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Oct 2013
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Public Funds Should Catalyze, Not Crowd Out, Private Investment
October, 30 2013
Global - Public funding should not crowd-out private funds and providers. Once the private financial market is well-developed, public funding should be gradually phased out ...
Bangladesh: BBC Report on Selling Organs By the Poor to Pay Back Debt Dismissed
October, 29 2013
Bangladesh - The regulatory chief dismissed a BBC report on selling organs by poor people in northern part of Bangladesh to repay their loans from microcredit organisations ...
Global Financiers Seek to Make Social Impact with Investments in East Africa Despite Low Returns
October, 29 2013
East Africa - Currently, a vast majority of investments target high rates of return (around 20 per cent), even though many investors say they would occasionally consider lower returns if a very high impact could be ensured ...
Banks Should Lend More to Middle East SMEs, Says IIF
October, 28 2013
MENA - Bank lending in the Middle East and North Africa is still not sufficiently reaching the private sector, in particular small-and-medium-sized enterprises, posing an obstacle to faster economic growth in the region, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF) ...
The Trouble with Microfinance
October, 28 2013
Global - Microfinance, as useful as it may sometimes be in reducing poverty, is of limited use in long-term economic development ...
Corinne Riquet, CGAP: Small Farmers, Mobile Banking, Financial Inclusion in Madagascar
October, 28 2013
Madagascar - Madagascar is among the poorest countries in Africa and also ranks low on the continent for financial inclusion - only 5.5% of the adult population has an account at a formal financial institution ...
Belarus: NBRB to Toughen Lending Terms for Micro-lenders
October, 28 2013
Belarus - The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) will toughen up lending terms for micro-lenders in a bid to protect the interests of borrowers ...
Russia: Central Bank to Cap Rates on Consumer Loans and Microfinance
October, 28 2013
Russia - The Central Bank may soon gain the authority to limit interest rates on all noncorporate loans as well as on loans issued by microfinance lenders, Kommersant reported Monday, citing an amended draft bill on consumer lending ...
Why the Banker Who Helped Millions of Bangladeshis Out of Poverty Became His Country’s Enemy Number One
October, 27 2013
Global - Muhammad Yunus has helped lift 50 million of his fellow Bangladeshis out of poverty with loans of as little as £14.50. His work has won him the Nobel Prize - and been copied around the world. So why is he now being hounded by his own government? And why are thousands set to take to the streets this week to protest against him ...
Bangladesh: Digital Map of Financial Services Launched
October, 27 2013
Bangladesh - A Digital Map of Financial Services in Bangladesh was launched Saturday as the first of its kind in the country ...
New Report Makes Case for Impact Investing
October, 25 2013
Global - US investment firm Sonen Capital has published a new report which suggests that impact investment can outperform traditional asset class strategies ...
IFC, Diamond Bank to Increase Access to Finance for Nigerian Agric Sector
October, 25 2013
Nigeria - IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, says it will provide advisory services to Diamond Bank plc to help it increase access to finance in Nigeria’s agricultural sector by up to $33 million over two years ...
Lunch with the FT: Muhammad Yunus
October, 25 2013
Global - "Microcredit is like banking. Should banking be shut down because it created the financial crisis? No. Similarly, shouldn’t banking for poor people continue? How to do it more systematically, more formally, these are the questions. ...
Thailand: Microfinance Rate Set at 3% Monthly
October, 23 2013
Thailand - The Ministry of Finance has set the lending rate of its coming microfinance programme at no more than 3 per cent per month in hopes of reducing underground debts and luring companies into operating microfinance services, which are expected to commence by the end of this year ...
India: Micro Finance Institutions to Grow 30-35% for 3-years
October, 22 2013
Mumbai, India - Improved fund availability and significant unrealised potential are likely to help the country's micro finance institutions to grow at an annual rate of 30-35 per cent over the next three years, a study said. ...
India: Crisil Awards High Grading for 4 MFIs
October, 21 2013
India - As a part of the ongoing process of evaluating financial institutions, rating agency Crisil has awarded ‘mfR1’ grading to four microfinance institutions - Bandhan Financial Services, Equitas Microfinance, Janalakshmi Financial Services, and Ujjivan Financial Services ...
