March 13, 2008

Leavens Guest Lectures at SAIS

On March 12, Doug Leavens, technical managing director for ACDI/VOCA’s Financial Services and Integrated Rural Development portfolio, guest lectured at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. Leavens, who has extensive experience in the development of microfinance in Africa, spoke to graduate students who are currently studying African economic structural obstacles and the development strategies employed to overcome them.

Leavens presented on the evolution of microfinance in sub-Saharan Africa. He discussed the development of an enabling environment, how microfinance institutions (MFIs) are run and funded, who benefits from MFIs and how MFIs can become sustainable. Leavens spoke about microfinance’s impact in Africa and its future, particularly the growing movement toward commercial banking structures in some countries.

“Besides being a great opportunity to share actual stories and first-hand experience with an interested, well-informed group of next generation development professionals,” Leavens said, “it was a chance to showcase ACDI/VOCA’s extensive value chain development and financing history.”

To learn more about ACDI/VOCA’s work in financial services, click here.