by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Publish What You Fund Releases DFI Transparency Index Ranking Disclosure Record of 30 Development Finance Institutions

Publish What You Fund, a UK-based NGO aimed at increasing the transparency of international development efforts, today launched its DFI Transparency Index, which examines and ranks the operational transparency of 30 development finance institutions (DFIs). The rankings are based on

by Arin Atluri -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Measuring Fees and Transparency in Nigeria’s Digital Financial Services,” by William Blackmon and Brian Mwesigwa, Published by Innovations for Poverty Action

Digital financial services have evolved greatly in Nigeria over the last decade, but many people in the country still struggle to access formal financial services. This study explores three issues discouraging

by Zach Deluca -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Publish What You Fund Releases DFI Transparency Tool Providing Guidance, Encouragement to Improve Disclosure on Development Efforts

Publish What You Fund, a UK-based NGO aimed at increasing the transparency of international development efforts, recently launched its DFI Transparency Tool. The tool is meant to provide development finance institutions (DFIs) with guidance on

by Bradley Shulman -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “ESG and Accountability to Communities;” Published by Publish What You Fund

This report examines 20 development finance institutions (DFIs) to learn how these organizations: (1) are transparent in terms of their policies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues; (2) disclose ESG risks and plans to manage those risks; and (3) implement independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) to ensure policies are being followed. Among the benefits of ESG transparency

by Soham Mehta -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 9th Annual Uniglobal Central Asian and Caucasus Microfinance Forum; October 3 – 4, 2019; Tbilisi, Georgia

This conference will focus on “transparency, regulations, transformation of [the] microfinance industry, social reporting standards, investment, risk and asset management, and innovation” in the Central and Western Asia. Sessions will cover topics including

by Kevin van den Brink -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bangladeshi Farmers to Receive Microloans via Credit Cards Arranged by CARE Bangladesh, DAM, mPower, USAID

The Agricultural Extension Support Activity (AESA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is implemented by the Bangladesh-based nonprofit Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), is piloting an initiative to provide smallholder farmers with loans via bank cards.

by Kevin van den Brink -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Household Responses to Village Bank Access in Laos; Mobile Banking in Kenya; The Role of Banks in Driving Financial Inclusion

“Household Responses to Access to Finance Through GIZ-AFP Village Banks;” published by the Laos-Australia Development Learning Facility; February 2016; 50 pages; available at: http://ladlf.org/images/publications/030516_LADLF_GIZ_HH_Response_to_A2F_Final.pdf