Kenya Women Finance Trust wins the 2009 CCA Business Excellence Award for Financing

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) is at the forefront of strengthening and facilitating the commercial relationship between the United States and the African continent. Its annual award was presented to KWFT during its 2009 U.S - Africa Business Summit Gala Awards Dinner held on October 1st in Washington, D.C. Dr. Jennifer Riria, the KWFT CEO, received the award accompanied by KWFT Chair of the Board, Grace Madoka, before an audience consisting of businesspeople, humanitarians, and heads of state from Africa, US government officials and representatives of the American and African Diplomatic Corps. For full story click here: http://www.kwft.org/

ADOPEM receives Award for Excellence in Microfinance: Best Outreach

The award was presented at The XII Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise held in Arequipa, Peru from September 30-October 2nd. ADOPEM (Dominican Republic) was recognized as the microfinance institution excelling in expanding its outreach, and serving clients in areas with limited access to financial services.

Mibanco receives Award for Excellence in Microfinance: Best Microfinance Institution

At the same XII Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise, Mibanco (Peru), received the award as the best microfinance institution in the Latin American region. The recognition was based on performance indicators which are standards for the industry and that currently are used to evaluate hundreds of microfinance institutions. In little more than a decade, Mibanco has grown to become the largest microfinance institution in Peru. It has also been a pioneer in offering new products to their clients, such as housing loans, transformed into a multinational operation, and expanded to several Latin American countries through their holding company, ACP Group.

For more on both ADOPEM and Mibanco's awards, click here:
http://www.iadb.org/news/detail.cfm?language=Spanish&id=5657

WWB Trustee Roshaneh Zafar profiled in new book, "Half the Sky"

The authors are Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn who undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to document the oppression of women and girls, as well as introduce us to extraordinary people dedicated to changing that situation and creating hope. WWB is proud to note that its Board member, Roshaneh Zafar, is profiled in the book for founding the Kashf Foundation, a microfinance provider for women based in Lahore. Kashf means “miracle” and that is exactly what it seems like when $100 or less transforms a life.

WWB Trustee Suzanne Nora Johnson receives 2009 DirectWomen Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award.

Suzanne Nora Johnson is the 2009 recipient of the DirectWomen Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award. While Suzanne is being honored for her service on the boards of U.S. companies, including American International Group, Intuit, Pfizer, and Visa, we also applaud her commitment to good non-profit governance. Suzanne has been a member of the SWWB Board of Trustees since 2008, and a member of the FWWB/USA Board for several years prior.

The DirectWomen honor is awarded each year to women lawyers who have served with distinction as independent directors of public companies and have worked to advance the value of diversity in board positions. Named after the first female justice in Supreme Court history, this award honors women lawyers who are breaking boundaries of their own and who have contributed to the advancement of women lawyers as corporate directors. Award recipients are honored along with the companies on whose boards they serve for their achievements and commitment to promoting board diversity.

Suzanne will receive her award at a luncheon on Friday, Oct 30th, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Please click here for more information and tickets.