by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institution 4 de Octubre Borrows $1.5m from Aequitas Fund for Onlending in Ecuador

The Canadian NGO Desjardins International Development (DID) recently disbursed USD 1.5 million from its financial inclusion fund Aequitas to 4 de Octubre, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Ecuador, to support the MFI’s

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: DID Loaning $2m from Aequitas Fund to Faces Microfinanzas for Microfinance in Ecuador

Aequitas, a financial inclusion fund launched by Desjardins International Development (DID), recently issued a USD 2 million loan to Ecuador-based microfinance institution (MFI) Faces Microfinanzas to

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Private Asset Impact Fund Report 2022;” by Anne Estoppey, Ramkumar Narayanan; Published by Tameo

This report is derived from a survey of managers of private asset impact funds (PAIFs), which are defined as investment vehicles “that have more than 50 percent of their non-cash asset[s] allocated both to private debt or private equity instruments and to emerging and frontier markets, with a development impact bias.” The survey sample comprises

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: World Bank’s IDA Lending $15m to Djibouti for Low-income Housing Finance, Policy Reform

The International Development Association (IDA), a unit of the World Bank, recently agreed to lend USD 15 million to Djibouti for a project intended to: (1) scale up an existing partial guarantee fund to boost

by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Publish What You Fund Releases DFI Transparency Index Ranking Disclosure Record of 30 Development Finance Institutions

Publish What You Fund, a UK-based NGO aimed at increasing the transparency of international development efforts, today launched its DFI Transparency Index, which examines and ranks the operational transparency of 30 development finance institutions (DFIs). The rankings are based on

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fintech Robos, General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) Partner on Events Promoting Financial Literacy, Savings, Social Insurance, Pensions

The Egypt-based General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) recently agreed to support Bahrain-based Fintech Robos in its production of the following annual events: (1) Arab Savings & Financial Literacy Conference; (2) the Arab Pension & Social Insurance Conference; and (3) the Arab Actuarial Conference. Fintech Robos CEO Ebrahim K Ebrahim noted that one of the goals of the partnership is

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Islamic Finance & Banking Summit; September 27-28, 2023; Dubai, UAE – NEW DATES

Originally scheduled to take place beginning February 27 in Saudi Arabia (and then May 31 in UAE), this two-day event is organized with the goal of developing strategies for elevating the Islamic finance industry. The agenda offers sessions – in-person and on-line – such as: (1) Economic Growth, FDI [Foreign Direct Investment] & Islamic Banking Developments; (2) Leveraging

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Zanaco Borrows $50m from BII to Support MSMEs, Climate-change Mitigation in Zambia

Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) recently borrowed USD 50 million from British International Investment (BII), the UK government’s development finance institution, with the goal of funding micro-, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) as well as climate-focused initiatives such as renewable energy generation. BII is looking to

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroVest Loans $4.5m to Financiera FAMA for MSMEs in Nicaragua

US-based asset manager MicroVest recently reported disbursing a loan of USD 4.5 million to Financiera FAMA, a microfinance institution (MFI) that was founded as Fundación para el Apoyo a la Microempresa. Established in 1991 and headquartered in the city of Managua, FAMA provides

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Lends $525k to Smart Credit for Microfinance in Moldova

Smart Credit, a microfinance institution (MFI) operating 12 branch locations in Moldova, recently accepted a local-currency loan approximately equivalent to USD 525,000 from the Luxembourg-based Grameen Crédit Agricole (GCA) Foundation. Founded in 2010, Smart Credit offers

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Agritech SuperZop Nets $2.7m in Equity from Incofin India Progress Fund to Connect More Farmers, Retailers

Incofin Investment Management of Belgium recently invested USD 2.7 million to purchase a stake of undisclosed size in SuperZop, a technology firm that helps farmers and mills sell their whole grain, flour and other staples to restaurants and shops in India. SuperZop also packages food under its Khetika brand and provides

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Beneficial Returns Invests in Grupo Murlota to Expand Training, Incubation Capacity for Women Raising Chickens, Selling Organic Eggs in Rural Mexico

Grupo Murlota, a woman-owned provider of chickens and related supplies, financing and training in Mexico, recently borrowed an undisclosed sum from Beneficial Returns, a US-based lender to social enterprises in Latin America and Southeast Asia. The loan will help fund a new building at which Murlota will

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Goodwell Launches uMunthu II Fund for SMEs in Africa

Netherlands-based Goodwell Investments recently launched the uMunthu II fund with USD 52 million raised and a goal for it to reach three times that volume. The fund will target about 35 small and medium-sized businesses reaching underserved consumers in Africa, including about one third financial services providers, one quarter

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Cresol Baser of Brazil Borrows $12m from Huruma Fund for Farm Lending, Green Product Development, Impact Measurement

Spain’s Gawa Capital, manager of the public-private Huruma Fund, recently disbursed the fund’s first investment in Brazil, lending EUR 12 million (USD 12.1 million) to Cresol Baser, a cooperative unit of Cresol, which provides savings, loans, training and insurance to individuals, farms and other businesses. The funding is earmarked for agricultural lending, including to help farmers adapt to climate change. Huruma plans to

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Sun King Nets $10m from Proparco for Solar Products in Africa via Bond Issue Arranged by Symbiotics

Symbiotics Investments, a Switzerland-based investor focused on smaller businesses in low- and middle- income countries, recently arranged a bond issue channeling USD 10 million from the French development finance institution Promotion et Participation pour la Coopération Économique (Proparco) to Sun King, a US-based firm selling solar products in Arica and Asia. Formerly known as GreenLight Planet, Sun King was founded in 2009. Its products include five types of solar lights, four types of home solar electrification kits and an inverter to