A/RES/59/246 Encouraging the holding and supporting of regional, subregional and national events on the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, Noting the ongoing efforts by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Capital Development Fund in jointly coordinating the activities of the United Nations system regarding the preparation and observance of the Year, and noting also the ongoing efforts of public and private development agencies, including the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, on microcredit and microfinance, Noting also that the international community is observing the period 1997– 2006 as the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997–2006) and preparations for the International Year of Microcredit, 2005; 1 2. Welcomes the launching of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005; 3. Emphasizes that the observance of 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit will provide a significant opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty, to share good practices and to further enhance financial sectors that support sustainable propoor financial services in all countries; Recognizes the importance of scaling up microcredit and other 4. microfinance instruments, using the Year as a platform to find ways of enhancing development impact and sustainability through the increased dissemination of data and sharing of best practices and lessons learned among microcredit and microfinance institutions, and welcomes the ongoing efforts of United Nations regional organizations, funds, programmes and specialized agencies responsible for operational activities related to development in promoting microcredit and microfinance institutions, inter alia, supporting the development of entrepreneurship; Reiterates its invitation to Member States, relevant organizations of the 5. United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate, including through making voluntary contributions, in observing the Year, to raise public awareness and knowledge about microcredit and microfinance; Recognizes that access to microcredit and microfinance can contribute to 6. the achievement of the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 2 in particular the goals relating to poverty eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women; 7. Invites Member States to consider undertaking policies to facilitate the expansion of microcredit and microfinance institutions in order to service the large unmet demand among poor people for financial services, including the identification and development of mechanisms to promote sustainable access to financial services, the removal of institutional and regulatory obstacles and the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet national standards for delivering such financial services to the poor; _______________ 1 2 2 A/59/326 and Add.1. See resolution 55/2.