The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) in partnership with Sanabel, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Arab microfinance, and CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), an independent policy and research center housed at the World Bank Group, recently released the French edition of its 2009 Arab Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report. Continue Reading »

An article in the Financial Times titled, “Microfinancing Spreads Beyond India’s Grassroots,” discusses recent concerns raised by some microfinance experts surrounding the increase in microlending by profit-oriented companies in India. Continue Reading »

Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Lead Researcher, Mr Adrian Gonzalez, recently authored a report published by MIX discussing the funding sources for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the lowest quartile in terms of size, age, profitability and portfolio quality. Continue Reading »

Dr Sanjay Sinha, managing director at Micro-Credit Ratings International (M-CRIL), authored an article featured in Microfinance Focus in which he proposed changes to several of the ideas advocated by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), an independent policy and research center housed at the World Bank Group. Continue Reading »

The Microcredit Summit Campaign, a project initiated in 1997 by the RESULTS Educational Fund, a US-based advocacy organization that aims to alleviate hunger and poverty, is requesting that each of its member institutions submit an Institutional Action Plan (IAP). Continue Reading »

In a recent interview featured on LiveMint, an Indian business newspaper owned by the Wall Street Journal, Mr Vijay Mahajan, President of the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a network of 39 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India, argued that “banks should charge less than 10 percent while lending to MFIs.” Continue Reading »

Mr Vijay Mahajan, President of the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a self-regulated network organization of 39 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India, authored an article recently published in India’s daily Economic Times addressing what he termed misconceptions about the microfinance industry. Continue Reading »

Germany’s Federal Environment Ministry recently announced it would be launching a USD 500 million climate fund that will provide microloans for individual energy efficiency or renewables projects initially through local banks in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Morocco, the Philippines and South Africa. Continue Reading »

responsAbility, a Swiss-based microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) manager, recently reported to MicroCapital that it has invested USD 201,000 in equity financing from two of the funds it manages in two microfinance-focused investment firms. Continue Reading »

The Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization, has released a paper, titled, “Measuring the Impact of Microfinance: Taking Another Look,” to address and inform the current debate surrounding microfinance’s efficacy in reducing poverty and ameliorating other social problems. Continue Reading »

responsAbility, a Swiss-based microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) manager, recently reported to MicroCapital that it has provided USD 1.5 million in debt financing from two of the funds it manages to three microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Kosovo and Central Asia. Continue Reading »

responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund, a Swiss-based microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) manager, recently reported to MicroCapital that it has provided MXN 942,000 (USD 72,000) in debt financing to two Mexican microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Event Name: XIII FOROMIC 2010: Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise

Event Date: October 6 to 8, 2010

Event Location: Montevideo, Uruguay

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events Continue Reading »

The nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) and Sanabel, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Arabic microfinance, recently awarded certificates of transparency to 43 microfinance institutions from Arab countries. Continue Reading »

Oikocredit, a microfinance investment fund in the Netherlands with assets of USD 665 million, recently loaned USD 1.6 million to five Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs): Amanecer of Colombia, Coopesparta of Costa Rica, Proempresa of Peru, FINCA Peru and Norandino of Peru. Continue Reading »

Oikocredit, a microfinance investment fund in the Netherlands with assets of USD 665 million, recently loaned INR 145 million (USD 3.14 million) to nine Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Oikocredit, a microfinance investment fund in the Netherlands with assets of USD 665 million, recently loaned USD 1.37 million to seven microfinance institutions (MFI) in Bulgaria, Tajikistan, Benin, the Philippines and Ghana. Continue Reading »

BlueOrchard Finance, a Swiss asset management company, recently invested USD 6.5 million from its Dexia MicroCredit Fund (DMCF) in three Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs): Forjadores of Mexico, Women’s World Banking (WWB) Popayan of Colombia and D-Miro of Ecuador. Continue Reading »