by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: International Conference on Responsible Inclusive Finance; March 21 – 22, 2018; Kigali, Rwanda

Summary of Event: As related to delivering “responsible” financial services, this conference will cover client protection, enabling environments, client perspectives and digital payments, including serving the

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Innovations in Fintech, Human Resources Development at SAM (Semaine Africaine de la Microfinance)

At SAM Conference 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopiathe SAM (Semaine Africaine de la Microfinance) conference in Addis Ababa, a wide variety of vendors presented their wares. Among these were several core banking system providers. Antonio Separovic of Oradian previously had set the stage for the conversation at the fintech (financial technology) session organized by Dutch development bank FMO. He argued that microfinance institutions (MFIs) shouldn’t start by thinking about whether to buy a new system, but about where the MFI wants to go and how to get there. “Fintech may be able to reduce the friction to do these things,” he said.

Cameron Goldie-Scot of Musoni agreed: “It’s about what are the challenges in your organization? Is it too expensive to handle cash in rural areas? Do you have trouble getting

by Sharanya Madhavan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India’s Suryoday Microfinance Raises $15m in Equity as Aavishkaar Goodwell Exits

Suryoday Micro Finance Private Limited , a non-banking finance company providing microfinance services in India, recently raised INR 1 billion (USD 15 million) from investors including the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) Bank; ASK Pravi; the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Standard Life Insurance; Arpwood Investment Advisors; Kiran Vyapar, the investment arm of LN Bangur Group; Polaris Banyan Holding and Dr. Aravind Srinivasan [2].

by Chikondano Faith Chisala -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Student Microfinance Movement Accepting Entries for Competitions to Raise Awareness of Microfinance

The Student Microfinance Movement, a US-based network of student organizations, through a partnership with US-based financial institution Citi and US-based nonprofit organizations AboutMicrofinance and Kiva U, is accepting entries for its student microfinance essay and video competitions, which are aimed at raising awareness of the impact of microfinance on poverty and gender inequality.

by Adrija Vaiciulionis -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: United Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Launches “Impact Investing SME Focus Fund”

The United Bank of Switzerland (UBS), a Swiss financial services company, reportedly has launched an impact investment fund, named the “Impact Investing SME Focus Fund,” which will invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in unspecified emerging and frontier markets.

by Meghan Gillis -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bangladeshi Government Criticized for Proposal to Takeover or Split Grameen Bank

A working paper commissioned by the Bangladeshi government regarding Grameen Bank, a Bangladeshi microfinance institution founded by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, proposes a government takeover of Grameen Bank or a split of the institution into 19 entities. The paper recommends that the Bangladeshi government own 51 percent of the shares of Grameen Bank, an increase from the current 25 percent.

by Samuel Allmendinger -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Social Performance in Nepal, Sharia-Compliant Financial Inclusion, Private Sector Employment

“State of Social Performance in Nepal;” by Mike Krell; published by Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX); March 2013; 10 pages; available at http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2013/03/Nepal-development-2013

This report from the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) examines the social performance (SP) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Nepal.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Microfinance at The Margin: Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina”; by Ralph De Haas, Heike Harmgart, Britta Augsburg and Costas Meghir; published by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

By Ralph De Haas, Heike Harmgart, Britta Augsburg and Costas Meghir, published by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, November 2012, 8 pages, available at: http://www.ebrd.com/downloads/research/economics/publications/specials/bosnia_mircofinance.pdf

This report from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) describes a randomized field experiment in Bosnia and Herzegovina analyzing the effects that a lack of credit may have on entrepreneurship and poverty.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Equitas of India Receives $9.3m from MicroVentures, India Financial Inclusion Funds

Equitas Holdings, a microfinance institution (MFI) based in Chennai, India, raised INR 500 million (USD 9.26 million) from MicroVentures India and India Financial Inclusion Fund, two funds dedicated to supporting the Indian microfinance industry.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ResponsAbility Funds Invest $2m in ProEmpresa of Peru, $1.5m in COAC Progreso of Ecuador

ResponsAbility Social Investments, a Swiss investment company, recently informed MicroCapital that it has disbursed the local-currency equivalent of USD 1.3 million in debt to ProEmpresa, a Peruvian microfinance institution (MFI), through the responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund (rAGMF), one of the microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs) it manages.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MF Banka Receives $5.2m from European Bank of Reconstruction and Development for Small Businesses in Bosnia, Herzgovina

The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based funder of institutions that support micro- and small businesses, recently disbursed EUR 4 million (USD 5.18 million) to MF Banka, a subsidiary bank of Bosnian and Herzegovinian microfinance institution (MFI) Mikrofin.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ResponsAbility Invests $5m in Chase Bank Kenya, $1.25m in KWFT of Kenya, $1.2m in FINCA Microfinance Holding of USA

ResponsAbility Global Microfinance Fund (rAGMF), a microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) managed by responsAbility Social Investments of Switzerland, recently loaned USD 5 million to Chase Bank of Kenya.