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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »