Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 12 December 2012:

(1) Did any representatives from AusAID or the Minister's office attend the Global Microcredit Summit in Spain, in November 2011; if so, who attended; if not, why not.

(2) What plans are currently, or have previously been, in place for the Minister or AusAID to engage with the outcomes and learning of the Summit.

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) AusAID was unable to attend the Global Microcredit Summit as there were a number of competing priorities at that time.

(2) A number of AusAID's microfinance partners, including the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor and Women's World Banking, participated in the Summit as panel members. AusAID engages regularly with these partners to share information and lessons learned on microfinance programs.

In Feb 2012 AusAID hosted a panel discussion to discuss the outcomes of the Summit. Participants included representatives from CARE Australia, Credit Union Foundation of Australia, Opportunity International Australia, RESULTS International Australia and World Education Australia.