MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Funded by MasterCard Foundation to Expand Data Coverage Among Microfinance Organizations (MFIs) in Africa

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance data clearinghouse, has received a USD 2 million grant from the MasterCard Foundation, a private Canadian foundation that seeks to alleviate poverty through microfinance and education, to improve information sharing among microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Africa and the visibility of those organizations outside the region.

The effort is intended to enhance the core functions of the MIX web platform and “enable reporting of accurate, high-quality financial and social performance data on the microfinance industry around the world”. Specifically, the effort will broaden data coverage of non-traditional microfinance providers such as informal savings groups and mobile operators, which constitute more important delivery channels for microfinance in Africa relative to other regions.

By Witt Gatchell, Research Associate

About Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX):
Established in 2002, Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Washington, DC, and regional offices in Peru, Senegal, India and Indonesia. MIX provides detailed financial and social performance information from microfinance institutions (MFIs), as well as business information from market facilitators and donor organizations and investors in microfinance. MIX Market currently provides online data on over 1800 MFIs and 100 investors. MIX was founded by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and is sponsored by Citi Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

About MasterCard Foundation:
Based in Canada, the MasterCard Foundation is a private foundation with approximately CAD 3 billion (the equivalent of USD 2.9 billion) in assets. The foundation’s goal is to enable people living in poverty to improve their lives with increased access to microfinance and education. The Foundation was established in 2006 by a gift of shares from global payment processor MasterCard Worldwide during the company’s initial public offering.

Sources and Additional Resources:
[1] MIX Press Release: “MIX and The MasterCard Foundation Partner to Expand Data Coverage Among Microfinance Institutions in Africa” http://www.themix.org/press-release/mix-and-mastercard-foundation-partne…

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: 350 Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Report to Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Social Performance Reporting Awards
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-350-microfinance-institut…

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX)
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Mic…

MicroCapital Universe Profile: MasterCard Foundation
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Mas…

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

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