Britam, a Kenya-based investment firm active in seven African countries, is working on “developing new property insurance solutions” to provide security to microentrepreneurs who use their homes for business operations and storage. The project is supported by the
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Financial Literacy Centre of Kosovo Provides Curriculum, Textbooks for Primary Schools
The Financial Literacy Centre (FLC), which was established in Kosovo in 2017 by the Central Bank of Kosovo and the Development Facility of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), recently helped build financial literacy into the curriculum of Kosovo’s Ministry of Education. The programming includes “an inclusive approach featuring characters of various physical abilities and gender presentation” introducing “learners to
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: AFSIC Investing in Africa; October 11-12, 2021; London, UK – NEW DATES
Originally scheduled to take place in May 2021, AFSIC (Africa Financial Services Investment Conference) Investing in Africa will focus on “strengthening trade and investment in Africa” with sessions on “sustainable” finance, financial technology (fintech) innovation, banking in Africa and “informed” investing. Attendees may also access investor-project matchmaking sessions,
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: DFC Launches $75b “Roadmap for Impact” to Reach 30m in Developing Countries by 2025 with Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Technology, Energy, Food Security, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene
The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a government-backed institution, recently announced its first global development strategy, which is called “The Roadmap for Impact.” This Roadmap involves harnessing partnerships valued at a total USD 75 billion “to reach more than 30 million people in developing countries by 2025…[and] support the response to the COVID pandemic.” DFC plans to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Centre “Borrow Wisely Campaign” Seeks to Prevent Over-indebtedness
During the month of October, the Microfinance Centre (MFC), a 113-member network based in Poland, is running its annual Borrow Wisely Campaign (BWC) “to make [borrowers] aware of the threat of excessive debt and help them learn how to avoid it.” BWC and its members do this through:
SPECIAL REPORT: European Microfinance Week Registration Open for Virtual Conference; November 18-20, 2020
From 
the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP): It has been a difficult few months, and during this time we at e-MFP have engaged with our members and friends to mobilize resources and adapt our activities to best mitigate the effects this pandemic brings to our sector and the vulnerable people we as a community serve.
One of our flagship activities is European Microfinance Week (EMW), held annually in November, and with it in mind we have been closely monitoring the public health situation globally. Now more than ever it’s vital to connect and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFI Juhudi Kilimo of Kenya Upgrades Digital Infrastructure with Technical Assistance from Nordic Microfinance Initiative
The Nordic Microfinance Initiative (NMI), a Norway-based public-private partnership that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing countries, recently worked with Juhudi Kilimo, a for-profit microfinance institution in Kenya, to help it develop a mobile app that gives
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Al Hussein Fund, Sanad Fund for MSME Offer Online Curriculum for Young Owners of Small Businesses in MENA
The Jordan-based, nonprofit Al Hussein Fund for Excellence and the Sanad Fund for MSME, a Luxembourg-domiciled investor in micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), recently partnered to give young business owners in the Middle East and North Africa no-cost access to a course called “How to Start and Manage a Successful Business.” The course, which was delivered in Arabic on the Edraak online education platform, “comprises
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ethiopia, IFAD Focus 3rd Phase of Rural Financial Intermediation Programme (RUFIP) on Supporting Farmers Through Climate Change, COVID-19 Pandemic
The government of Ethiopia and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently launched a program with a budget of USD 306 million to support farmers that have been negatively impacted by recurrent droughts and the COVID-19 pandemic. This third phase of the Rural Financial Intermediation Programme (RUFIP 3),
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FMO Loans $5m to Husk Power Systems for Renewable Energy Generated from Biofuels, Distributed via Minigrids in Rural India, Tanzania
The Netherlands Development Finance Company, a public-private partnership also known by its Dutch acronym FMO, recently disbursed a loan of USD 5 million to Husk Power Systems, an India-based startup that builds small-scale electricity generation and distribution networks in rural areas of India and Tanzania. These minigrids use biofuels
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Easy Microfinance of Myanmar Offering Digital Loan Payments, Agent Services via Ongo
Easy Microfinance, a for-profit microfinance institution (MFI) in Myanmar, recently began offering two repayment channels powered by Ongo, a digital payment service provider in the country. This allows the MFI’s borrowers to make loan repayments through the Ongo app and at Ongo agent locations. This development comes amid increased demand for
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Motorcycle Leasing Company Tugende Raises $10m in Debt, Equity for Growth in Uganda, Kenya
Tugende, a company specializing in leases for motorcycle taxis known as boda-bodas, recently raised USD 10 million in debt and equity capital from a group of investors, bringing the size of the firm’s balance sheet to USD 30 million. The one investor that has been identified is Mobility 54,
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: UNCDF, Women’s World Banking Partner on Digital Financial Inclusion for Women
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the US-based nonprofit Women’s World Banking (WWB) recently launched a strategic partnership to increase “access to digital financial services for women and girls, specifically in emerging markets and least developed countries.” The goals include to boost
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “A COVID Perspective on Nepal Microfinance;” by Sanjay Sinha, Nara Hari Dhakal; Published by M-CRIL
This paper is intended to “enable international understanding of the finances of MFIs [microfinance institutions] in Nepal and the potential role of external lenders in supporting the ecosystem of the country.” According to Mr Sinha and Dr Dhakal, the COVID-19 pandemic has had less severe effects on the microfinance sector in Nepal than it has in countries such as India and Myanmar. This is partially because MFI customers in Nepal didn’t make significant withdrawals
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Trill Impact to Offer Advisory Services in Microfinance, Expanding Private Equity Firm’s Focus from Northern Europe into Emerging Markets
Swedish private equity firm Trill Impact recently announced it is providing advisory services relating to investments furthering the UN Sustainable Development Goals in low- and middle-income countries. The business line, called Trill Impact Microfinance, focuses on private debt in areas such as
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pan-Atlantic University’s EDC, Mastercard Foundation Launch “Transforming Nigeria Youths Program” to Create 40k Jobs for Young People, Women
The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Nigeria’s Pan-Atlantic University along with the Canada-based Mastercard Foundation recently launched the Transforming Nigerian Youths Program to “create a network of entrepreneurial and managerial changemakers particularly…across the micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises sector in Nigeria.” The goal is to provide 40,000 youth and women with
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Green for Growth Fund Loans $5m in Local Currency to TBC Leasing to Boost Energy Efficiency of SMEs in Georgia
The Green for Growth Fund (GGF), a Germany-based investment fund, recently loaned TBC Leasing, a member of Georgia’s Tbilisi Business Centre (TBC) Bank, approximately GEL 16 million (USD 5 million) to fund the leasing of equipment
SPECIAL REPORT: Buusaa Gonofaa of Ethiopia, Muktinath Bikas Bank of Nepal, RENACA-Bénin Named Finalists for $118k European Microfinance Award on Savings
From the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP): On the 30th September and 1st October 2020, the Selection Committee for the European Microfinance Award 2020 (EMA 2020) on “Encouraging Effective & Inclusive Savings” chose the three finalists who will go on to compete for the EUR 100,000 (USD 180,000) prize: Buusaa Gonofaa Microfinance, Muktinath Bikas Bank and RENACA-Bénin. These three organisations each offer savings products and services that are demand-driven, encourage usage based on a genuine understanding of clients’ needs and behaviour, reach under-served populations who need these services the most, and ensure that the savings are accessible, affordable and