The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), a public business school located in the Indian state of Gujurat, recently released a report detailing the results of its impact study on Bandhan Financial Services Private Limited, an Indian microfinance institution.
Category: Trends/Challenges
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Curbing Debt Stress, Social Performance in Mexico, UN Human Development Report: The Rise of the South
“Regulatory Options to Curb Debt Stress;” by Gabriel Davel; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); March 2013; 29 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/publications/regulatory-options-curb-debt-stress
This report highlights how the dynamics of credit markets can lead to cycles of credit growth and accumulation of consumer debt followed by widespread default and contraction.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: 7th Annual Penn Microfinance Conference: DiversiMFIcation, The New Landscape of Microfinance, March 30, 2013, Philadelphia, USA
Event Name: Penn Microfinance Conference: DiversiMFIcation, The New Landscape of Microfinance
Event Date: March 30, 2013
Event Location: Jon M. Huntsman Hall, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Government Commits $183m Each to Women-Only Bank, Nirbhaya Fund for Women’s Empowerment
The government of India reportedly has plans to create a bank that will exclusively serve women, lending mostly to women-run businesses as well as self-help groups of a dozen or a few dozen women.
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Pathways Towards Greater Impact: Better Microinsurance Models, Products and Processes for MFIs;” by Craig Churchill, Aparna Dalal and Josh Ling; published by International Labour Organization, Microinsurance Innovation Facility
By Craig Churchill, Aparna Dalal and Josh Ling; published by International Labour Organization, Microinsurance Innovation Facility; 2013; 8 pages; available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/mifacility/download/brnote15_en.pdf
This paper examines the challenges faced by microfinance institutions (MFIs) that provide microinsurance products to low-income individuals and businesses.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Calls for Submissions for “Balancing Social and Financial Responsibility” Section of the Universal Standards Resource Library
The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), a working group initiated in 2005 by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), the Argidius Foundation and the Ford Foundation, is seeking submissions for its online Universal Standards Resource Library.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mongolia’s Khan Bank Announces E-Banking Outreach Campaign
Khan Bank, a Mongolian provider of microfinance and other services, recently launched its “Welcome to the E-Banking World” campaign to provide information about E-banking services, such as payment services available via the internet and mobile phones.
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “2012 MicroMeter;” published by India’s Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)
Published by the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN); 2013; 40 pages; available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.60963/MicroMeter_Feb%202013_Issue%2004_5th%20Feb%202013_for%20distribution.pdf
The Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), an association of 47 Indian microlenders, has released the fourth issue of MicroMeter, an analysis of the Indian microfinance industry’s performance during the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 (spanning October to December 2012).
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Perspectives on Progress: The Impact Investor Survey;” by Yasemin Saltuk; published by JP Morgan and the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
By Yasemin Saltuk; published by JP Morgan and the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN); January 2013; 28 pages; available at: http://www.thegiin.org/cgi-bin/iowa/download?row=489&field=gated_download_1
This report is the third annual survey by US-based investing firm J.P. Morgan and US-based nonprofit Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) that attempts to shed light on the condition and future prospects of the impact investment market by surveying a sample of investors in the field.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Rwanda’s Microfinance Growth Attributed to Both Existing Institutions, Launch of New Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs)
The microfinance sector in Rwanda reportedly experienced growth in fiscal year 2012, with gross loans increasing 44.7 percent from RWF 40.7 billion (USD 64 million) to RWF 58.9 billion (USD 92.7 million).
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
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking (WWB), Citi Foundation Launch Women in Leadership Program
US-based microfinance network Women’s World Banking (WWB), with financial support from Citi Foundation, the charitable arm of US-based financial firm Citigroup, recently launched the “Women in Leadership Program,” an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women in leadership positions in microfinance.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Handbook; Evolution of Microfinance; Impact of Private Sector Investment on Job Creation
“The New Microfinance Handbook: A Financial Market System Perspective;” edited by Joanna Ledgerwood, Julie Earne and Candace Nelson; published by the World Bank Group; February 2013; 504 pages; available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/12272
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Unlocking the Potential: Women and Mobile Financial Services in Emerging Markets;” published by mWomen Global Development Alliance of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), Visa, Bankable Frontier Associates
Published by Global System for Mobile Communications Association’s mWomen Global Development Alliance, Visa and Bankable Frontier Associates; 2013; 40 pages; available at: http://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/GSMA-mWomen-Visa_Unlocking-the-Potential_Feb-2013.pdf
This report analyzes connections between mobile financial services and women’s financial inclusion in the developing world.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mobile Banking Technology, ATMs “An Emerging Trend” Among Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Cambodia
As competition in the microfinance industry of Cambodia increases, microfinance institutions (MFIs) are investing in technological upgrades to keep up with the market.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Sustainable Finance Conference, July 4-5, 2013, Karlsruhe, Germany
Event Name: Global Sustainable Finance Conference 2013: People, Planet, Prosperity
Event Date: July 4-5, 2013
Event Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Microfinance and Impact Investing Initiative (MI3) to Host Symposium “US Poverty, Microentrepreneurs and Microfinance: Needs, Responses and Prospects,” March 28-29, 2013, Haverford, Pennsylvania, US
Event Name: US Poverty, Microentrepreneurs and Microfinance: Needs, Responses and Prospects, “A Symposium for Practitioners, Policymakers, Researchers and Students”
Event Date: March 28-29, 2013
Event Location: Stokes Auditorium, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, US
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: The Role of Business in Society; Life Microinsurance in Mexico; Social Performance Report for India
“Invisible Giants;” by Lindsay Levin; published by Vala Publishing; March 2013; 176 pages, available for purchase at: http://vala.wazala.com/?page=product_det&id=112381