, GAFI & CEO, MFIN
• Mr. Dibyajyoti Pattanaik, Managing Director – Annapurna Microfinance Ltd.
• Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO – National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
• Mr. Vatanak Chhorn, CEO – Cambodia Microfinance Association*
• Mr. Hani Alfaqih, CEO – Yemen Microfinance Network
10:45 am – 12:30 pm
Track 1: Master Class – “Leadership
Under Pressure – Decision-Making in
Times of Uncertainty”
Focus: Builds leadership capacity to
navigate crises, trade-offs, and
institutional stress through scenario-based
decision-making
Trainer: Prof. Melati Nungsari,
Associate Professor of Economics, Deputy
Dean (Research), Faculty Director (ASEAN
Research Center) – Asia School of
Business
Track 2: Workshop Session I – Operational
Resilience & Business Continuity
Planning During Times of Climate
Vulnerabilities
Focus: Focuses on strengthening systems,
processes, and teams to ensure continuity
during shocks and disruptions
Trainer: Ms. Callie Smith, Disaster Risk
Finance Associate – Celsius Pro
12:30 pm – 01:30 pm
Networking Lunch
01:30 pm – 03:30 pm
Track 1: Interaction with a Sector Leader
Mr. Udaya Kumar Hebbar – Former
Managing Director – CreditAccess
Grameen Limited
Track 2: Continuation of the above
workshop session
03:30 pm – 03:45 pm
Tea Break
03:45 pm – 04:30 pm
Power Talk II: Unraveling the Mission & Absorbing Diversity
This session examines how financial inclusion institutions can remain anchored to their
core mission while navigating an increasingly diverse landscape of products, delivery
channels, and business models. It explores the strategic trade-offs between focus and
expansion, and how mission drift can be avoided. Participants will gain practical insights
on aligning innovation and diversity with long-term purpose and impact.
Speaker: Mr. Yasir Ashfaq, CEO – Pakistan Micro Investment Company (PMIC)
09:00 am – 09:45 am
Special Session I: Leveraging AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Financial Inclusion
Speaker: Mr. Rajesh Bansal, Former CEO, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub | Founding
Leadership Team of Aadhaar | Architect of National Level ID, Payments & Credit Systems | Global Leader in Digital Public Infrastructure | Advisor | Board Member
09:45 am – 10:45 am
Panel II: Global Rules, New Realities: 2026 and Beyond
The panel will discuss emerging regulations on digital finance, consumer protection,
climate risk, and cross-border supervision.
Moderator: Ms. Zainab Saeed, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Ms. Jacqueline Mbabazi, CEO – Association of Microfinance Institutions of
Uganda (AMFIU)
• Mr. Ram Bahadur, CEO/President – Nepal Bankers Association
• Mr. Manoj Nambiar, Managing Director & CEO – Arohan Financial Services
• Mr. Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President/CEO – Mobilink Microfinance Bank
Ltd.
10:45 am – 03:30pm
(incl. lunch)
Track 1: Workshop Session II – DecisionMaking, Oversight, and Accountability at
the Top
Focus: This workshop explores how senior leaders can strengthen decision-making, oversight, and accountability at the highest levels of the organization.
Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, participants will learn how to balance strategic priorities, manage risks effectively, and foster a culture of responsible leadership.
Trainer: Ms. Deborah Drake,
Council Director – Financial Inclusion Equity
Council (FIEC)
Track 2: Workshop Session II –
Managing Consumer Risk in Digital Financial Services
Focus: A practical session on identifying, assessing, and mitigating consumer risks in digital financial services to ensure safe, transparent, and customer-centric financial ecosystems.
Trainer: Mr. Blaine Stephens,
Independent Advisor Inclusive Finance & FinTech
03:30 pm – 03:45 pm
Tea Break
03:45 pm – 04:45 pm
Power Talk III: Microfinance in an Evolving Ecosystem
Microfinance is rapidly transforming amid intersecting global forces—climate change,
artificial intelligence, shifting geopolitics, and emerging investment models. This session
explores how MFPs are responding to climate risks through green finance and resiliencebuilding solutions, while leveraging AI for predictive analytics, digital platforms, and
enhanced risk management—alongside managing rising cyber-security threats. The
discussion will also examine how geopolitical shifts are influencing capital flows,
regulation, and cross-border partnerships, and how new investment frontiers—such as
affordable housing finance, nano-loans, and embedded finance—are reshaping outreach
and sustainability.
