Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit that helps microfinance institutions (MFIs) replicate the model of Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank; KfW Bankengruppe, the German development bank; and the Access Africa Fund, a US-based for-profit limited liability company launched by nonprofit CARE International, have each purchased a 25-percent stake in Musoni Kenya, a Kenyan MFI that provides financial services via mobile phone. Continue Reading »

Lenddo, a Philippines-based online microfinance firm, reportedly has received approximately USD 8 million in equity from undisclosed US investors. Continue Reading »

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), an international financial institution headquartered in England, recently launched a EUR 35 million (USD 44.7 million) program called the Moldovan Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (MoREEFF) to assist Moldovan households in reducing household energy usage and costs. Continue Reading »

MicroRate, a US-based microfinance rating agency, with funding from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG), a non-profit fund certification agency based in Luxembourg, has launched the full version of Luminis, an online analytical platform on microfinance funds. Continue Reading »

Kiva, a US-based online microlending fundraiser, has released its annual report for 2011 indicating that its loans to microfinance institutions increased from USD 71 million in 2010 to USD 89.5 million in 2011. Continue Reading »

Wincor Nixdorf, a Germany-based information technology (IT) provider reportedly has announced it is supplying banks in Bangladesh with automated teller machine (ATM) technology in an effort to increase access to financial services via the self-service channel. Continue Reading »

MicroNed, a network of Dutch organizations involved in microfinance, has introduced MicroScore, a tool intended to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) and cooperatives assess themselves before, during, and after conducting capacity building programmes. MicroScore measures the following four performance ratios: governance, institutional, financial performance management, and services and social performance management. Continue Reading »

“The Financial Behavior of Rural Residents: Findings from Five Latin American Countries;” by Jacqueline Urquizo; published by Accion; March 2012; 45 pages; available at: http://centerforfinancialinclusionblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/the-financial-behavior-of-rural-residents_march-2012.pdf Continue Reading »

Grameen Foundation India, a subsidiary of the US-based Grameen Foundation that promotes access to microfinance and technological services, has launched an iteration of the Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI), a tool that measures poverty levels of groups and individuals, for India. Continue Reading »

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda’s tax collection entity, has introduced a mobile phone payment system accepting tax payments from customers of Abu Dhabi-based Warid Telecom. Continue Reading »

Waseela Microfinance Bank Limited (WMBL), a microfinance institution (MFI) in Pakistan, reportedly has announced the opening of its first branch, which is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Continue Reading »

Citi Microfinance, a subsidiary of US-based Citibank that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs), and Citibank’s Environmental Products Trading and Organization Team recently announced a plan to buy 1.17 million metric tons of carbon credits from MicroEnergy Credits (MEC), a US-based for-profit firm that assists MFIs in launching clean-energy lending programs. Continue Reading »

Microfinance institution (MFI) AccessBank of Azerbaijan, an affiliate of Germany’s Access Microfinance Holding AG (AccessHolding), recently announced the implementation of a new service allowing customers to make loan payments by telephone. Continue Reading »

Infinity Microfinance Bank, a Nigeria-based microfinance institution (MFI), reportedly has distributed 80 point-of-sale (PoS) terminals among its loan officers to reduce the rate of fraud by loan officers who sometimes pocket loan payments without recording them. Continue Reading »

DIMOCO (Direct Mobile Communications), an Austria-based mobile technology company, recently announced that it has expanded its billing services to Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, bringing to 23 the number of countries in which it offers mobile billing services. Continue Reading »

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MTN, Stanbic IBTC Bank Partner to Provide Mobile Money Services in Nigeria

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, a subsidiary of South Africa’s MTN Group, and Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Nigeria’s Standard Bank, recently have signed an agreement to provide mobile money services in Nigeria. Continue Reading »

By the National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico and Celina Lee, published by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, February 2012, 19 pages, available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m//template.rc/1.1.14613 Continue Reading »

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), the regulatory authority for the communications sector in Kenya, has reported that cash deposits held by mobile money transfer providers increased from KES 117 billion (USD 1.41 billion) to KES 176 billion (USD 2.12 billion) during 2011. Continue Reading »