The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance information clearinghouse, recently released its third annual ranking of microfinance institutions (MFIs), The Mix Global 100. Continue Reading »

Craig Churchill serves as the Chair of the Microinsurance Network and as Senior Technical Officer of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) Social Finance Programme. Continue Reading »

The French microlending site, Babyloan, has facilitated EUR 592,000 (USD 807,200) in microloans to finance 2,150 projects since its launch in 2008. Continue Reading »

A study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the business information arm of The Economist Group, the producer of The Economist weekly magazine, has ranked the Philippines as first in the world in terms of its microfinance regulatory framework and third in the world in terms of its microfinance business environment, following Peru and Bolivia. Continue Reading »

In an attempt to increase transparency for microfinance stakeholders, the Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) has developed two benchmarking software applications, Pakistan Microfinance Review (PMR) software and Microfinance Connect. Continue Reading »

India’s National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is seeking comments from stakeholders on a draft plan regarding regulation and development in the microfinance industry. Continue Reading »

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has granted a license to Credit Reference Bureau Africa (CRBAfrica) in an effort to provide the banking sector with credit information sharing services. Continue Reading »

Fitch Ratings, a global credit ratings agency, has released its ratings of ProCredit Bank of Bosnia & Herzegovina (PCBiH) and ProCredit Bank of Kosovo (PCBK). Continue Reading »

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s central bank, has warned that microfinance institutions (MFIs) will be taken off the priority sector lending list if the industry does not improve its governance standards. Continue Reading »

Financiera Independencia, a Mexican microfinance institution (MFI) that focuses on urban lending to individuals, has closed an MXP 530 million (USD 41 million) deal to acquire Financiera Finsol, a Mexican MFI that focuses on group lending in rural areas, and three related entities: Finsol Vida, an insurance broker; Finsol, a service company; and Instituto Finsol Brazil, an MFI in Brazil. Continue Reading »

A new CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Focus Note examines “what consumer protection regulation should look like in places where consumers are poor, access to finance is limited, and regulatory capacity is often overstretched.” Continue Reading »

The European Commission has officially launched the EUR 100 million (USD 135 million) “European Progress Microfinance Facility,” which was approved by members of the European Council and European Parliament. Continue Reading »

A recent article featured on the CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) website discusses a new series of Policy Framing Notes by regulatory expert Dr David Porteous concerning the tradeoffs that regulators face in trying to encourage healthy competition in the microfinance industry. Continue Reading »

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) has released the “Technical Guide for Investors on Implementing the Client Protection Principles,” as part of a wider consumer protection campaign focusing on fair lending within the microfinance industry. Continue Reading »

The government of Indonesia has added 13 existing banks to the Association of Regional Development Banks (Asbanda) to distribute microcredit across the country. Continue Reading »

A recent article in US-based Newsweek magazine entitled ‘Big Crisis, Small Help’ examines the importance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in mitigating crises in post-disaster environments. Continue Reading »

Event Name: Developing Inclusive Financial Systems: The CGAP Course for Funders of Microfinance

Event Date: April 26 – 30, 2010

Event Location: Bali, Indonesia

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

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance information clearinghouse, recently released the 2009 Eastern Europe and Central Asia Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report. Continue Reading »