Over the past two years the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an economic crisis in Europe and generated challenging and uncertain times for the microfinance sector.
In 2021, during the turbulent times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EaSI Technical Assistance programme continued to provide beneficiaries with services and support. In contrast to the previous year, the pandemic was no longer an unforeseen shock to the market, but rather a new reality to adjust to. Hence 2021 was an opportunity to focus on adaptation, to find ways to overcome the economic impact and try out new ways to disseminate good practices within the microfinance sector.
The EaSI Technical Assistance for microfinance, implemented under the European Union programme for Employment and Social Innovation, offers a range of support activities for microfinance institutions in Europe, in the form of institutional assessments and ratings, tailored trainings, a helpdesk, and workshops and seminars that promote knowledge-sharing across the sector. The programme is implemented under the direct management of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, since mid-2018. This is the first EaSI Technical Assistance for Microfinance Newsletter. Thank you for your subscription!
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to generate uncertainty for the microfinance sector in Europe, as practitioners and their clients are facing new challenges on a daily basis. The EaSI Technical Assistance team recognises these challenges and continues to support the programme beneficiaries with flexible assistance in order to respond effectively to crisis scenarios that institutions might find themselves in. The EaSI programme continues to provide services, such as tailored trainings and Code trainings, assessments, ratings and events, taking into account the current travel restrictions and offering services online or partly online to ensure participation of the institutions. An overview of all EaSI Technical Assistance activities as of August 2020, since the start of the programme in summer 2018:
This year has been marked by the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has generated uncertainty worldwide and has impacted the microfinance sector in Europe. Nonetheless, the year also brought progress, supported by the EaSI Technical Assistance programme, in many areas such as digitalisation, risk management and leadership. Throughout the year, the EaSI Technical Assistance programme has supported microfinance practitioners and clients through the many challenges and continued to support the programme beneficiaries with flexible assistance in order to respond effectively to their demand at the time of a crisis. The technical assistance services were adapted to the travel restrictions in Europe by offering remote delivery methods or a combination of online and on-site implementation best suited to the participating institutions. Here is an overview of all EaSI Technical Assistance activities implemented during 2020 (as of November 2020):
