House Committee Holds Microfinance Hearing

On July 12, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing, “Beyond Microfinance: Empowering Women in the Developing World.” The hearing focused on the role of microfinance programs and new financial tools available to women in developing countries.

The following witnesses testified during the hearing:

• Mary Ellen Iskenderian, president and chief executive officer, Women’s World Banking;
• Tavneet Suri, PhD, associate professor of Applied Economics, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and
• The Honorable Melanne Verveer, executive director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Georgetown University.