The multilateral Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently announced a syndicated funding package of USD 41 million for the Bank of Maldives Plc (BML) to support tourism and other sectors. ADB syndicated the funding, which encompasses
Category: Key Players
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AMK of Cambodia Borrowing $7.5m for Green Microfinance via Bond Issue from BII, Symbiotics
Symbiotics Investments, a Switzerland-based investor focused on smaller businesses in low- and middle- income countries, recently disbursed USD 7.5 million to Cambodia’s AMK Microfinance Institution to fund its ongoing lending for electric two- and three-wheeled vehicles as well as new products, such as
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Annapurna of India Borrows $10m from MicroVest to Expand Microfinance for Rural Women
MicroVest, an asset management subsidiary of US-based DAI Global, recently lent USD 10 million to Annapurna Finance, an India-based microfinance institution (MFI) that lends to groups of women for purposes such as agriculture, crafts, solar lighting and housing improvements. The MFI also lends to
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Financial Inclusion in Niger: Challenges and Opportunities,” by Yoro Diallo et al, Published by IMF
This paper examines the inclusivity of financial services in Niger. The data examined indicate that Niger is behind other countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) in terms of access to financial services. Only 14 percent of the adult population of Niger accesses and uses formal financial services, such as those offered by commercial banks, e-money service providers and microfinance institutions (MFIs). The WAEMU country closest to Niger in terms of this metric is Mali, in which 55
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AgCelerant, Bank of Africa, IFC to Support Rice Value Chains in Senegal with Access to Loans, Insurance, Tools, Inputs
AgCelerant, the agricultural technology (agritech) service of Mauritius-based Manobi Africa, recently partnered with the Senegalese unit of the Bank of Africa Group and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) on an effort to
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Financing the Blue Economy;” by Michael Adams et al; Published by Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) describes the “blue economy” as including 16 ocean-related market segments. The authors rank these segments in order of
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EBRD Purchases 5% Equity Stake in ProCredit from IFC, Increasing Exposure to SMEs in Europe, Ecuador
The multilateral European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently purchased a 5-percent stake in Germany-based ProCredit Holding from the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), along with a
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) to Offer Fintechs in Kenya Access to Mastercard Payment Cards
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), a Kenya-based institution serving four countries in Africa, recently expanded its partnership with US-based payment processing corporation Mastercard, which will enable
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IDB Lab Accepting Applications from Entrepreneurs in Latin America, Caribbean for WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs Competition, Partner of Google for Startups, Through March 31
WeXchange, a program of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group’s IDB Lab, recently started accepting applications from female entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean for the WeXchange Women STEMpreneurs Competition. The competition targets women whose businesses
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Svasti of India Raises $5m via Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) Women’s Livelihood Bond Issue
India’s Svasti Microfinance recently raised USD 5 million via a bond issue by the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a for-profit firm in Singapore, with the goal of catalyzing income generation for low-income women. The funding is provided
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Accion, Sturgeon Lead $6.4m Equity Round for Trukkr, Fintech Serving Trucking SMEs in Pakistan
Trukkr, a Pakistan-based financial technology (fintech) firm, recently obtained USD 6.4 million in a funding round led by two impact investors, US-based Accion Venture Lab and UK-based Sturgeon Capital, with placements also made by Al Zayani Venture Capital, Haitou Global and Peter Findley. The breakdown
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Incofin Launches Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF) with $39m to Invest in Africa, Asia
The Belgium-based investment firm Incofin recently launched the Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF), a private equity fund with the objective of reaching 30 million people with access to safe drinking water, primarily in Africa and Asia. In particular
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA) Borrows $80m from FMO, FinDev Canada, Rabobank to Boost Exports of Produce from 50,000 Farms in Argentina
Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA), a network of 143 agricultural cooperatives in Argentina, recently borrowed USD 80 million from three institutions, led by the Dutch development bank Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO). FMO is lending ACA half of the total, and
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Impact of Microfinance Institutions on Poverty Alleviation,” by Collin Chikwira et al, Published by Journal of Risk and Financial Management
The authors of this report reviewed evidence of the effects of microfinance institutions (MFIs) on poverty in developing economies. Although a number of
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Copal App to Help Parents, Youth in Egypt to Manage Finances via Mastercard Payment Network
Copal, an Egypt-based financial technology (fintech) firm, recently entered a partnership with US-based payment processing corporation Mastercard to launch an app that helps families in Egypt to make payments and otherwise manage their finances. Plans for the app include
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Microfinance, Over-indebtedness and Climate Adaptation: New Evidence from Rural Cambodia;” by Vincent Guermond et al; Published by Royal Holloway, University of London
The authors of this report argue that microfinance loans in Cambodia are leading to over-indebtedness amongst farmers, inhibiting their ability to adapt to climate change. The aggregate
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Financial Inclusion That Works for Women; March 2, 2023; London, UK
This event will review the 2022 edition of the European Microfinance Award, which was themed “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women.” Sam Mendelson of the Luxembourg-based European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) will discuss
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Incofin Closes India Progress Fund with $77m to Promote Financial Inclusion, Agricultural Value Chains
The Belgium-based investment firm Incofin recently completed the final close of its India Progress Fund with a total of USD 77 million raised to support financial services providers and actors in