Being an important tool for poverty alleviation, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Development Cooperation Directorate, launched the first European Microfinance Award in 2005.
In 2010, the 3rd European Microfinance Award on “value chain finance” focused on stimulating and promoting inclusive financial schemes that contribute to the evolution of value chains in developing countries. The idea was to support project development from the initial inputs through to the commercial outputs, enhancing the livelihoods of people at all levels of the value chain.
From three finalists, all with excellent projects, the prize of EUR 100’000 was awarded to Harbu Microfinance Institution from Ethiopia, in a ceremony hosted by the European Investment Bank on the 30th November 2010.
