by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Peru as a Model for Microfinance Regulation; M-Pesa Mobile Banking E-book; and Geographic Analysis of Thai Enterprise

“Research Insight: Peru – Model Market for Microfinance;” by Christian Etzensperger; published by responsAbility Social Investments; March 2012; 9 pages; available at: www.responsability.com/domains/responsability_ch/data/free_docs/Research_Insight_Acces_to_Finance_in_Peru_EN.pdf

by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Indian Microfinance, Treating Colombian Clients with Respect, and Expanding Microinsurance

“Indian Microfinance: Looking Beyond the AP Act and its Devastating Impact on the Poor;” published by Legatum Ventures; March 2012; 17 pages; available at: http://www.legatumventures.com/

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation, USAID Issue $1m Guarantee to Microfinance Institution Proempresa of Peru

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization that aims to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) replicate Grameen Bank’s joint-liability lending model, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a government agency that provides economic and humanitarian assistance, have issued a USD 1 million joint guarantee to support Proempresa, a Peru-based MFI.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Loans $25m to Banco BBVA Panama

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, will provide a five-year credit line of USD 25 million to Banco BBVA Panama to expand its lending to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of promoting regional economic integration.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BBVA Microfinance Affiliate Corporacion para las Microfinanzas Puerto Rico (PR) Reaches $2m in Entrepreneurial loans

In its first year of commercial operation, which ended September 2011, Corporacion para las Microfinanzas Puerto Rico (PR), a microfinance institution created and owned by the BBVA Microfinance Foundation, granted USD 2.1 million to entrepreneurs on the island of Puerto Rico [1].

by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Snapshot, Eliminating Entry Barriers in Brazil, and Savings Commitments in Malawi

“2011 Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Snapshot;” published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX); February 2012; 36 pages; available at: http://vx.worldbank.org/t/3341406/27487238/32401/0/

by Courtney Snelling -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Federación de Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito (FENACOAC), World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) Support Microfinance in Guatemala, Mexico with $4m Rural Technology Cooperative Program

The World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), a US-based trade association for credit unions in 51 countries, and Federación de Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito (FENACOAC), an association of credit unions and cooperatives in Guatemala, is using technology to assist rural farmers in Guatamala and Mexico in achieving financial stability.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Challenge of Understanding Pricing of Micro-loans,” by Chuck Waterfield, Published by MicroFinance Transparency

By Chuck Waterfield, Published by MicroFinance Transparency, June 2011, 10 pages, http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.1.9115/The-Challenge-of-Understanding-Pricing-of-Micro-Loans_Jun2011_ENG.pdf.

by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Social Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion, Investment and Microfinance Repayment Crises, Cashless Funeral Microinsurance

“Social Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Four Countries;” by Chris Bold, David Porteous and Sarah Rotman; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); February 2012; 28 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.9.56877/

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation Loans $15m to National Cooperative of Educators in Costa Rica (Coopenae) for Enterprise Microfinance

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member that aims to support private–sector development, has announced that it will assist the National Cooperative of Educators (Coopenae), a Costa Rican financial services company, to increase access to financial services for micro- and small enterprises.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) to Support Smart Campaign to Improve Client Protection in Latin American, Caribbean Microfinance Institutions

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank, will be providing unspecified support to the Smart Campaign, a consumer protection initiative, in its work to assist Latin American and Caribbean microfinance institutions (MFIs) in implementing client protection practices in their daily operations.

by Kristha Abores -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Federación Nacional de Comerciantes (FENALCO) Insures Education Loans of Colombian Microfinance Institution Cresca Creditos

Colombian business organization Federación Nacional de Comerciantes (FENALCO) has agreed to insure all of the education loans issued by Cresca Creditos, a start-up microfinance institution based in Colombia.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) to Lend $25m to Financiera Creditos Arequipa S.A. (Financiera Crear) of Peru

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank Group, will provide USD 25 million to Financiera Creditos Arequipa SA (Financiera Crear), a Peruvian microfinance company.

by Natalie Baer -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Belize’s Atlantic Bank, CIDA, IFC Seek to Improve Banking Access for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Atlantic Bank of Belize, with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), are working to improve access to financial services for small and medium- sized enterprises (SME) in Belize.

by Natalie Baer -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Growth Fund (MiGroF) Ends 2011 with $85m in Loans Outstanding to Microfinance Institutions in Latin America

The Microfinance Growth Fund (MiGroF), which is managed by Switzerland’s BlueOrchard Finance to support Latin American microfinance institutions, closed 2011 with USD 85 million in outstanding loans and USD 23 million in uninvested capital.