On September 26-27, 2002, 17 representatives from seven Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen) gathered in Tunisia to launch the first and only network designed to serve microfinance institutions in the Arab world. At this meeting, the group adopted bylaws and membership criteria, articulated a vision, mission and objectives, and elected the first Executive Committee for the network.
Mission, Vision and Objectives:
The network envisions: Microfinance institutions, people, resources, and ideas are connected across the Arab countries.
Sanabel’s mission is to maximize outreach to microentrepreneurs in the Arab world by providing microfinance institutions with a forum for mutual learning and exchange, capacity building services, and advocacy for best practice microfinance.
The goals:
1.Enhance the capacity of microfinance service providers by providing support in areas such as training and the translation and distribution of microfinance literature into Arabic.
2.Promote and facilitate the exchange of information across the industry using an annual conference, the Sanabel website and newsletter, the Arab Microfinance Gateway and work for the development of best practice microfinance in countries where it is not prevalent.
3.Improve transparency and standards of practice by encouraging participation in the Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX) and the utilization of external audits, standard reporting, and ratings services.
4.Promote an enabling environment for best practice microfinance through public awareness and regulatory education