o The General Assembly
The General Assembly consists of all network members. The Executive Director or his/her deputy represents MFIs members. Voting rights within the General Assembly are limited to Full Members. Affiliates and Friends of Sanabel have voice privileges. For more information on membership, please visit the "Membership section".
The General Assembly meets annually and the meeting agenda consists of:
▪ Discuss and approve the Board of Directors annual Administrative and Financial report on the network’s operations, activities and financial status during the previous fiscal year.
▪ Approve an external auditor (the auditor is not to be contracted for more than three years consecutive).
▪ Elect members of the Board of Directors.
▪ Discuss and decide on issues included in the agenda or related to the network.
□ Decisions of the General Assembly are approved by a simple majority vote, except for the decisions concerning the network bylaws, which require a two-thirds majority vote.
o Board of Directors
Board of Directors is elected once every two years by the General assembly. The Board consists of 7 members who meet at least once a year in person in addition to the scheduled meeting during the annual conference.
Selection process:
• Nominations for the Board start one month prior to the General Assembly meeting and ends 15 days before the General Assembly meeting.
• A maximum number of 2 members from the same country are eligible to serve simultaneously.
• Members service terms should not exceed 2 consecutive cycles.
• Members can be re-elected for a 3rd cycle, with at least one election cycle interval.
Sanabel's Current Board of Directors:
Bassem Khanfer
Country: Jordan
Position: Chairman
Description: Bassem Khanfar has over 25 years of in-depth experience in the field of financial inclusion, microfinance, and small enterprises financing and sustainable development. Throughout the 25 years, Bassem has successfully established and managed several microfinance institutions in Jordan, as well as engaged in establishing additional MFIs in the Arab region. In addition, he has worked on assignments with global institutions in an advisory capacity, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) and others. Bassem is a founding member of Sanabel and is currently serving as Chairperson of Sanabel's Board of Directors. Currently, he is the CEO and Board member of Jordan Microfinance Company "Tamweelcom" in Jordan.
Mohamed Zamandar
Country: Tunisia
Position: Vice Chairman
Description: Mohamed Zmandar is graduated from the University of Economics and Management in Tunis. He joined Enda inter-arabe in 1996. He has been Enda’s operations Manager for the past 15 years, Deputy CEO since January 2016 and CEO of Enda Tamweel - the leading MFI in Tunisia - since September 2019. He is also a board member of Enda Cash, the payment company created by Enda inter-arabe in March 2022 and the chairperson of the Tunisian Professional Association of the Microfinance Institutions (Public Limited Companies College). He has a strong experience in Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
Adel Balla
Country: Sudan
Position: Treasurer
Description: Mr.Adel Mohamed Ali Balla holds a higher diploma in accounting and finance. Mr.: Adel has 15 years’ experience in the field of development work and microfinance, he contributed to the establishment of Baraha Microfinance Institution as the first rural microfinance institution in Sudan, and worked as an executive director until mid-2013. Mr. Adel joined the AGFUND initiative to establish the Ebdaa Bank for Microfinance in Sudan, now he holds the position of General Manager of the bank since the end of 2013, during this period he contributed within the AGFUND team of experts in the technical support of a number of the initiative banks, through his work on the boards of directors of Ebdaa banks. Mr. Adel is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Microfinance Network for Arab Countries – Sanabel, He is a certified trainer in the field of microfinance at Sanabel Network
Rasha Qawasmi
Country: Palestine
Position: Board Member
Description: Rasha Qawasmi is a leading Palestinian finance expert and a senior female executive in the Palestinian business community. She serves as the Executive Manager of Asala for Credit and Development, one of the main Palestinian Microfinance Lending Companies, and the only one that focuses on Women. Asala works to support and empower women and youth, to provide appropriate financial services to establish projects and create permanent opportunities, thus achieving sustainable development and fighting poverty in Palestine. Before joining Asala, Rasha served as the Head of Finance Department at Palestine Investment Fund “PIF”. Palestine’s largest institutional investor with around one billion dollars of assets under management and with diverse investments in key economic sectors such as telecommunications, real estate, energy and SMEs. During that time, she also served on the board of Asala for Credit and Development in addition to other companies such as; “Transcend Support”, a call center and outsourcing solutions provider. The Grand Park Hotels Company, a local hotel management company with hotels under management in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah; Tri-Fitness Company, a local gym operator; and a Board member of Yabous for Tourism Investments Company, one of Palestine’s largest investors in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Rasha holds a B.A. in accounting from Birzeit University, Palestine and an EMBA degree from Kellogg School of Management/Northwestern University and Recanati School of Management. She is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
Hicham Kharrou
Country: Morocco
Position: Board Member
Description:Hicham Kharrou is an Electrical engineer with an Executive MBA in general Management from Toulouse Business School and has 23 years’ experience. He Started his career in the automobile Market in 1996 in Saudi Arabia and in Morocco with Abdullatif Jameel Group the biggest private Toyota dealer Worldwide. He joined the Operational Leasing Market with Hertz Equipment, Budget Rental and finally with Chaabi LLD a subsidiary of Groupe Banques Populaires for the last 18 years. He was the Ceo of Chaabi LLD for the last 6 years and was appointed as CEO of Attawfiq Microfinance starting December 2021.
Hassan Faried
Country: Egypt
Position: Board Member
Description: Hassan Faried - Hassan has 40 years of in depth and diverse work experience, (25 years Microfinance experience). - DBACD CEO since 1998 till now. - Chairman of Sanabel 2010- 2014 and board member from 2017 till now. - Board member- dakahleya businessmen’s association for community development from 2009 to 2022. - Hassan holds a Bachelor degree of Science, (Geology Major) - Mansoura University, Egypt.
- Microfinance credits: -Making microfinance work- managing product diversification (ILO)- Turin, Italy. -Boulder microfinance training programs – Washington – Boulder - USA. -Harvard business school – ACCION's program on strategic leadership for microfinance – Harvard business, Boston, USA.
Ahmed Lamaa
Country: Iraq
Position: Board Member
Description:Co-General Manager for Vitas Iraq. He manages a post conflict microfinance program that offers credit to micro and small businesses and home improvements in Central and Southern Iraq. Responsibilities include overall project performance, product design and implementation, policies and procedures development, staff recruitment and management, donor relations, work plan development, donor liaison, and fundraising, training, and supervision of staff members. Oversees opening of branch offices including conducting outreach with representatives from local government, business, religious groups and community organizations, office identification and reconstruction, staff recruitment, and procurement; and troubleshooting issues with staff, community representatives, bank partners and local governments. Mr. Lamaa was part of the CHF Vitas Iraq start-up team in 2003 and has more than 23 years of management experience in microfinance and marketing. Mr. Lamaa holds a BA in Business Management and Marketing from the Lebanese University. He has worked in highly challenging environments, including post war Iraq.