SANABEL The Microfinance Network of Arab Countries

Who we are - Sanabel was established in September 2002 by 17 founding institutions from 7 Arab countries as the first membership-driven regional network for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in the Arab World. - Assistance of one Institutional sponsor -Rockdale Foundation, USA. - Bylaws drafted, Executive Committee elected and part- time Director hired

Who we are - Transformed from a virtual network to a registered international NGO with permanent staff and staff - Built a track record in initiating regional conferences, training events and annual regional surveys - By the end of 2006, Sanabel had 53 members of the leading MFIs in the region representing 11 Arab countries. - These members collectively serve more than 90% (1.5 Million) of the total microfinance clients in the region.

Mission To maximize outreach to Arab microentrepreneurs by providing microfinance institutions with a forum for mutual learning and exchange, capacity building services, and advocacy for best practice microfinance.

Objectives & Services 1- Capacity Building Training of Trainers (ToT) programs and other initiatives to build the "Human Capital" of the Arab microfinance industry. 2- Networking & Information Exchange Share information with other microfinance practitioners in the Arab region. 3- Transparency Promote transparency and accountability. 4- Public Awareness and Regulation Promote laws and a regulatory environment that will allow microfinance to flourish in the Arab world.

- Working to enhance the capacity of the Arab Microfinance sector through Training -Sanabel’s capacity building and training program has four main objectives 1.Widen the pool of Arab trainers and technical assistance providers through training of trainers (TOT) courses;Widen the pool of Arab trainers and technical assistance providers through training of trainers (TOT) courses; 2.Conduct and promote training courses offered in Arabic and French at the country and sub-regional levels for practitioners and other key industry players;Conduct and promote training courses offered in Arabic and French at the country and sub-regional levels for practitioners and other key industry players; 3.Encourage peer learning and sharing of knowledge through study tours and dialogue programs; andEncourage peer learning and sharing of knowledge through study tours and dialogue programs; and 4.Develop and pilot the launching of an intensive regional training program.Develop and pilot the launching of an intensive regional training program. 1- Capacity Building

Capacity Building By the end of March 2007, Sanabel’s capacity building component achieved the following: –Sanabel translated and delivered 21 Training of Trainers (TOTs) microfinance courses to 91 Arab trainers; –The delivery of 46 training sessions across the region in different topics. These courses delivered in Arabic or French provided more that 700 training opportunities for Arab micro finance practitioners; –Sanabel has translated and adapted12 CGAP training courses materials into Arabic. These materials are available in electronic and print form.

Capacity Building -Sanabel has an agreement with CGAP (World Bank) to translate and offer all CGAP microfinance courses -Sanabel has an agreement with MFC, ILO, SEEP and IFC to translate courses into Arabic and offer these courses in the Arab region -Every year, a training needs assessment is done to understand better our members needs -Sanabel is developing it’s own courses to respond to specific needs in the Arab region

Promoting and facilitating networking opportunities and exchange of information across the industry: - Annual conference - Sanabel website - Quarterly Newsletter - Arab Microfinance Gateway - Working for the development of best practice microfinance in countries where it is not prevalent. 2- Networking & Information Exchange

Sanabel's conference strives to meet the following objectives 1.on the practitioner level: to promote and facilitate exchanges between MFIs through presenting, discussing and debating major industry issues in the regionon the practitioner level: to promote and facilitate exchanges between MFIs through presenting, discussing and debating major industry issues in the region 2.on the regulator level: to promote an enabling environment for best practice microfinance by raising public awareness and understanding among governments and donorson the regulator level: to promote an enabling environment for best practice microfinance by raising public awareness and understanding among governments and donors 3.on the donor/investor level: to help building strategic relationships between MFIs and Arab/global donors and commercial entities in anticipation of fulfilling future capitalization needs.on the donor/investor level: to help building strategic relationships between MFIs and Arab/global donors and commercial entities in anticipation of fulfilling future capitalization needs. 2- Networking & Information Exchange

Networking & Information Exchange –Sanabel holds an annual conference in a different Arab country each year. This forum provides participants with an unprecedented opportunity to learn about regional trends and innovations, and to discuss and develop strategies for the future of microfinance in the region; –Sanabel launched a regional website ( and distributes a quarterly newsletter; – Sanabel, in collaboration with the CGAP and the Grameen Abdul Latif Jameel Initiative, have developed and launched the Arabic Microfinance Gateway ( the first major resource of microfinance information in Arabic.

- Improve transparency and standards of practice by encouraging participation in the Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX) - Encourage the utilization of external audits, appraisals, and ratings services 3- Transparency

Transparency –Sanabel, in collaboration with MIX, is working with MFIs in the Arab world to increase the pool of information available on Arab microfinance through the MIX Market, the global information exchange for the microfinance industry, and produce regional benchmark analysis through yearly Arab benchmarking reports and its contribution to the MicroBanking Bulletin. –In 2004, the hiring of a Sanabel/MIX analyst helped to increase the number of Arab MFIs reporting to MIX from 6 to 29. The latest Arab Benchmarking report is available on Sanabel’s website.

Promote an enabling environment for best practice microfinance through public awareness and regulatory education. 4- Public Awareness & Regulatory Education

Public Awareness –Sanabel coordinated a third edition to the World Bank surveys conducted in 1997 and Survey results were presented at Sanabel’s annual conference and the written report was released by UNCDF in September 2004 and can be viewed at –Throughout 2004, Sanabel and CGAP undertook diagnostic studies of the current regulatory environment for microfinance in some Arab countries. –Sanabel is also working to create public awareness about microfinance by engaging the media and organizing a Regional Microentrepreneurship Award that recognized the achievements of the regions best micro enterprises.

New Initiatives –Social Performance Management –Contribute to the development of new products (savings, insurance, education loans, etc.) –Studies on impact of Microfinance on child labor and school drop out –Studies of legal environment in different Arab countries –Increase volume of translated material –Develop a database of consultants –Play a more active role in promoting Microfinance

Sanabel Membership

Membership Sanabel members vary in type and include specialized microfinance institutions, microfinance programs within larger non-governmental organizations, and banks with microfinance programs. Members also vary in size in terms of number of active clients with the largest outreach of 500,000 and the smallest of 900 active clients.

Membership Sanabel has full and affiliate levels of membership for microfinance institutions. Full members are usually in operations as an MFI for a least three years with a minimum of 5,000 active clients. Affiliate members on the other hand do not fulfill all of the criteria and are usually emerging MFIs working towards achieving the full membership criteria.

Membership At both levels, Sanabel members have to fulfill the following criteria: focus on providing financial services to microentrepreneurs; located and operating in one or more Arab countries; working to achieve full operational and financial sustainability; committed to pay annual dues and the cost of services; committed to attend the annual conference; and committed to building transparency, evidenced by the annual submission of financial information to external auditors, the Microbanking Bulletin (MBB) and the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX).

For further information on membership and downloading the application form, please visit