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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Releases Microfinance Pricing Data for Mozambique

On February 6, 2012, as part of its Transparent Pricing Initiative US-based NGO MFTransparency released microloan pricing data from microlenders in Mozambique. Continue Reading »



Monday, February 6, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Sustainable Investment Forum’s (EUROSIF’s) European SRI Transparency Code Attracts 350 Signatories

The European SRI Transparency Code, a document outlining guidelines for maintaining the transparency of socially responsible investing (SRI), has attracted approximately 350 signatories. Continue Reading »



Thursday, February 2, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Credit Bureau Cambodia Launched to Facilitate Information Sharing Among Banks, Microfinance Institutions

The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and the Cambodian Microfinance Association (CMA), two trade associations with a combined membership of 64 financial institutions, have formed a joint venture with New Zealand-based credit bureau developer Veda Advantage to launch the Credit Bureau (Cambodia) Company Limited (CBC), which will maintain a database of credit information intended to help banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) in making “accurate loan decisions based on borrower’s positive and negative credit history” [1]. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Development Seed, Key2Flex Offer Geospatial Technology Services to Analyze Availability of Financial Services in Developing Countries

Geospatial mapping is being used to show the geographic distribution of banks, automated teller machines (ATMs) and banking agents in relation to low-income and other population groups, thus giving an indication of the accessibility of financial services to those groups. Continue Reading »



Friday, January 27, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Releases Microloan Pricing Data for Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania

On January 27, 2012, as part of its Transparent Pricing Initiatives, US-based NGO MFTransparency released microloan pricing data from Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania. Continue Reading »



Thursday, January 26, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance CEO Working Group Issues Road Map for Microfinance Industry Promoting Smart Campaign, Microfinance Transparency, Social Performance Task Force

A group of eight CEOs of nonprofit microfinance organizations has issued a “Road Map for the Microfinance Industry: Focusing on Responsible and Client-Centered Microfinance.” Continue Reading »



Wednesday, January 25, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: K-Rep Bank of Kenya Spends $600k on Temenos IT System to Integrate Branch Data

K-Rep Bank, a Kenyan commercial bank focused on providing services to poor people, has spent an estimated KES 50 million (USD 582,000) to upgrade to a software system from Switzerland’s Temenos called “T24 for Microfinance and Community Banking” [1].  Continue Reading »



Monday, January 23, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Investment Vehicle Certification Organization Luxembourg Fund Labelling Agency (LuxFLAG) Accepting Applications for Environment Label

The Luxembourg Fund Labelling Agency (LuxFLAG), a microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) and environment-related investment vehicle (EIV) certification organization, has launched a request for applications for the second LuxFLAG Environment Label, which is granted to EIVs in an effort to “reassure investor[s] that labeled investment funds actually invest the majority of their assets in environment-related sectors in a responsible manner” [1]. Continue Reading »



Thursday, January 19, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Releases Microloan Pricing Report on Ethiopia’s Microfinance Industry

MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization that aims to provide clear information on credit products and pricing, recently released the report from its Transparent Pricing Initiative in Ethiopia which was launched in September 2011 [1]. Continue Reading »



Monday, January 16, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Rating Initiative to Stop Subsidizing Microfinance Institution Social Ratings, Will Shut Down Over Two Years

The Rating Initiative (RI), a Luxembourg-based program that supports the use of ratings that include financial and social criteria, is transitioning into a two-year exit phase that includes terminating its subsidies for social ratings of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »



Friday, January 13, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroRate, LuxFlag Launch Luminis Looking to Increase Transparency of Microfinance Funds

MicroRate, a US-based microfinance rating agency, with the financial support of the Luxembourg government and the nonprofit Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG), has launched the “beta” version of Luminis, a web-based platform focused on increasing the transparency of microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs). Continue Reading »



Tuesday, January 10, 2012

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: 48 Tanzanian Microfinance Institutions Adopt Code of Conduct Covering Transparency, Client Protection

The Tanzania Association of Microfinance Institutions (TAMFI) has announced that 48 of its member microfinance institutions (MFIs) have adopted a code of conduct. Winnie Terry, TAMFI Executive Secretary, was quoted as having said, “With this code of conduct, TAMFI members are expected to take a leading role to deliver high quality and responsible financial services to the community. The code is intended to make Microfinance Institutions become more responsive to the clients they serve.” Continue Reading »



Monday, January 9, 2012

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Product Diversification, Over-indebtedness in Kosovo, Social Inclusion

“Making Microfinance Work: Managing Product Diversification” by Cheryl Frankiewicz, Craig Churchill; published by the International Labour Organization (ILO); December 2011; 612 pages; available for a fee at http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/ilo-bookstore/order-online/books/…  Continue Reading »



Tuesday, December 20, 2011

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Smart Campaign Calls for Input on Microfinance Client Protection Certification Program

The Smart Campaign, an initiative to improve accountability regarding client protection in the microfinance industry, has called for public input on its Client Protection Certification Program, which has been under development since June 2010. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, November 22, 2011

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ethiopia’s Wasasa Microfinance, Poverty Eradication and Community Empowerment (PEACE), Metemamen, Harbu, Digaf Microfinance Submit Pricing Data to MFTransparency

MicroFinance Transparency (MFTransparency), an NGO based in the United States that publishes information on microcredit products and pricing, has reported to MicroCapital that Wasasa Microfinance, Poverty Eradication and Community Empowerment (PEACE), Metemamen, Harbu and Digaf Microfinance submitted microloan pricing data to MFTransparency as part of its “Transparent Pricing Initiative in Ethiopia”. Continue Reading »



Thursday, November 3, 2011

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Commission Publishes “European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision”

The European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union (EU), has recently published the “European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision” that provides guidelines and standards to microcredit stakeholders in the EU to support the sector in “facing the challenges of accessing long-term finance, maintaining and raising the quality of services and moving towards sustainability” [1] [2]. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fairkampaign Calls for Comments on “Contents of a Fair Microfinance Loan Agreement”

Fairkampaign, an initiative of Dutch nonprofit International Legal Alliances Microjustice for All, has announced a call for comments on the contents of a “fair microfinance loan agreement.” Continue Reading »



Monday, October 24, 2011

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Reports Microfinance Loan Disbursements Increased 24% in First Half of 2011

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s banking authority, has released an economic report indicating that microfinance banks (MFBs) have increased their loan distribution volume in the first half of the year by 24 percent to NGN 65.5 billion (USD 411 million) compared to NGN 52.9 billion for the period ending December 2010. Continue Reading »