Global Partnerships (GP), a nonprofit organization that supports microfinance institutions in Latin America, recently announced that it has teamed up with Haitian microfinance institution (MFI) Fonkoze and US-based Linked Foundation on a project aimed at improving women’s health in Haiti. Continue Reading »

Tomas Miller of the US-based Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) was quoted recently by the Bahamian newspaper The Nassau Gaurdian as saying that, “Based on our definition of a microfinance institution, The Bahamas doesn’t really have that yet.” The interview was precipitated by the Third Caribbean Microfinance Forum, which was held recently in the Bahamas by the Caribbean Microfinance Capacity-building project, which is funded by MIF, the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank and the EU’s European Commission. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, has recently arranged a syndicated debt deal that will mobilize USD 40 million in long-term financing from IFC and other unnamed participants to support Peruvian microfinance financial institution Banco de la Microempresa SA (Mibanco) in increasing access to financial services for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and low-income households in Peru. Continue Reading »

Triple Jump, a Dutch microfinance investment manager and advisor, has made equity investments on behalf of ASN-Novib Microkreditfonds, a Dutch microfinance investment vehicle, in unnamed microfinance institutions (MFIs) based in Tanzania, Zambia and Panama. Continue Reading »

Swiss company responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans to Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs) Banco Solidario of Ecuador and Interactuar of Colombia. Continue Reading »

By Sabrina Régent, Sophie Chauliac and Benoit Rigollet; published by PlaNet Finance and PlaNet Guarantee; 2011; 119 pages; available at:
http://admin.planetfinancegroup.org/upload/medias/fr/pfgroup-market_study_microinsurance_2011.pdf Continue Reading »

Women’s World Banking (WWB), a US-based microfinance network, and Asociación Dominicana para el Desarrollo de la Mujer (Banco ADOPEM), a microfinance institution (MFI) based in the Dominican Republic, recently launched a television series intended to teach women how to manage their money and build savings. Continue Reading »

Mr Fernando Alvarez Toca, chief executive officer of the Mexican microfinance bank Compartamos Banco, reportedly has said that the bank is seeking to venture into “alternative products” such as microinsurance and mobile banking during 2012 either “through acquisitions in different countries or through organic growth” [1]. Continue Reading »

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the US-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, has partnered with the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), a Finland-based international finance institution, to launch a USD 7 million “green microfinance” program known as Ecomicro. Continue Reading »

responsAbility Social Investments AG, an investment company based in Switzerland, recently announced that it is investing an undisclosed amount in private healthcare provider Por Ti, Familia (PTF) of Peru. Continue Reading »

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the US-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, recently announced it will lend USD 4.9 million to US-based Root Capital, provides capital, financial education and market connections to small and growing businesses in Latin America and Africa [1]. Continue Reading »

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the business information arm of The Economist Group, has published the Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment 2011. Continue Reading »

Global Partnerships (GP), a US-based nonprofit organization that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America, recently announced that it will make loans totaling the equivalent of USD 1.2 million in three microfinance institutions (MFIs): Pro Mujer, for its Mexican operations; Café y Desarrollo of Mexico; and Fundación Campo of El Salvador [1]. Continue Reading »

Global Partnerships (GP), a US-based nonprofit organization that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America, recently announced that it will lend a total of USD 3.7 million to three microfinance institutions: USD 2 million to FINCA Ecuador, USD 1 million to Credito con Educacion Rural (CRECER) of Bolivia and USD 750,000 of Crediflorida of Peru [1]. Continue Reading »

Swiss company responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans to three Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs): USD 1.5 million to Coopronaranjo of Costa Rica, USD 500,000 to Cooperativa de Ahorro y Credito Esperanza y Progreso del Valle (COAC Progreso) of Ecuador and the local currency equivalent of USD 374,000 to Fundación Amanecer of Colombia. Continue Reading »

Triodos Investment Management, a Netherlands-based manager of four microfinance investment funds, recently reported to MicroCapital that it has invested an undisclosed amount of funds in five Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs): Semilla Solidaria (SemiSol) of Mexico, Cooperativa Mixta Mujeres Unidas Limitada (COMIXMUL) of Honduras, Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Mujeres Unidas (CACMU) of Ecuador and Institución Financiera de Desarollo (IFD) Sembrar Sartawi and Instituto para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Unidad Productiva (IDEPRO) both of Bolivia [1]. Continue Reading »

Superintendencia de Seguros Privados (SUSEP), Brazil’s insurance regulator, recently announced that it will release a framework for the regulation of microinsurance by the end of October [1]. Continue Reading »