MICROFINANCE PUBLICATON ROUND-UP: Mapping Microfinance in Uganda, the G2P Payments Sector in Pakistan, Nepal Country Snapshot

“Microfinance Mapping Project – Uganda;” published by Haverford College; 2012; 10 pages; available at: http://ds.haverford.edu/wp/mappingmicrofinance/files/2012/07/Microfinance-Mapping-Project-Uganda.pdf

This report compares the locations of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda with socio-economic, geographic and historical data to determine whether these factors are correlated. The report represents its findings by overlaying different types of data on several maps. The authors find that higher density of poverty, greater access to safe water, and areas of less historical conflict are associated with more MFI branch locations.

“An Overview of the G2P Payments Sector in Pakistan;” by Sarah Rotman, Kabir Kumar and Marcia Parada; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); January 2013; 15 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/CGAP%20_Pakistan_G2P_Overview_January_2013.pdf

The report highlights challenges in the digitization of G2P payments in Pakistan, such as uncertainty surrounding the changes in leadership following the 2013 elections and the need to identify the financial needs of G2P beneficiaries in order to design products and services accordingly. The report concludes with a discussion of opportunities in the sector, noting that government stakeholders and international donors have created a “strong enabling environment” for the promotion of financially inclusive G2P payments.

“2012 Nepal Country Snapshot;” by Deepika Kumari and Liz Larson; published by the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX); February 2013; 15 slides; available at: http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2013/02/2012-nepal-country-snapshot

An overview of on the current state of microfinance in Nepal, this report notes a general trend of growth in the industry, with total loan portfolio rising 37 percent to USD 212 million, total borrowers increasing 9 percent to 807,000, total deposits increasing 53 percent to USD 91 million and depositors increasing by 40 percent to 1.4 million from 2010 to 2011. Wholesale funding interest rates dropped from approximately 8 percent to 6 percent from 2010 to 2011. The average return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) is also increasing. The report concludes, however, that other expenses are “extremely stable.”

By Nicole Boyd, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources:

“Microfinance Mapping Project – Uganda,” http://ds.haverford.edu/wp/mappingmicrofinance/files/2012/07/Microfinance-Mapping-Project-Uganda.pdf

“An Overview of the G2P Payments Sector in Pakistan,” http://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/CGAP%20_Pakistan_G2P_Overview_January_2013.pdf

“2012 Nepal Country Snapshot,” http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2013/02/2012-nepal-country-snapshot

MicroCapital. February 28, 2013, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nepal Rastra Bank, Rural Microfinance Development Center, Center for Microfinance Nepal Urge Microlenders to Lower Interest Rates, Focus on “Deprived” Sectors,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-nepal-rastra-bank-rural-microfinance-development-center-center-for-microfinance-nepal-urge-microlenders-to-lower-interest-rates-focus-on-deprived-sectors/

MicroCapital. January 29, 2013, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mobile Money Agents in Uganda Call for Improvements to Network Infrastructure,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-mobile-money-agents-in-uganda-call-for-improvements-to-network-infrastructure/

MicroCapital. May 19, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: State Bank of Pakistan Launches GBP 10m Financial Innovation Challenge Fund (FICF) to Support Innovation Contests, Government-to-Person (G2P) Payments” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-state-bank-of-pakistan-launches-gbp-10m-financial-innovation-challenge-fund-ficf-to-support-innovation-contests-government-to-person-g2p-payments/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Microfinance and Impact Investing Initiative (MI3) https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microfinance+and+Impact+Investing+Initiative+%28MI3%29

MicroCapital Universe Profile: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=CGAP+(Consultative+Group+to+Assist+the+Poor)

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microfinance+Information+Exchange+%28MIX%29

Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/

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