MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing in a clear and uniform fashion, recently released the pricing data report of its Transparent Pricing Initiative in India. Continue Reading »

A group of 40 global investors in the microfinance industry, including US retirement planning firm TIAA-CREF and several microfinance investment vehicles (MIV), recently launched a set of guiding principles for investing in the microfinance industry at the Responsible Finance Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. The initiative – titled “Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance” – is reportedly the brainchild of Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, and a core group of Dutch investors, including; Triodos, a microfinance investment vehicle (MIV); Goodwell, a for-profit social investment outfit; Oikocredit, a cooperative investment fund; PGGM, an investment and pension firm; and SNS Asset Management, an institutional investment group. The group and Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima developed the principles together with CGAP and the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a network of international investors created to promote the practice of responsible investing. Continue Reading »

By Vivien Kappel, Annette Krauss and Laura Lontzek; published by Center for Microfinance and the University of Zurich, responsAbility Social Investments AG, Triodos Bank and Council of Microfinance Equity Funds; December 2010; 53 pages; available at:?http://www.triodos.com/downloads/276627/over-indebtedness-report-full-st… Continue Reading »

The Rating Initiative, a program implemented to support and encourage the use of financial and social ratings in the microfinance sector, has released the “Microfinance Rating Market Review 2010”. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank Group, a multilateral development finance organization based in Washington DC, will make an INR 1.6 billion (USD 35.1 million) equity investment in Bandhan Financial Services, a microfinance institution (MFI) based in Kolkata, India, to expand its operations in the country. The deal is reportedly the largest equity investment in an Indian MFI since the turmoil in the microfinance industry in Andhra Pradesh began in late 2010. Continue Reading »

The Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network recently released new financial performance reporting standards for microfinance institutions (MFIs) that are intended to help microfinance stakeholders evaluate MFI performance based on a universal set of criteria. Continue Reading »

MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in July 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, the Association of Micro Finance Institutions in Togo (APIM-Togo), the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Benin (FNM) and the Association of Decentralized Financial Systems of Benin (Consortium ALAFIA) are partnering to expand MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative to Togo and Benin with the aim of providing training on interest rate calculations, publishing online pricing information and promoting consumer protection. Continue Reading »

The Bankers Association of the Philippines – Credit Bureau Incorporated (BAP-CB), a nonprofit organization that was established in 1949, recently offered rural banks in the Philippines access to its credit information system. Continue Reading »

MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental watchdog that focuses on interest rates in the microfinance industry, recently expanded its Transparent Pricing Initiative to Rwanda to educate citizens in that country on interest rates in an effort to impel microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to lower microfinance interest rates. Plans for this expansion were announced on this website in October. Continue Reading »

Dr Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in microcredit, has again spoken out against the commercialization of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their deviation from the mission of poverty alleviation. Continue Reading »

Crisil, a credit rating agency based in Bangalore, India, has downgraded its rating of five Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs), citing low debt collections in Andhra Pradesh. Continue Reading »

The Grameen Foundation, a nonprofit based in Washington, DC, that aims to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) replicate the microfinance model of Grameen Bank, has announced the release of Mifos 2.0, the latest version of its management information software (MIS) for microfinance. Continue Reading »

Grameen Bank founder and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr Muhammad Yunus, who had been accused of ‘siphoning’ approximately USD 100 million from Grameen Bank to its affiliated health insurer Grameen Kalyan, has reportedly been cleared of any allegations of mishandling funds by the Norwegian Ministry of Affairs. Continue Reading »

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) has issued a call for participation in its “Banana Skins” survey which aims to identify the main risks facing the industry over the next two to three years based on the views of practitioners, investors and close observers of microfinance. Continue Reading »

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance data clearinghouse, recently argued that microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the world have increased their commitment to transparency in social performance based on a surge in applications to the MIX’s 2010 Social Performance Reporting Awards, which acknowledge openness in reporting. Continue Reading »

responsAbility Social Investments AG, an investment company in Switzerland, recently released “Microfinance Market Outlook 2011,” a report based on surveys of representatives of microfinance institutions (MFIs), investors, rating agencies and consultancies. Continue Reading »

The International Finance Corporation, a World Bank Group member created to support private sector development, recently released the annual report “Doing Business 2011: Making A Difference for Entrepreneurs,” which examines the impact of regulations that affect business activity. Continue Reading »

A study conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), the business information arm of The Economist Group, the producer of The Economist weekly magazine, has ranked Pakistan, Cambodia and the Philippines first in the world in terms of regulatory framework. The study was based on data from 54 countries, measuring their regulatory frameworks, investment climate and institutional development. Continue Reading »