Nokia Corporation, a Finnish telecommunications company, has launched Nokia Money, an electronic-wallet service, in an effort to promote financial inclusion of previously “underbanked” people across India [1]. Continue Reading »

The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), a trade group of microfinance banks (MFBs) in Nigeria, has announced that it plans to undertake a micro-housing project for “low-income earners” in Lagos state [1]. Continue Reading »

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 »

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kenya’s central banking authority, has reportedly issued guidelines allowing deposit-taking microfinance institutions (DTMs) to use agents to provide financial services in an effort to promote financial inclusion of the “unbanked and under-banked population” [1]. Continue Reading »

Gramalaya, an Indian nongovernmental organization (NGO), has launched a new microfinance institution (MFI), Gramalaya Microfin Foundation (GMF) that aims to “eradicate poverty through livelihood promotion activities through increased access to financial services” [1]. Continue Reading »

The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), a trade group of microfinance banks (MFBs) in Nigeria, has reportedly asked the federal government not to set up MFBs [1]. Continue Reading »

“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 »

TBC Capital Asset Management Incorporated, a Canada-based investment management firm with a special focus on impact investments, is launching its TBC Capital Impact Investing Fund-I (TBCCIIF-I), which is a pooled fund established to invest in organizations that operate in the areas of: (a) microfinance – mainly tier-2 microfinance institutions and service providers to them – which will account for approximately 65 percent of the fund; (b) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) “with high positive impact,” especially those involved in sustainable agriculture, which will receive approximately 20 percent of fund investments; and (c) clean and “base-of-pyramid” infrastructure, accounting for approximately 15 percent of the fund [1]. Continue Reading »

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan’s central bank, recently announced that it has developed a detailed strategy to promote the sustainable growth of microfinance as outlined in its “Microfinance Strategic Framework 2011-2015” that is intended to “foster a pro-poor and sustainable development of the country” [1]. Continue Reading »

The Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited (KTB), a government-owned commercial bank in Thailand, recently announced that it has initiated microfinance operations by providing loans to lower-income people that do not have regular salaries [1]. Continue Reading »

Elena Bridgers, a social researcher based in France, recently authored an article on the website of the US-based Stanford Social Innovation Review exploring the shift of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India from a primarily “female client base” to a more “gender-balanced portfolio” [1]. Continue Reading »

Asasah, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Pakistan, reportedly has announced that it will be utilizing Easypaisa, the branchless banking service of MFI Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited (TMFB) of Pakistan, as an option for borrowers to repay their loans [1]. Continue Reading »

Event Name: Understanding Multiple Borrowing and Avoiding Over-indebtedness Among Clients

Event Date: January 12 – 13, 2012

Event Location: Online Continue Reading »

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 »

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, and the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a self-regulatory organization of Indian microfinance institutions, are working together to encourage microfinance institutions to start reporting to the country’s Credit Information Bureau, which is intended to promote responsible lending. Continue Reading »

“Group lending or individual lending? Evidence from a randomised field experiment in Mongolia” by Orazio Attanasio, Britta Augsburg, Ralph De Haas, Emla Fitzsimons, Heike Harmgart; published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); December 2011; 48 pages; available at: http://www.ebrd.com/downloads/research/economics/workingpapers/wp0136.pdf… Continue Reading »