Each year, the CMF, in collaboration with IFMR and the other centres housed within IFMR, hosts a summer and winter policy conference. The conferences provide an opportunity for IFMR researchers to present results from on-going research and a forum for leading policymakers, practitioners, and academics to debate and share insights on leading issues in the field of development.

CMF hosted two events as part of the most recent IFMR policy conference conducted in September 2007. In the first session, CMF RA Karuna Krishnaswamy presented original research on multiple borrowing among microfinance clients. (Click here for press coverage.) The presentation was followed by a panel debate organized by CMF on the subject of competition in the microfinance sector between Dr. Vikram Akula (CEO, SKS Microfinance), Dr. YSP Thorat (Chairman, NABARD), Mr. Ramesh Arunachalam (Sector Consultant), Mr. Mathew Titus (CEO, Sa Dhan) and Ms. Vijayalakshmi Das (CEO, Friends of Women's World Banking). The panelists discussed issues such as whether a credit bureau is needed for the movement to move forward, what should be done about client and staff poaching, and how MFIs can be incentivized to move into more underserved areas. For notes on the debate click here.

Video of CMF sponsored debate on the subject of competition in the microfinance sector:

Part 1:

Part 2: