Wincor Nixdorf, a Germany-based information technology (IT) provider reportedly has announced it is supplying banks in Bangladesh with automated teller machine (ATM) technology in an effort to increase access to financial services via the self-service channel. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that supports private-sector development, and MasterCard Foundation, a Canada-based foundation that focuses on microfinance end education, recently announced a USD 37.4 million partnership to increase access to financial services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Continue Reading »

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), a Vietnamese government agency, recently has announced plans to implement a microfinance sector development project in the country until 2020. Continue Reading »

A new umbrella microfinance institution (MFI) SA Financial Enterprise Agency (Safea) has reportedly been established under the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), a development finance institution backed by the government of South Africa. Continue Reading »

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central banking authority of the Philippines, has announced it is considering strengthening its Special Program for Rural Banks (SPRB), which lays out guidelines for assisting “distressed” rural banks. Continue Reading »

Lok Capital, a Mauritius-based microfinance investment vehicle, has reportedly announced plans to sell its stake in Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS), an Indian microfinance institution (MFI). Continue Reading »

Citi Microfinance, a subsidiary of US-based Citibank that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs), and Citibank’s Environmental Products Trading and Organization Team recently announced a plan to buy 1.17 million metric tons of carbon credits from MicroEnergy Credits (MEC), a US-based for-profit firm that assists MFIs in launching clean-energy lending programs. Continue Reading »

The Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation (GCAMF), which was founded in Luxembourg by French bank Credit Agricole and Grameen Trust of Bangladesh, has reported to MicroCapital that it has issued a loan of USD 1.25 million with a three-year term and a one-year grace period to Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI). Continue Reading »

Development International Desjardins (DID), the social arm of Canadian cooperative financial firm, the Desjardins Group; and Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries has recently agreed to provide support to small enterprises in Central Africa. Continue Reading »

Bamboo Finance, a Switzerland-based investment firm, and Dr PK Sinha, co-founder of US-based consulting firm ZS Associates, recently invested a total of INR 206 million (USD 4 million) in equity in Greenlight Planet, an Indian company that aims to provide “low-cost” energy products to low-income households in emerging markets. Continue Reading »

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a financial institution headquartered in London, recently signed an agreement to loan USD 15 million to AccessBank, a microfinance institution in Azerbaijan. Continue Reading »

The IKEA Foundation, a charitable foundation affiliated with Dutch furniture retailer IKEA, recently committed a donation of EUR 30 million (USD 39 million) to Swaayam, a pilot program that aims to boost the social, political and economic empowerment of poor women in India. Swaayam provides women with financial, literacy and leadership education as well as accessing microloans through self-help groups. Continue Reading »

Bamboo Finance, a Switzerland-based investment firm, recently has invested INR 157 million (USD 3 million) in Vienova Education Private Limited, an Indian education provider. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, and Wells Fargo, an American financial services provider, recently teamed up to launch a USD 200 million, five-year risk-sharing facility to support the trade financing needs of banks in emerging countries with the aim to propel economic growth and job creation. Continue Reading »

Liberian Senate President Pro-Tempore Gbehzohngar Findley reportedly has disbursed LRD 600,000 (USD 8,100) to provide microloans for small-scale retailers in Liberia’s Grand Bassa County. Continue Reading »

The Planning Commission of the government of India recently released a preliminary approach paper regarding its 12th five-year plan (2012-2017) [1]. Continue Reading »

Al-Edba’a, a Sudanese microfinance institution (MFI), was recently established with USD 5 million in capital. Continue Reading »

Lok Capital LLC, a Mauritius-based microfinance investment vehicle, and its Proparco, a French development finance institution, have recently invested INR 260 million (USD 5 million) in equity in the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Rural Channels and Services, a company of IFMR Trust that provides financial services in rural India. Continue Reading »