Speaker: Ms. Deborah Drake, Council Director – Financial Inclusion Equity Council
(FIEC)
09:00 am – 12:00 pm
Activity Based Training: Building a Strong Financial Institution That works for the Marginalized Community
Trainer: Ms. Deborah Drake, Council Director – Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC)
12:00 pm – 01:00 pm
Panel III: Beyond the Risk Register: Risk Management 3.0 for the Next Decade
Examines integrated approaches to managing climate, cyber, political, and operational
risks in MFPs.
Moderator: Mr. Amir Khan, CEO & President – HBL Microfinance Bank Ltd.
• Mr. Sadaf Sayeed, Founding Chief Executive Officer – Muthoot Microfin Ltd.
• Mr. Allan Robert Sicat, Executive Director – Microfinance Council of the
Philippines, Inc.
• Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, Managing Director – Kashf Foundation
• Mr. Michael J. McCord, Managing Director – MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman
• Mr. Suleman Abro, Founder/CEO – SAFCO Microfinance Company (Pvt.) Ltd
01:00 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch Break
02:00 pm – 05:00 pm
Track 1: Workshop Session III –
Microinsurance & Shock-Responsive
Financial Products
Focus: Focuses on designing insurance and emergency finance products that help clients cope with shocks.
Scene Setting: Mr. Arup Kumar
Chatterjee, Principal Financial Sector Specialist – ADB Finance Sector Office,
Sectors Department*
Trainer: Mr. Michael J. McCord,
Managing Director – MicroInsurance
Centre at Milliman
Track 2: Workshop Session III – Building Resilient MFPs Through Risk Reduction, Retention & Transfer
Focus: This training session focuses on strengthening the resilience of microfinance providers through effective risk reduction, risk retention, and risk transfer strategies. It integrates a strong climate lens by addressing climate finance opportunities, mapping available instruments, and exploring how MFPs
can attract and leverage climate capital. The workshop will introduce practical climate stress testing approaches to identify climate related risks, assess portfolio impacts, and
embed resilience and sustainability into
strategic planning and decision-making.
Trainer: Ms. Callie Smith, Disaster Risk
Finance Associate – Celsius Pro
05:00 pm – 05:30 pm
Case Clinic in Continuation to Above Workshops: Institutional Risk Scenarios
Participant-led case discussions to analyze real-world risk challenges and peer-based
solutioning.
Facilitated by above trainers for their respective sessions
09:00 am – 10:00 am
Special Session II: Islamic Microfinance – From Niche to Mass Market
This session explores how Islamic microfinance can move beyond a niche offering to become a scalable, mainstream solution for financial inclusion. It examines Shariah compliant products, delivery models, and partnerships that enable outreach while
maintaining ethical and social objectives. Participants will gain insights into overcoming
operational, regulatory, and market barriers to achieve sustainable growth and wider impact.
Speaker: Mr. Zubair Mughal, CEO – Al-Huda CIBE
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Tea Break
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
GAFI Debate: Are we Drifting from our Core Mission?
Moderator: Dr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO – National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)
In Favor:
• Dr. Alok Misra, CEO & Director – Microfinance Industry Network (MFIN)
• Mr. Anura Athapattu, Director – Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association
(LMFPA)
• Mr. Mifta Naim Huda, CEO – CDIP
Against:
• Mr. Allan Robert Sicat, Executive Director – Microfinance Council of the
Philippines, Inc.
• Mr. Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President/CEO – Mobilink Microfinance Bank
Ltd.
• Mr. Manoj Nambiar, Managing Director & CEO – Arohan Financial Services
Voting by the Audience
12:30 pm – 01:30 pm
Closing Ceremony & Certificate Distribution
01:30 pm onwards
Closing Lunch & Departures
Bring your team and maximize value:
