Sunday, December 8th | Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca Marriott Hotel
100 Av. des FAR, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
100 Av. des FAR, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
Background:
The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code, or the Code) is a global framework that bridges the gender finance gap by helping financial institutions and regulators empower champions, improve data and spur action to get more financing to women. The Code is a commitment by financial service providers, regulators, development banks, and other financial ecosystem players to work together to increase funding provided to women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) around the world, so that they can grow and add value to the economy and their communities.
Since its launch in 2023 at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, over a dozen countries have joined the Code by launching national pilots, and organizations such as UN Women, Standard Chartered, CARE, and BBVA Microfinance Foundation have also joined the Code as global signatories. As the initiative continues to gain momentum, the WE Finance Code Forum will offer a unique platform for pilot countries, champions, implementing partners, and private sector representatives to share knowledge, collaborate, and set the direction for expanding the WE Finance Code globally.
Taking place in Casablanca, Morocco, alongside the African Financial Institutions Summit (AFIS) and AfDB’s Africa Investment Forum, this half-day event will feature insightful presentations, engaging panels, and interactive sessions to strengthen the WE Finance Code community and explore pathways for scaling the initiative.
Sunday, December 8th, 2024
9:30AM-11:00AM: Women Leaders in Finance Brunch: This exclusive networking brunch will highlight the critical role of women leaders in finance to drive the economic empowerment of women and women entrepreneurs in their countries. It will also celebrate the role of female champions in implementing and advocating for the WE Finance Code.
11:30AM – 11:45AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks: Setting the stage for the forum by introducing the objectives, highlighting key themes, and emphasizing the importance of collaboration across sectors to expand women’s access to finance.
11:45AM – 12:05PM: Insight Talks: Three short, impactful presentations designed to spark ideas and provide key insights on the financing gap for women entrepreneurs and the WE Finance Code initiative.
12:05 – 12:35: Signing Ceremony with Financial Institutions (TBD): Financial institutions joining the Code will have an opportunity to showcase their commitment in a signing ceremony with brief remarks. Participants TBD, select media outlets will be invited to join.
12:35PM – 1:15PM: Panel Discussion – Building Momentum in National Coalitions: This panel will feature representatives from Code pilot countries showcasing how national coalitions—composed of financial institutions, regulators, and private sector actors—are coming together to implement and scale the WE Finance Code.
1:15PM – 2:30PM: Lunch Break
2:30PM – 3:10PM: Panel Discussion – Financial Innovation as a Catalyst for Women’s Financial Inclusion: This panel will discuss how the private sector can drive financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs by offering innovative products and services tailored to their needs. It will also explore how the WE Finance Code can be expanded to include funds, fintechs, and other players in the financial ecosystem to ensure more inclusive financing solutions for women entrepreneurs.
3:10PM – 3:30PM: Coffee Break
3:30PM – 4:30PM: Deep-Dive Breakout Sessions: These parallel sessions are designed to facilitate mutual learning between country pilots and implementing partners, fostering collaboration and the exchange of practical solutions.
Breakout Session 1: Building Effective National Coalitions for the WE Finance Code. Focus: Best practices for creating and maintaining strong national coalitions that can effectively implement and scale the WE Finance Code.
Breakout Session 2: Addressing Data Gaps in the Financial Ecosystem. Focus: Identifying and addressing the critical data gaps within the financial ecosystem that limit the growth and financial inclusion of women-led SMEs. Participants will discuss practical solutions for improving data collection, analysis, and reporting practices.
Breakout Session 3: Designing Innovative Financial Solutions for Women-led SMEs. Focus: Designing innovative financial solutions that meet the unique needs of women-led SMEs. Participants will explore opportunities for developing tailored financial products and services, discuss the role of partnerships in driving innovation, and examine how gender considerations can be integrated into financial solution design to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for women entrepreneurs.
4:30PM – 5:10PM: Plenary Session and Group Debrief. This session will provide an opportunity for each breakout group to report back on their discussions and map out next steps for action.
5:10PM – 5:20PM: Concluding Remarks
5:20PM – 6:30PM: Networking Reception