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Friday, March 12, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Releases Third Annual Global Ranking of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance information clearinghouse, recently released its third annual ranking of microfinance institutions (MFIs), The Mix Global 100. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 23, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Newsweek Article Examines Importance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Post-Disaster Environments

A recent article in US-based Newsweek magazine entitled ‘Big Crisis, Small Help’ examines the importance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in mitigating crises in post-disaster environments. Continue Reading »



Monday, February 15, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Syria “Struggles” to Find Sustainable Microfinance Model

According to an article in Business Today Egypt, although Syria has been “a regional front-runner in microfinance regulation, [it] is still struggling to find a sustainable model to finance its rural poor.” Continue Reading »



Friday, February 12, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Existing Government Payment Programs Could Bring More Rural Poor Into Financial System, According to Report by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and Department for International Development (DFID)

According to a new report from CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) entitled, ‘Banking the Poor via G2P Payments,’ existing government payment programs could bring many more poor people into the formal financial services system. Continue Reading »



Thursday, February 11, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Association (MA) Launches Global Academy Program (GAP), Seeks Internship Sites for Students

The Microfinance Association (MA), an international membership organization for practitioners in the microfinance industry, has launched its Global Academy Program (GAP). Continue Reading »



Monday, February 8, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Launches Microfinance Blog

MFTransparency, founded in July of 2008 as part of a global initiative to promote transparent pricing in the microfinance industry, has launched a blog to complement its website. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Makes $100m Equity Investment in Byblos Bank of Lebanon to Provide Finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Expand Operations in the Middle East and Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has made a USD 100 million equity investment in Byblos Bank, a commercial bank based in Lebanon, to provide finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and expand operations in the Middle East and Africa [1,2,3]. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: First MicroFinance Bank Limited Pakistan (FMFB-P) Renews Deal to Provide Microfinance Services Through Pakistan Post Office (PPO) Sub-Offices

First MicroFinance Bank Limited Pakistan (FMFB-P) and the Pakistan Post Office (PPO) have renewed a partnership to provide microfinance services through PPO sub offices for three more years [1,2,3]. Continue Reading »



Wednesday, January 20, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mr Richard Rosenberg of CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Examines Effectiveness of Microcredit as Doubts Grow

In a recently published article by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) entitled, ‘Does Microcredit Really Help Poor People,’ Mr Richard Rosenberg examines the scrutiny surrounding the effectiveness of microcredit in alleviating poverty. Continue Reading »



Wednesday, January 20, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Dubai Slump Affects Remittances to Poorer Neighbors in Middle East

According to a recent article in Indian daily The Economic Times, Dubai’s financial crisis has caused a ripple around the Arab world, “eating away at the money many Middle East families depend on, sent home from relatives who work in Persian Gulf countries.” Continue Reading »



Monday, January 18, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Family Bank, a Microfinance Organization in Bahrain, Opens with $40m in Authorized Capital

Bahrain, the small island country in the Persian Gulf, recently opened the Family Bank, a microcredit lending firm. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Al-Amal Microfinance Bank of Yemen Provides $1.5m in Loans to 5858 Low-Income Individuals in 2009

In 2009, Al-Amal Microfinance Bank, a microcredit bank established in 2002 in Yemen, provided credit of YER 300 million (USD 1.5 million) to 5,858 low-income individuals. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

MICROFINANCE EVENT: “Microfinance & Islamic Finance: The Nexus” Organized by USAID - Microenterprise Development Office in Washington DC, USA, January 13, 2010

Event Name: Microfinance & Islamic Finance: The Nexus

Event Description: This event is part of the USAID Microfinance After Hours Seminar Series, held by the USAID Microenterprise Development Office. The seminar features Professor Ibrahim Warde from Tufts University, who will discuss the intersection between microfinance and Islamic finance. Continue Reading »



Thursday, December 31, 2009

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: “Banking on Microfinance” Conference in Egypt, Organized by Italy-based Intesa Sanpaolo, Underscores “For-Profit vs. Non-Profit” Debate

The recent “Banking on Microfinance” conference, organized by Italy-based Intesa Sanpaolo, underscored the “for-profit vs. non-profit” debate in the microfinance industry. Continue Reading »



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: US Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Tijara Program Funds Microfinance Institutions in Iraq

Since 2008, the Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has worked to encourage private sector development in Iraq by funding microfinance institutions (MFIs), encouraging the implementation of investment law and working to kelp Iraq join the World Trade Organization. Continue Reading »



Monday, December 14, 2009

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: The International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) Microinsurance Innovation Facility Opens Fourth Round of Innovation Grants

To spur the development of innovative microinsurance products, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) Microinsurance Innovation Facility has opened its fourth round of grant funding. Since “insurance providers often lack the know how to reach this market and need to experiment to develop sustainable business models…[these] grants are there to support those risk takers, cover their start up costs and harness lessons learnt,” said Craig Churchill, team leader of the Microinsurance Innovation Facility. Since its founding in 2008, the Facility has provided 34 innovation grants, ranging from USD 20,000 to USD 600,000, to insurance companies, cooperatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other microinsurance providers. The deadline for the fourth round of grant proposals is March 2nd, 2010. More information can be found at www.ilo.org/microinsurance. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, December 8, 2009

KNOW A MICROFINANCE REGULATOR: Regulators of Microfinance in Bangladesh, India, Brazil, Bolivia, Egypt And Kenya

The following regulators are profiled in this brief:

Bangledesh - Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), located at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microcredit+Regulatory+Authority+%28MRA%29

India - National Bank of Agriculature and Rural Development (NABARD), located at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=National+Bank+of+Agriculature+and+Rural+Development+%28NABARD%29

Brazil - Central Bank of Brazil (BCB), located at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Central+Bank+of+Brazil+%28BCB%29

Bolivia - Superindendent of Banks and Financial Entities (SBEF), located at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Superindendent+of+Banks+and+Financial+Entities+%28SBEF%29

Egypt - Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), located at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Central+Bank+of+Egypt+%28CBE%29

Kenya - Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), located at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Adr0wzXJKlP0ZGZiN3dwYnFfMzlocDhnZHZmNQ&hl=en Continue Reading »



Tuesday, December 8, 2009

MICROCAPITAL EVENT: MicroInsurance Summit 2010: Evaluating Stategies for Delivery, Partner-Agent Models and Scalability, February 23-25, 2010, Le Meridien Piccadilly, London

Event Name: MicroInsurance Summit 2010: Evaluating Stategies for Delivery, Partner-Agent Models and Scalability

Event Date: February 23-25, 2010

Event Location: Le Meridien Piccadilly, London

Event Website: http://www.hansonwade.com/events/microinsurance-summit-2010/index.shtml

See Our Comprehensive Event Calendar Here:
http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events Continue Reading »