MICROCAPITAL STORY: Swiss Agency for Development and Coorperation (SDC) Sponsors Intellecap’s Quarterly Publication Microfinance Insights

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has granted a sponsorship of INR 4,100,000 (USD 103,000) to Microfinance Insights, a quarterly microfinance magazine published by Intellecap, an Indian investment and consulting firm. The sponsorship will enable Microfinance Insights to increase its international reach and content, host events in conjunction with each issue, build a website, and continue to disseminate domain knowledge. According to SDC India’s Deputy Country Director Adrian Marti, SDC’s grant to Microfinance Insights stems from its belief that the knowledge sharing is a key factor in promoting the sustainable growth of the microfinance sector.

Microfinance Insights, launched in 2006, has as its objective the promotion of microfinance communication and knowledge exchange among developing countries, with an underlying focus on South-South cooperation. Its articles focus on global trends and initiatives through in-depth coverage, interviews and analyses. The magazine is available by subscription at http://www.microfinanceinsights.com/. The next issue, due in April 2008, will focus on human resource challenges within the microfinance sector.

SDC is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and was originally created in 1961 as the Service for Technical Cooperation. The agency engages in direct action and financial support in the areas of bilateral and multilateral development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and Eastern Europe cooperation. In addition, SDC has been involved in rural finance in India and abroad for over thirty years. According to its 2006 annual report, it has an annual budget of CHF 1.37 billion (USD 1.26 billion), of which CHF 21.1 million was dedicated to India. SDC is currently led by Director Walter Fust.

To learn more about SDC’s work in India, please click here.

By Mary Fu

Additional Resources:

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): About SDC

SDC: 2006 Annual Report

Bloomberg: Currency Calculator

SDC: Walter Fust

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