A study from The Economist Intelligence Unit, publisher of The Economist magazine reports that microfinance is increasingly gaining global recognition as a viable business model, whereby technology in particular is allowing for growth in lending and other financial services for the world’s low-income microentrepreneurs. Continue Reading »

A group of United States-based impact investment fund managers, namely the Calvert Foundation, the Cordes Foundation and Giving Assets Inc, recently announced plans to collaboratively establish the Global Impact 50, a global index for measuring the social, environmental and financial impacts of the top 50 impact investment fund managers. Continue Reading »

Trickle Up, an international poverty alleviation organization based in the US, has announced the release of its documentary film, “The Test of Poverty,” which covers poverty’s effects on those living on less than USD 1.25 a day and the services that can help alleviate those effects. Continue Reading »

Despite the political unrest and ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year, the Association of Microfinance Institutions (AMFI) of Kyrgyzstan, a network of 19 microfinance institutions (MFIs) launched in 2005, reports that the Kyrgyz microfinance sector continues to steadily grow. Continue Reading »

MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in July 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, and the Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN), an association of microfinance networks that is based in Benin, are partnering to encourage the participation of AFMIN members in MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative, which aims to provide training on interest rate calculations, publish online pricing information and promote consumer protection. Continue Reading »

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s central banking authority, recently revoked the licenses of 224 of the country’s 820 microfinance banks. Continue Reading »

Moody’s Corporation, a credit ratings and financial analysis company, announced at this month’s sixth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative that it is developing a quantitative, “globally consistent” set of standards for measuring the social performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

On the occasion of his first anniversary with the organization, Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Executive Director Marten Leijon reflects on the past and future of MIX, discussing priorities such as transparency, innovation and increased collaboration for information exchange. Continue Reading »

Event Name: Conference: Transparent Pricing Initiative in Bolivia

Event Date: December 2, 2010 (date has been revised)

Event Location: Radisson Plaza Hotel, La Paz, Bolivia Continue Reading »

Lokesh Kumar Singh, Managing Partner at Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Sanchetna Financial Services, recently wrote an article on corporate governance in the Indian microfinance industry that appeared on the India Microfinance Business News website. Continue Reading »

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), an independent policy and research center housed at the World Bank, recently released its survey of financial regulators “Financial Access 2010″. Continue Reading »

The Social Investor Working Group on Tool Sharing and Harmonization, a group born out of the Social Investor Group meeting in Bern in June 2010, where approximately 40 investors representing about half of total assets under management in the microfinance sector met to discuss socially responsible investing, is exploring different ways to assess the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) has recently announced the release of SmartAid 2011, an index that measures and rates the way microfinance funders support microfinance. Continue Reading »

Peter Van Dijk, a consultant based in Indonesia, recently wrote an opinion piece that appeared on the Microfinance Focus website outlining measures to enhance the rights of consumers of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Continue Reading »

Event Name: 2010 Srijan Financial Inclusion Forum

Event Date: October 7, 2010 – October 8, 2010

Event Locations: Taj Land’s End, Mumbai, India Continue Reading »

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s central banking authority, recently announced that in January 2011 it will introduce three new classes of banking licenses—for commercial banking, merchant banking and specialized banking—as well as discontinue the issuance of universal banking licenses. Continue Reading »

Eric Osei-Bonsu, Managing Director of the Area Rural Bank Apex Bank (ARB Apex Bank), an umbrella organization of rural and community banks (RCBs), some of which provide microfinance services, warned against individuals who might do significant financial damage to banks under the disguise of interns at a meeting of its member rural banks on September 11, 2010. Continue Reading »

At the inaugural meeting of the Iraqi Microfinance Industry Network in Baghdad, representatives of all 14 Iraqi microfinance institutions (MFIs) present agreed to a Code of Conduct and Ethics that mandates ethical behavior and a commitment to serving low-income Iraqis. Continue Reading »