APPG for Microfinance receives special UN award for Year of Microcredit 2005

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 15th Nov 2005

Roger Witcomb, Phyllis Santa Maria and Annette Brooke MP with special awards for excellence during the Year of Microcredit 2005

Annette Brooke MP, chair and founder of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Microfinance was delighted to hear that the UK National Committee for the United Nations Year of Microcredit 2005, which evolved from the APPG, has been presented with awards of excellence for its work this year to promote the cause.

The award from the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, part of the World Bank states:

In recognition of your outstanding achievement and tireless efforts in generating national commitment to build a more inclusive financial sector. We congratulate you for all that you have accomplished. (Signed) Elizabeth Littlefield, CEO, The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, November 7, 2005

The glass engraved UN award states:

The International Year of Microcredit 2005 applauds the excellence of the National Committee of the United Kingdom. United Nations, 8 November 2005

Globally, 13 National Committees received awards out of 62 National Committees and 101 countries participating in the UN Year of Microcredit. Only three National Committees in Europe received the honour - France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Annette Brooke MP, Chair, said:

"This is a fantastic achievement by the UK National Committee, and I am delighted that all the great work of the past year has been recognised by both the UN and the World Bank.

"We will continue to raise awareness of the importance of microfinance to help alleviate poverty in developing countries, and will lobby for more capacity building and funding for such projects."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Since the foundation of the APPG for Microfinance in 2002, a great deal has been achieved to promote microfinance as an international development tool.

Having established a network of the key microfinance organisations in the UK over several years, the APPG was in the best position to bring all of them to a round table discussion in 2004 to discuss potential activities for the United Nation's International Year of Microcredit 2005. From this, the Steering Group and subsequently the UK National Committee were formed, with support and financial backing from the Department for International Development.

Both Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State, and Gareth Thomas MP, Minister of State at DfID have addressed APPG meetings and have shown their commitment to microfinance as a means of alleviating poverty.

With a part time co-ordinator, funded by DfID, the UK National Committee has supported the foundation of the Microfinance Club of London and has held over 20 events to promote microfinance as a sustainable tool for development.

Photo Attached shows:

Mr. Roger Witcomb, Chair, UK National Committee for the UN Year of Microcredit 2005

Dr. Phyllis Santa-Maria, Co-ordinator, UK National Committee

Annette Brooke MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Microfinance.