John Conroy receives Inaugural BWTP Chairman Special Recognition Award at AMF

Microfinance Focus, Oct 15, 2010: On the final day of Asia Microfinance Forum 2010, the Banking With the Poor Network (BWTP) awarded its inaugural BWTP Chairman Special Recognition Award to John Conroy for his inspiring contribution to BWTP Network.

John Conroy is Special Consultant, Foundation for Development Corporation and has served FDC AS ITS Executive Director for nine years from 1991. He is co-author of several FDC monographs on microfinance including those dealing with NGO-commercial bank linkages and the policy, regulatory environment for microfinance in Asia.  

Accepting the award, Mr. John said, “I feel like in a position of policeman in a dock. I am really honoured to receive the award and I do have some imperishable thoughts to put together.”

He recalled the contributions of Mr. William Taylor, the founder of FDC, who envisioned developing an action and research development institution in Australia. After a long battle with Australian taxation authority, FDC was created. Banking with the poor was its primary and initial activity.

 “I am not sure people fully understood what we were trying to do at that time. The high time for us came when we conducted country workshop in seven countries, hosted by central bank of those countries”, he said.

“The most remarkable thing what I found at Asia Microfinance Forum is the fact that everyone here has paid to come which was not the case earlier. I hope the fundamental objectives would not be forgotten. I would be deeply hurt if we become over profitable.”

Giving a word of caution to microfinance institutions, Mr. John said, “When you sip with a devil you must use a very long spoon”.

“Microfinance is a constantly evolving message which will continue to evolve and hope that the very notion of microfinance won’t be a very curious one in future as it will be very much absorbed in the financial systems”, he added.

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