This annual event is organized with the goal of facilitating networking among various members of the inclusive finance sector. The event program – some of which can be accessed virtually – includes meetings of some
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Huruma Fund Expands Impact to Mexico, Lending $15m to Mega, ProCredito for Agricultural SMEs
Spain’s Gawa Capital, manager of the public-private Huruma Fund, recently disbursed the fund’s first investments in Mexico, lending EUR 12 million (USD 12 million) to Mega and EUR 3.6 million (USD 3.6 million) to ProCredito, financial services providers whose clients include many agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Both investees are active in lending intended to minimize the effects of
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Monte Credit Borrows $600k from Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation for Agricultural, Business Microfinance in Montenegro
The Grameen Crédit Agricole (GCA) Foundation, whose head office is in Luxembourg, has announced disbursing a loan of EUR 600,000 (USD 600,000) to the Montenegro-based microfinance institution (MFI) Monte Credit. Monte Credit focuses on
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bboxx Acquires Peg Africa, Expanding Solar Energy Footprint, Product Lineup
Bboxx, a UK-registered solar energy firm, recently paid an undisclosed sum to acquire Peg Africa, a company based in Ghana that offers rent-to-own financing for solar products in West Africa. In addition to Ghana, the acquisition adds
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Kiva Refugee Investment Fund Lending $1.5m to FINCA Guatemala to Support Returning Migrants
FINCA Guatemala, whose name derives from that of the US-based Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International), recently agreed to borrow USD 1.5 million over two years from the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund, which is managed by Kiva Capital, a unit of the US-based NGO Kiva. The goal is to expand lending to “Guatemalan migrants returning
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Lends $860k to Salym for Microfinance in Kyrgyzstan
The Luxembourg-based Grameen Crédit Agricole (GCA) Foundation has reported providing a loan in local currency approximately equivalent to USD 860,000 to Salym Finance, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Kyrgyzstan, with the aim
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFIs in Albania, Georgia, Vietnam Borrow $8m from C-Quadrat Impact Asset Management’s Dual Return Vision Microfinance Funds
Impact Asset Management (I-AM), a unit of Austria’s C-Quadrat Investment Group, recently announced it has disbursed loans totaling USD 8 million to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Albania, Georgia and Vietnam through its Dual Return Funds. One of these loans was
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Investor Forum; October 12-13, 2022; the Hague, the Netherlands
The goal of this event is to connect the various elements of “the impact ecosystem” to expand the impact investing market, thus boosting efforts to create “positive, measurable social and environmental impact” alongside financial returns. The agenda includes sessions
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Banking in Layers: Five Cases to Illustrate How the Market Structure for Financial Services is Evolving;” by Aiaze Mitha, Faith Biegon, Peter Zetterli; Published by CGAP
This paper cites several financial service providers (FSPs) in emerging markets in exploring how recent advancements in digital technology have enabled new business models, transforming the market for financial services. The authors argue that these FSPs have deconstructed the financial services market into separate modules, allowing these modules to be reassembled in innovative ways. These modules include:
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Deetken Impact Fund to Focus Gender Lens on Education, Financial Inclusion, Health, Housing
Canadian asset manager Deetken Impact recently launched the Deetken Impact Alternative Finance Fund IV with a target volume of USD 100 million. Deetken plans to deploy the fund’s assets as “founder-friendly…
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Prophius, Mastercard Enable SMEs in Africa to Accept “Tap-on-phone” Payments
Prophius, a Nigeria-based financial technology (fintech) firm, recently entered a partnership with US-based technology provider Mastercard, to equip its PayContactless service to allow its users to accept payments on their Android mobile phones from customers’ payment cards, e-wallets and
SPECIAL REPORT: Bancamía of Colombia, Banco FIE of Bolivia, Kashf Foundation of Pakistan Shortlisted for $100k European Microfinance Award on Financial Inclusion for Women
From the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP): On the 21st and 22nd September 2022, the Selection Committee for the European Microfinance Award 2022 (EMA 2022) on “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women” chose the three finalists that will go on to compete for the EUR 100,000 (USD 100,000) prize: Bancamía from Colombia; Banco FIE from Bolivia; and Kashf Foundation from Pakistan.
For decades, financial inclusion has ostensibly been about women’s empowerment and autonomy. But too often the sector has paid only lip-service to what this means, focusing merely on
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Africa Banking & Finance Conference; November 22-23, 2022; Nairobi, Kenya
Themed “Growth Drivers: Risks Controls,” this event will focus on increasing organizations’ ability to manage uncertainty. The draft agenda features hybrid sessions including
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Helmig’s FS Invest Buys 75% of Invest in Visions, Microfinance Fund Manager in Germany
FS Invest Holding, which is owned by Germany’s Helmig family, recently paid an undisclosed sum to acquire a 75-percent stake in Invest in Visions (IIV). Launched in 2006, IIV manages “investments in sustainable agriculture, social enterprises and social impact lending,” including in microfinance institutions (MFIs) and decentralized
MICROFINANCE EVENT: MEDA Convention: Celebrating Entrepreneurship; November 2-6, 2022; Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
With the aim of advancing the success of entrepreneurs, this event offers plenary sessions such as: (1) Revolutionizing Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Bridging the Finance Gap for Women Entrepreneurs; and (2) Food Security: Addressing the Risks in Our Global Food Systems and What It Means for Entrepreneurs. On November 5, the MEDAx Pitch Competition offers prizes
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grupo Mega Nets $10m for SME Leasing in Mexico via Bond Sale to MicroVest
MicroVest, a debt-focused asset manager owned by US-based DAI Global, recently purchased USD 10 million in bonds from Mexico’s Grupo Mega to support leasing by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can help SMEs “remain capital-light [in a way] that
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), Sowit Deliver Agritech to Farmers in Morocco
Morocco’s Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) recently signed an agreement with Sowit, a provider of agricultural technology (agritech) services, to support farmers in Morocco in increasing their profitability with better data and access to finance. In particular, Sowit will provide farmers in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region with
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Zambia Seeking to Leverage Government Infrastructure for Private FSPs to Increase Rural Financial Inclusion
The Zambian government recently announced a plan to give financial services providers access to government buildings in rural areas to expand their service footprints. The authorities are looking to make financial access points available in every district of Zambia, where 18