Overview:
The Investment Fund for international Development (FONIDI) invests in financing institutions or specialized funds within the financial sector in developing countries. Continue Reading »

Overview:
The Dignity Fund LP mobilizes capital for microfinance institutions (MFIs), which are retail micro-lenders. Continue Reading »

Overview:
The Calvert Foundation provides loans to organizations that provide affordable housing, microfinance, small business loans, and community facilities. Continue Reading »

Overview:
BlueOrchard Microfinance Securities (BOMS 1) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that created a Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) that is collateralized by microfinance institution (MFI) debt obligations. Continue Reading »

ACCION International has reportedly received approval from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to operate in Brazil. The US-based nonprofit will be allowed to hold 99 percent of the Brazilian operations of its Gateway Fund, which holds shares in microfinance institutions in Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Continue Reading »

Overview:
BlueOrchard Loans for Development 2006-1 (BOLD 2006-1) is a Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) that is collateralized with debt from microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Overview:
BlueOrchard Loans for Development 2007-1 (BOLD 2007-1) is a Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) that is collateralized with debt from microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Overview:
BlueOrchard Private Equity Fund invests directly in microfinance institutions (MFIs) and regional funds. Continue Reading »

Overview:
PT BINA INSAN SEJAHTERA MANDIRI (BISMA) provides financial services and technical assistance to microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Faulu Advisory Services (FAS), a fully owned subsidiary of Faulu Kenya, has acquired Trustmark Insurance Brokers in an effort to include microinsurance among its microfinance services. The price of the acquisition has not been disclosed. Faulu Kenya is a deposit taking microfinance company, which, until now, has offered credit and savings products for low-income Kenyans. FAS provides business advisory services for the microfinance industry. Mr. George Maina, CEO of FAS, commented, “It’s a strategic move on our side to venture into insurance brokerage. For now, we shall continue offering services that the brokerage used to have,” which include life and health insurance. According to the Business Daily, less than a million Kenyans currently have life insurance coverage, representing a 2.5 percent penetration rate. Continue Reading »

Overview:
AXA WF Responsible Development Bonds invests in transferable debt securities that raise money for projects aimed at long-term sustainable and economic development. Continue Reading »

Overview:
The Bellwether Microfinance Fund is a microfinance investment vehicle, which mobilizes capital for microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

The India Financial Inclusion Fund (IFIF), an equity fund that invests in companies that provide financial services to low-income clients, has, after its final closing, raised USD 90 million worth of capital in the last fifteen months, according to Mona Kachhwaha, the Director of Investments at Caspian Advisors Private Limited, the adviser to IFIF [1,2,3]. The fund will be used to invest in microfinance institutions (MFIs), companies that provide low-cost housing, and other “firms that enable the provision of financial services to the poor” such as “business correspondents to banks and technology companies in [the] sector” [1]. It includes commitments from companies such CDC Group, a “UK government-owned fund” that invests in funds intended for emerging markets [1,4,5,6]. MicroCapital reports on early IFIF fund-raising from CDC Group and other sources can be found in the bibliography [5,6]. Continue Reading »

Overview:
The ASN-Novib fund is a microfinance investment vehicle which mobilizes funds for microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

A recent Wall Street Journal report covered the move among many philanthropists away from donations toward program-related investments (PRIs), which produce returns that can be re-invested in other efforts: “For a long time only big institutions like the Ford Foundation pursued [PRIs]. Given the lingering economic slump, though, program-related investments are getting attention from a wider array of potential donors – including smaller family foundations, investors with donor-advised funds and everyday individual givers.” Continue Reading »

Overview:
The AfriCap Microfinance Fund (AfriCap) is private equity fund that invests in microfinance related organizations that are committed to commercial viability.

Description:
AfriCap uses equity and quasi equity instruments with an aggregate exposure of $1.5 million per investment, with equity stakes ranging from 15 to 30 percent. AfriCap also offers a Technology Assistance Package through the AfriCap managed grant fund. AfriCap invests in a range of financial services companies, including micro-insurance, low-income housing, micro-leasing and money transfers.

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Overview:
Aavishkaar Goodwell India Microfinance Development Company Ltd is a for-profit business development company that provides equity finance and support to entrepreneurial microfinance organizations in India. Continue Reading »

Overview:
The Advans SA fund is a microfinance investment vehicle which mobilizes funds for microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »