The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and the French Development Agency are co-organizing the Marketplace on Innovative Financial Solutions for Development (MIF) which is to take place on 4 and 5 March 2010 at the Conference Centre of the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in La Villette, Paris, France.

The 2010 MIF is aimed at presenting innovative financial solutions as a follow-up to the Leading Group’s previous work. During its last plenary meeting in Paris on 28 and 29 May 2009, the Group adopted a series of recommendations, one of which explicitly refers to financial innovation for development.

These innovative mechanisms – for example in the areas of risk mitigation, incentive systems and countercyclical mechanisms – represent a substantial potential for maximized impact both in order to increase the volume of financial flows and enhance their field impact.

Several actors from different domains will attend, such as international financial organizations, development agencies, philanthropic organizations and civil society organizations, social entrepreneurs, and so on. A panel of experts will open the debates and workshops on the principal categories of innovative financial mechanisms for risk management and incentive improvement. Stands will be available for organizations wishing to present innovative financing initiatives.

One of the key features of this event is the competition launched ahead of the MIF. The finalists selected by a panel of experts will be invited to present their proposals during the MIF and five of them will be selected to receive 100 000 US dollars.

Marketplace on innovative financial solutions for development website

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