Future activities

2026

Strengthening financial and economic resilience through microfinance

With the signature of the BIO–SMICO Partnership

📅: 21 May 
🕔: 17:00 – 18:30 (followed by networking) 
📍: BIO – Boulevard Bischoffsheimlaan 15, 1000 Brussels 

BIO is pleased to invite you to an event dedicated to the role of microfinance as a lever for financial and economic resilience in fragile contexts, held on the occasion of the signing of the partnership between BIO and SMICO SA, a microfinance institution active in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

In a global environment marked by economic, climate, and geopolitical instability, microfinance institutions play a key role in supporting entrepreneurs and the most vulnerable communities. This event will bring together investors, practitioners, and researchers to discuss the challenges, innovations, and concrete solutions implemented to strengthen financial resilience. 

This event is organised as part of a series of events celebrating BIO’s 25 years of supporting private sector growth in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Ukraine.  

Programme 

17:00  Welcome 

17:05  Opening remarks by Carole Maman, CIO, BIO 

17:10  Panel (in French) — Microfinance & Resilience 

Speakers 

·                    Pacifique Matabaro Ndagano, CEO, SMICO 

·                    Milena Loayza, Manager Financial Institutions, BIO 

·                    Dr Ariane Szafarz, Professeure de l’ULB et co‑directrice du Centre Européen de Recherche en Microfinance (CERMi).

·                    Jeanne de Cannière, Guarantees Officer, EDFI MC 

Moderator: Gilles Quoistiaux, Journalist (L’Echo) 

18:00  Q&A

18:15  Official signing of the BIO–SMICO contract 

18:30  Networking reception  

👉 Please confirm your attendance before 15 May : Strengthening financial and economic resilience through microfinance – Fill in form

Seminar on Financial inclusion in the North – With Prof. Hubert Tchakouté and Prof. Anastasia Cozarenco

(Tuesday 12/2/2026, Campus Usquare, Brussels)

12-14h (Campus Usquare, ULB/VUB, Ixelles)
With Prof. Anastasia Cozarenco (EMP) as guest speaker.

Where
Campus Usquare (ULB/VUB) : 227 avenue de la Couronne – 1050 Ixelles (Brussels)
Access: https://www.ulb.be/fr/plans-et-acces/usquare

Gender & financial inclusion – Isabelle Guérin

(Monday 9/3/2026, 18-21h at Campus Usquare, ULB/VUB, Ixelles)
18-21h (Campus Usquare, ULB/VUB, Ixelles)

Where
Campus Usquare (ULB/VUB) : 227 avenue de la Couronne – 1050 Ixelles (Brussels)
Accès: https://www.ulb.be/fr/plans-et-acces/usquare