SME FINANCE FORUM
Webinar

COVID-19 Roundtables

During this time of unprecedented crisis, the SME Finance Forum, as a global SME finance community, is committed to supporting its members and partners. In this repository, we will share resources, events, and other vital information relevant to the SME Finance ecosystem.

1. Virtual Roundtable Series - By invitation only

Over a period of less than two weeks, since COVID 19 was officially declared a pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020, the number of people known to have been infected by the virus has tripled. That week, at least more than 330,000 are known to have the virus in over 150 countries and 14,000 have lost their lives to the virus. More and more countries have taken unprecedented and drastic measures to contain the spread of the virus by closing towns, cities, and national borders, disrupting not only the social lives of the people but also the economies, including millions of SMEs around the world. 

Starting Thursday, March 26, 8:00 a.m. EST, and initially, for the next six weeks, the SME Finance Forum hosts an hour-long Webex-based Virtual Roundtable Series for Members on COVID-19 crisis. Each meeting features a speaker, who describes their institution’s mitigation actions and efforts. Speakers present for the first 10-15 minutes, and then we open the floor for discussion to share best practices and concerns in this challenging time. Hence, the weekly sessions are organized to provide our members with opportunities to share and learn from each other’s experiences in a continuous and real-time basis.

Each meeting focuses on several themes (examples below), though all and any questions are accepted: 

  1. Collections/grace periods/other adjustments
  2. Managing disruptions to supply chains and their financing;
  3. Regulator relations/adjustments to prudential norms
  4. Risk management for both existing borrowers and first time (previously non-borrowing) clients 
  5. Loan classification and credit information sharing;
  6. Government initiatives 
  7. Development finance institutions’ responses 

These sessions are open to all members, who can suggest other institutions who might benefit from joining as participants, and/or as presenters. The Forum prepares a written summary after each discussion, that is shared on our Members Portal, with access only to members and speakers.

Schedule (Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. EST)

2021

2020

 
2. Online Repository 

Weekly Summaries  

Blog articles  

 

International Organization's COVID-19 Hubs

Member's Information

Other resources

Special resources for members

Free resources and other relevant information for members

https://www.smefinanceforum.org/post/on-covid-19-mitigation-efforts