MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bankingly, Woodcore Partner to Help FSPs in Africa to Offer Digital Financial Services

Bankingly, a Uruguay-based company that helps smaller financial services providers (FSPs) implement digital financial services, and Woodcore, a provider of core banking software with offices in Nigeria and the US, recently partnered on an effort to help microfinance institutions and other FSPs in Africa to add

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FSPs in Ecuador to Evaluate Role of Bias in Financial Access for Women-led MSMEs with Support from IDB Invest, RFD

Red de Instituciones Financieras de Desarrollo (RFD), a network of 53 banks, cooperatives and nonprofit financial services providers (FSPs) in Ecuador, recently agreed to partner with IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, to offer RFD members advisory services relating to boosting their financing of female-led micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). RFD will distribute an online survey designed by the IDB Group to address

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Assessing the State of Youth Financial Inclusion in Developing Contexts,” by Niclas Benni, Published by FAO

Youth in low- and middle-income countries often face significant challenges in accessing the financial services they need. Meanwhile, the lack of public data on youth financial inclusion makes it difficult for practitioners to assess and address the situation in a given context. Among the factors to consider when formulating a plan to increase youth financial inclusion are the

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Financial Inclusion Compass 2022,” by Sam Mendelson, Published by e-MFP

This report outlines global trends and areas of future focus in the field of financial inclusion, based on a survey of 112 professionals from 46 countries, representing financial service providers (FSPs), infrastructure organisations and consultancies as well as researchers and investors.

In the quantitative section of the survey, participants were asked to rank what they believe to be the most important

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EU Guaranteeing $113m to Support $490m in Lending by EBRD to MSMEs in Eastern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia

In partnership with the multilateral European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the EU recently agreed to guarantee up to EUR 115 million (USD 113 million) in loans distributed by retail financial services providers (FSPs) to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in selected countries of

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Debt Relief in the Pandemic: Lessons from India, Peru and Uganda;” by Elisabeth Rhyne, Eric Duflos; Published by CGAP

In response to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators in approximately 115 countries directed financial service providers (FSPs) to grant debt moratoria and restructuring to their borrowers. The authors of this paper reviewed surveys, interviews and other materials regarding

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “Labour Pains: Discovering the Financial Lives of Zambian Mothers,” Published by United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

This is a summary of a paper based on research by Afriqinsights and Tyroler & Associates, published by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), December 2018, 16 pages, available at:
https://www.uncdf.org/article/4278/labour-pains-discovering-the-financial-lives-of-zambian-mothers

According to previous research by UNCDF, 60 percent of Zambian women lack access to formal financial services. However, Zambian women, especially within low-income households, are inclined to

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “Protecting Growing Prosperity: Agricultural Insurance in the Developing World;” from ISF Advisors

This is a summary of a paper published by the Initiative for Smallholder Finance (ISF) Advisors, based on research by Matt Shakhovskoy and Romit Mehta, September 2018, 30 pages, available at:
https://www.raflearning.org/sites/default/files/sep_2018_isf_syngneta_insurance_report_final.pdf

The authors of this paper discuss how agricultural insurance can help smallholder farmers recover from damage to crops and livestock caused by shocks such as extreme weather conditions. According to previous research by ISF, “globally less than

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “High-saving Youth in Smallholder Households: An Untapped Market,” Published by CGAP

This is a summary of a paper by Jamie Anderson, Ramesh Karuppusamy, Paul Enrico Neumann and Vijendran Thangavel; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); November 2018; 4 pages; available at:
https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/publications/Brief-High-Saving-Youth-Nov-2018_1.pdf

As in many places, mobile financial services are becoming increasingly popular in rural parts of developing countries. However, the authors of this paper argue