PlaNet Finance Group is an international organization with the mission of alleviating poverty through the development of microfinance. The group consists of a non-governmental organization (NGO) called PlaNet Finance, which has historically been at the heart of the group and offers advisory and training services, as well as a set of social businesses. Among these, Planet Rating is a microfinance rating agency, PlaNIS is specialized in the structuring and management of microfinance funds, MicroCred is a microfinance holding company investing in greenfield microfinance banks and non-banking financial institutions, PlaNet Guarantee provides microinsurance and FinanCités is a venture capital company that invests in very small enterprises in French urban areas. Continue Reading »

Lok Capital LLC, a venture fund focused on the microfinance sector in India, recently announced an equity investment in RuralShores Business Services Private Limited, which provides outsourced data entry services to businesses within India and abroad. Continue Reading »

ES Global, a consulting firm that focuses on social investing and micro- and small enterprise development, has created a wiki for post-crisis management support to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Haiti. Continue Reading »

Grameen Financial Services Private Limited, an Indian microfinance institution also known as Grameen Koota, has raised INR 20 crore (USD 4.27 million) from a sale of secured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to MicroVest I LP, a US-based private equity fund. Continue Reading »

Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper reports that the local microfinance interbank money market has collapsed due to the very liquidity problems it was intended to address. Continue Reading »

Jeff Raderstrong, founder of Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell, which raises money for international microlending from the US state of Iowa, recently published an article titled “2009: The Year Microfinance Died.” Continue Reading »

In a recent column in US daily The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof argued that, “What we need is a savings revolution. Right now, the world’s poor almost never have access to a bank account. Cash sits around and gets spent — and, frankly, often spent badly…. Research suggests that the world’s poorest families (typically the men in those families) spend about 20 percent of their incomes on a combination of alcohol, cigarettes, prostitution, soft drinks and extravagant festivals.” Continue Reading »

In recognition of his many years of work to assist poor people, Fazle Hasan Abed, the Founder and Chairperson of international microfinance institution BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), is to be knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on an undisclosed date. Continue Reading »

Sébastien Duquet is the Managing Director of PlaNIS (PlaNet Investment Services), a member of the PlaNet Finance Group.

MicroCapital: What is your background?

SD: Until recently, I was the Managing Director of PlaNet Finance, where I have worked since 2002. Previously, I was an auditor for Andersen and Ernst & Young for ten years, and I also worked for two years at HSBC bank.

MC: Please describe PlaNet Investment Services. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, is considering making a USD 10 million investment in the USD 50 million Cygma Fund, which will offer foreign currency hedges to investors looking to make local currency investments in microfinance institutions in developing countries. Continue Reading »

The Università Telematica Guglielmo Marconi of Italy is leading a project funded by the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme to offer microfinance institution staff remote training on social performance management in English, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish. Continue Reading »

Isabelle Levard is Deputy CEO of MicroCred, a member of the PlaNet Finance Group.

MicroCapital: Please describe MicroCred.

Isabelle Levard: MicroCred is an investment company founded by PlaNet Finance that creates, builds and manages microfinance institutions. Continue Reading »

Pakistani microfinance institution Asasah has reportedly agreed to purchase a range of services from Al Huda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE) including accounting and auditing treatments, Shariah supervision, staff training and advice on Shriah-complaint technology solutions. Continue Reading »

The San Francisco-based Janta Foundation recently launched a website that allows individuals to make loans of USD 25 or more to be used for education in India or Nicaragua.  Continue Reading »

The US-based, nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) recently re-launched its MIX Market website, with the support of Canada’s MasterCard Foundation.  Continue Reading »

In a recent Financial Times article, “Private sector goes into development finance,” the British daily discusses the concept of development dollars acting as a catalyst to engage much larger levels of private investment in financial services in poor countries.  Continue Reading »

The US-based nonprofit Microfinance Opportunities and Canada’s MasterCard Foundation recently announced the launch of a three-year effort to encourage the adoption of branchless banking services by low-income youth and women and by poor people in rural areas.  Continue Reading »

Gradatim, an international provider of technology services to microfinance institutions and insurers, has raised USD 3 million in Series A equity funding from NEA-IndoUS Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in India.  Continue Reading »