MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Lends $5m to Thaneakea Phum Cambodia (TPC) to Expand Housing, Microfinance Loans

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance institution backed by the US government, recently finalized a USD 5 million loan to Thaneakea Phum Cambodia Limited (TPC), a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI).

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: VisionFund International, World Vision Use Microfinance to Supplement RIWASH Clean Water Initiative in Sri Lanka

World Vision International, a US-based Christian humanitarian organization, and its subsidiary VisionFund International, a US-based nonprofit organization, have supplied microfinance loans to 400 families supplement initiatives to increase access to clean water in Sri Lanka.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation Invests $28m in Equity in Bhutan National Bank to Increase Financial Inclusion; Lending to Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, has invested USD 28 million in Bhutan National Bank, a publicly owned commercial bank, to increase its lending to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pro Mujer Bolivia, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) Partner to Raise Awareness of Violence Against Women

Pro Mujer Bolivia, a branch of the US-based nonprofit Pro Mujer, recently secured unspecified support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the German Agency for Technical Cooperation, to raise awareness of violence against women among Pro Mujer employees.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Master’s Degree Funding Available from Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

Applications are open through March 31 for the 2013 Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), a program that grants scholarships for individuals to obtain master’s degrees in subjects related to economic development. 

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Calls for Submissions for “Balancing Social and Financial Responsibility” Section of the Universal Standards Resource Library

The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), a working group initiated in 2005 by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), the Argidius Foundation and the Ford Foundation, is seeking submissions for its online Universal Standards Resource Library.

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “2012 MicroMeter;” published by India’s Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

Published by the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN); 2013; 40 pages; available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.60963/MicroMeter_Feb%202013_Issue%2004_5th%20Feb%202013_for%20distribution.pdf

The Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), an association of 47 Indian microlenders, has released the fourth issue of MicroMeter, an analysis of the Indian microfinance industry’s performance during the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 (spanning October to December 2012).

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Boston University, CGAP Partner on Financial Inclusion Regulation Website, Request Submissions of Material from Microfinance Stakeholders

The US-based Center for Finance, Law and Policy at Boston University (BU Center) has partnered with CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based nonprofit research and policy center, to create an online repository of materials relating to the regulation of financial inclusion around the world.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking (WWB), Citi Foundation Launch Women in Leadership Program

US-based microfinance network Women’s World Banking (WWB), with financial support from Citi Foundation, the charitable arm of US-based financial firm Citigroup, recently launched the “Women in Leadership Program,” an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women in leadership positions in microfinance.

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Handbook; Evolution of Microfinance; Impact of Private Sector Investment on Job Creation

The New Microfinance Handbook: A Financial Market System Perspective;” edited by Joanna Ledgerwood, Julie Earne and Candace Nelson; published by the World Bank Group; February 2013; 504 pages; available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/12272

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking (WWB) Partners with Australia’s AusAID on Microinsurance, 90k Jordanians Reached by Microfund for Women

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), an agency of the federal government of Australia, reportedly has pledged its support to Women’s World Banking (WWB), a US-based nonprofit microfinance network, to assist with the expansion of international microinsurance services.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EBRD Loan of $39m to UniCredit Bank Serbia for On-lending to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Pending Final Approval

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a London-based multilateral financial institution, intends to loan EUR 30 million (USD 39 million) to the Serbian branch of UniCredit Bank, an Italy-based financial group with operations in 22 countries, for on-lending to private small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bridge Launches with $24m from Accion, Bamboo Finance, DEG, FMO, Paul Kocourek to Support Rural, Thrift Banks in the Philippines

Bridge, a financial services company that plans to provide “capability building services and capital” to rural and thrift banks that focus on low-income populations and micro- and small businesses in the Philippines, recently announced its launch with equity investments totaling USD 24 million from Accion, a US-based nonprofit organization; Bamboo Finance, a Luxembourg-based commercial investment firm; Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft GmbH (DEG), a German development finance institution; the Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappijvoor Ontwikkelingslanden NV (FMO), a Dutch public-private development bank; and Mr Paul Kocourek, Bridge’s co-founder and chairman.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) Loans $974k to Araratbank of Armenia

The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), a microfinance investment vehicle launched by German development bank KfW Entwicklungsbank, has informed MicroCapital that it recently disbursed an AMD 400 million (USD 974,000) loan to open joint stock corporation Araratbank of Armenia, a bank that primarily provides financial services to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “How Can Microfinance Programs Help the Struggle Against Social problems Such as Begging, Child Labor, Prostitution, Violence Against Women, Criminality, Gangs, and Drug Addiction?;” by William O. Maddocks; Commissioned by the Global Microcredit Summit

By William O. Maddocks; Commissioned by the Global Microcredit Summit; 2011; 31 pages; available at: http://www.globalmicrocreditsummit2011.org/userfiles/file/Workshop%20Papers/W_%20Maddocks%20-%20How%20Can%20Microfinance%20Programs%20Help%20the%20Struggle%20Against%20Social%20Problems%20Such.pdf

This paper presents an analysis of the role of microfinance institutions in helping to solve “seemingly intractable social problems” including begging, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS and discrimination against the disabled, all while maintaining financial sustainability.