Microfinance Institutions Network

Many of us, the members of the Chair Banquet Populaire in Microfinance, Burgundy School of Business, have participated to the eighth edition of Convergence World Forum, between 7 and 9 September in Paris. You, dear friends who live out of France, do you Convergences World Forum? Since 2008, the Forum aims to gather international figures and experts... , public and private actors, civil society members, students, journalists and more for exchanging ideas and insights on fighting poverty and environment degradation. The Forum's topic for this year was: "Zero exclusion, zero carbon, zero poverty." I always enjoy participating to this Forum. I even voluntarily participate in preparation of the Forum. Saying this, I have to make a remark: While social causes are important and serving them is certainly honorable, I believe no social initiative is reliable if it is not financially sustainable. It is even dangerous because it gives a bad example (of dependency) to its sponsored partners and risks to abandon them in fine. To my greatest regret, this cardinal point of sustainability was often absent in the speeches. I endeavor to believe that it was rather a negligence than a conscious prioritization. However, I know that I am negligently optimist. What do you think, am I a bad guy for expecting return-on-investment and sustainability for any social venture? Do not misunderstand me, I do not have any objection against giving away money to social causes without any expectation of return and result. But, I do not call it social business. I call it simply charity - with all respect due.Read More