Ada

Founded in 1994 by the University of Mons (UMONS) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CERMi is co-directed by Prof. Marek Hudon (ULB), Prof. Marc Labie (UMONS) and Prof. Ariane Szafarz (ULB). Through the promotion of high-level academic research and the organization of numerous scientific events, the center aims to study the management and... practices of microfinance organizations in a multidisciplinary way, and thus contribute to the academic discussion around issues related to microfinance and financial inclusion, but also more broadly to the social economy. CERMi is also at the origin of the organization of the European Microfinance Programme and today has 21 successfully defended PhD theses, more than 40 associate researchers, and numerous partnerships with academic and field actors, in the North and in the South. For several years now, the collaboration between ADA and CERMi has taken place at different levels: European Microfinance Programme (EMP): providing training and hosting students for internships in ADA's partner organizations; Provision of field data and advice to researchers to feed research activities; Creation of synergies between researchers and practitioners in the sector and valorization of research results during events such as the African Microfinance Week (SAM), the ADA Chair conferences and other events in the sector. In 2018, ADA is engaged in a specific research collaboration with CERMi in the framework of Tristan Caballero Montes' PhD thesis. Indeed, for ADA, research is a relevant way to produce new knowledge for the inclusive finance sector. Moreover the research is linked to the sector's issues and uses data from the field. The thesis is in line with this logic, since we were collaborating from the beginning with Tristan on the definition of a common project. ADA ensures that the research meets the needs of practitioners in the sector and facilitates access to field data. Ultimately, this new knowledge will feed into current and future ADA and sector projects. Thesis by ...Read More