by Emilia Akonom -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Women are Useful to Microfinance: How Can We Make Microfinance Be More Useful to Women”, Workshop paper at 2011 Global Microcredit Summit

By Dr. Linda Mayoux, Consultant for Hivos and Oxfam Novib UK, November 2011, 20 pages, available at: http://www.genfinance.info/documents/MyPubs/Women%20are%20Useful%20to%20Microfinance_final.pdf

This report introduces methods for promoting women’s empowerment as a strategy for increasing the long-term financial sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs). It introduces points of entry for gender equality and empowerment as well as innovation in policies, product design, non-financial services, customer protection, regulations and gender indicators in social performance management and management information systems.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Chinese Government Establishes 12 Goals to Improve Local Capital Markets, Access to Finance for Private Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The Chinese government’s State Council recently identified 12 measures to improve local capital markets, Chinese financial institutions and access to finance for Chinese private enterprises that are small and medium-sized.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BancABC Zimbabwe to Launch Microfinance, ABC Holdings Plans to Raise $50m in Capital

A subsidiary of ABC Holdings, which offers microfinance lending in Zambia and consumer lending in Botswana and Tanzania, recently obtained approval from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to offer microfinance products.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Disburses $12.6m to Depositors of Closed Nigerian Microfinance Banks

The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a government-backed agency that aims to protect customers that deposit money in financial institutions, has reportedly disbursed NGN 2 billion (USD 12.6 million) to 71,000 depositors of 103 Nigerian microfinance banks (MFBs) that closed in 2010.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Reserve Bank of India Extends Deadline for New Provisioning, Asset Classification Norms for Non-Banking Finance Company Microfinance Institutions

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s central banking authority, has extended the deadline for non-banking finance company (NBFC) microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India to implement new provisioning and asset classification norms.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigerian Microfinance Banks to Adopt International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) by March 2013

The Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the 820-member National Association of Microfinance Banks of Nigeria (NAMB), Mr Olufemi Babajide, reportedly disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered microfinance banks to implement International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) by March 2013.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Nigeria to Endorse Microfinance Development Fund, More Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Regulation Related to Electronic Statements, Dispute Resolution

According to a statement attributed to Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), CBN plans to encourage the National Assembly to approve four bills that would tighten regulation of the financial sector.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Draft Microfinance Institutions Bill in India to Moot Local Regulations, Allow RBI to Set Rate Cap, Establish Advisory Councils, Microfinance Development Fund

Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has reportedly announced that he will propose a Microfinance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill in the current parliamentary session.

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 Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bankers of Kenya, Tanzania Promote Africa Mobile Financial Services Policy Initiative

The governors of the central banks of Kenya and Tanzania recently called for policy and regulatory efforts to encourage the use of mobile financial services (MFS) throughout Africa.

by Courtney Snelling -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Imp-Act Consortium, Social Performance Management Network Seek Microfinance Elements Adding Most Value for Clients

Imp-Act Consortium, a UK-based network of microfinance organizations interested in social performance management, has launched an initiative to discover: “What works for clients?”.

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 Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigerian Microfinance Bank Transactions With Traditional Banks Excluded from Cash Limit Policy

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that its Cash-Lite system, which established a limit of NGN 1 million (USD 6,330) on corporate cash withdrawals and deposits, does not apply to microfinance banks (MFBs) in their transactions with commercial banks because daily withdrawals by MFB customers could exceed this amount.