Day 1: Thursday, 22 October 2009 – Laico Hotel (Tunis)

Official Welcome

Official welcome by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (ADB).

Keynote address: The role of the G8 in remittance process

Basilio Toth, focal point for the G8 Global Remittances Working Group

Remittances markets in 2009: Opportunities and trends

Manuel Orozco, Senior Associate, Inter-American Dialogue (IAD )

Release of IFAD Study and Progress Report on AfDB Activities

Kevin Cleaver, Assistant President, IFAD
Patrick Giraud, Lead Economist and Coordinator, AfDB Initiative on Migration and Development

At this session, “Sending Money Home to Africa” , IFAD’s study on African remittance markets will be released officially.  In addition, a progress report will be presented on the AfDB activities on regulatory frameworks and financial products for remittances.

Panel discussion on report findings

Moderator: Pedro de Vasconcelos, Coordinator of the Financing Facility for Remittances, IFAD

Abla Safir, Economist, Development Centre, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD

Borany Penh, Senior Political Economist, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Stefano Bertozzi, Adviser for issues related to migration, integration and border management, Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA), European Commission

Plenary discussion

Lunch with Keynote Speaker: Donald F. Terry, Boston University School of Law

Day 1: Afternoon Sessions

Session 1A:

Market competition and money transfers to Africa from an operators’ perspective

Moderator: Leon Isaacs, Managing Director, International Association of Money Transfer Networks (IAMTN)

Market competition has been the key to reducing the cost of international money transfers. With the rapid growth of the sector, and the emergence of new technologies, efficient regulatory frameworks will be instrumental in allowing competitive growth and maximizing the benefit of remittances. This session will address the latest changes in the market, departing from the perspective of the money transfer operators.

Malik Seck, Executive Director, MoneyExpress
Khalid Fellahi, Senior Vice President for Africa, Western Union

Session 1B:

Impact of the financial crisis on remittance flows

Moderator: Robert W. Meins, Remittances Specialist, IFAD

As migrant-receiving economies feel the effects of economic slowdown, the impact on migrant workers and their remittances has become a topic of great interest and concern. This panel will address the divergent patterns seen around the globe, coping mechanisms, the role of intra-regional remittances and the outlook for a resumption of growth after the financial crisis.

Leonce Ndikumana, Director of Research Department, AfDB
Manuel Orozco, Senior Associate, Inter-American Dialogue (IAD)

Session 2A:

Key regulatory issues for money transfers to Africa

Moderator: Carlo Corazza, Remittances Specialist,  Payment Systems Development Group, World Bank

Regulatory frameworks balance the need for a secure, level-playing field, while allowing for competition and innovation. This session will review the recent trends in the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern money transfers. It will focus on the global context and Africa in particular, the implications of the European Union’s payments directive and discuss challenges and solutions from around the globe.

Ann Casanova, Vice President, CARANA Corporation
Emiko Todoroki, Sr. Financial Sector Specialist, Financial Market Integrity (FPDFI) Group, World Bank
Enrique Fernandez Cardellach, President, Telegiros

Session 2B:

Microfinance: the vital link to rural areas

Moderator: Grzegorz Galusek, Executive Director, Microfinance Centre (MFC)

Microfinance institutions are key to expanding financial services to rural areas and the traditionally underserved. This panel will discuss how microfinance institutions are breaking down the barriers to financial access and the potential for a paradigm shift in rural finance if regulatory obstacles can be overcome. 

Adama Ba, Chief of Remittances UM PAMECAS- ADA- GRET Project in Italy, Union des Mutuelles de Partenariat pour la Mobilisation de l’Epargne et de Crédit au Sénégal
Anne Hastings, Director, Fonkoze
Wakil Adjibi, General Director, Vital Finance Benin
Mathias Katamba, CEO, Uganda Finance Trust

Day 2: Friday, 23 October - Laico Hotel (Tunis)

Session 3A:

The role of technology in expanding the frontiers of finance

Moderator: Francesco Rispoli, Rural Finance Officer, IFAD

Especially in Africa and Asia, mobile technology is developing rapidly while some internet and card-based systems experience rapid growth. The panel will address the advantages and limits of the new technological frontiers that are reshaping international financial services, especially in light of the financial crisis.
John Maynard, Product Manager, Vodafone
Rafael Ubilla, Director of Sales and Operations, More MoneyTransfers
Sergei Nanba, Postal Financial Services Coordinator, Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Session 3B:

Financial literacy and financial intermediation: African and global context

Moderator: Naceur Bourenane, Private Sector Development Specialist, AfDB

Financial advice and financial literacy have become important tools enhancing financial intermediation and access for people receiving remittances.  This panel will discuss particular experiences showing the successes in converting people from remittance clients into bank clients while receiving advice on key financial matters such as budgeting and saving.

Varghese Thambi, CEO, Diamond Trust Bank Uganda Ltd.
Severine Deboos, Technical expert, Social Finance Programme, International Labour Office (ILO)

Session 4A:

Development opportunities and private sector lessons for Africa

Moderator: Rafael Jabba, AfDB

Private-sector competition can significantly decrease the cost of remittances to the African continent, but that does not have to translate into an effective tool for development. This session will focus on existing opportunities to effectively transform private-sector services into effective tools for development.

Kai Schmitz, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Microfinance International Corporation (MFIC)
Saul Wolf, Remittances Manager, World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU)
Regina Bauerochse, Head of Project Migration and Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Session 4B:

Innovative banking products for underserved markets in Africa

Moderator: Norbert Bielefeld, Deputy Director - Payment Systems, World Savings Banks Institute / European Savings Banks Group (WSBI)

Banking institution have traditionally functioned as depository entities but are rapidly branching out and increasing the services they provide to migrant communities. This session will focus on how these institutions are changing the way they do business and connecting to cross-selling opportunities.

Daniel Ayala, Senior Vice President, Cross-Border Payments, Wells Fargo
Michael Whyte, Senior Market Manager, Banks and Low-Value Payments Group,  SWIFT
Annette LoVoi, Director, Financial Access and Asset Building Program, Appleseed
Faissal Khdiri, Vice-President & Regional Manager

Lunch with Keynote speaker: Leila Rispens-Noel, Remittances Programme Manager, (INAFI International)

Day 2:  Afternoon Sessions

Sum-up by moderators:
Moderator: Donald F. Terry, Professor, Boston University School of Law

Tunis recommendations on the African remittances marketplace

Closing remarks:
Patrick Giraud, Lead Economist and Coordinator, AfDB Initiative on Migration and Development
Pedro de Vasconcelos, Coordinator of the Financing Facility for Remittances, IFAD