SMEs' Financing Gap in Developing Economies Stands at $2 Trillion, Says IFC
October, 21 2013
Global - The financing gap for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies remains around $2 trillion (€1.46 trillion), according to a study led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) ...
Heidi Hafes, Communications and Business Manager, Shell Foundation: Reflections on 2013 GIIN Forum - Grantmakers Do Have a Role in the ‘Ecosystem’
October, 21 2013
Global - So what does a grantmaking foundation that tackles global development challenges, and measures their effectiveness on scale of impact have in common with investors that expect financial return? Well in fact there is a lot ...
P2P Companies: The Movers and Shakers of China’s Shadow Banking
October, 19 2013
China - Credit in China is like a leaky spigot–impossible to turn off all the way. When major banks were told to stop or slow lending this spring, shadow banking emerged to fill in the gaps ...
South Africa: JPMorgan SME Project to Boost Employment
October, 18 2013
South Africa - Leading financial institution JPMorgan, through the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, says well-structured incubators — or business development support services — can help small businesses grow their revenue and employ more people ...
India: Delinquency Rate Dips for MFIs as RBI Steps Bear Fruit
October, 18 2013
India - Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have seen a steady drop in delinquencies over the past one year as they turned more selective in their lending. ...
Indonesia: OJK Launches Micro-Insurance Blueprint
October, 18 2013
Indonesia - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) hopes a newly launched blueprint will support the marketing and implementation of micro-insurance products across Indonesia by 2016 ...
Africa: The Mastercard Foundation and One Acre Fund Launch $10 Million Partnership
October, 17 2013
Africa - The MasterCard Foundation and One Acre Fund today announced a $10 million partnership that will expand access to financial services and training for smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. ...
India: MFIs Close to Being a 100% Insured Industry
October, 17 2013
India - Barely two years ago, a crisis-ridden microfinance sector was struggling to integrate into the formal finance sector. In 2013, the sector is close to being 100 per cent insured, as it has emerged as one of the largest platforms for marketing insurance products ...
Microfinance CEOs Make Six Major Commitments at 2013 Partnerships Against Poverty Summit
October, 17 2013
Global - The CEOs of eight leading global microfinance networks made six significant commitments at the Microcredit Summit Campaign’s Partnerships Against Poverty Summit last week in Manila ...
IFC Makes New Investments to Strengthen Microfinance Lending in China
October, 17 2013
Beijing, China - IFC has made new investments with an aggregate exposure of up to 186 million yuan ($30 million) in Fullerton Credit to expand much-needed microfinance lending for small and medium enterprises in China's less-developed western and central provinces ...
Nigeria: N220bn MSME Fund and Bureaucracy, MFBs Still Waiting
October, 16 2013
Nigeria - Barely three months after the launch of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the fund has not been disbursed to micro-finance banks (MFBs) for on-lending to low-income earners ...
Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR): Is Zimbabwe’s Micro-Finance Helping Women?
October, 14 2013
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe’s growing microfinance sector could well be strangling the aspirations of women seeking to enter into small business ventures ...
PGGM: Impact Investing ‘Same Game’ as Other Investments
October, 14 2013
Global - Impact investments should not be viewed as a separate asset class but rather as an approach, and therefore not incur higher than usual management fees, pension investors PGGM and KLP have argued ...
Microfinance in the Crosshairs: Will Kyrgyzstan's Usury Bill Backfire?
October, 14 2013
Kyrgyzstan - Microfinance isn’t the be-all, end-all cure for poverty. But in Kyrgyzstan, what microloans lack in immediate economic benefit, they make up for in stable, long-term job creation ...
Georgia: Microfinance and Foreclosure
October, 14 2013
Georgia - Microfinance in Georgia is commonly presented in a positive frame. Proponents point to increased economic activity and a reduction of poverty directly related to microfinance lending. There is another side to this story though. ...
India: State Bank of Hyderabad Bets Big on Small Units
October, 11 2013
Hyderabad, India - The State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) has extended a record Rs 1,065 crore loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the second quarter ended September 30. ...
Habitat for Humanity Launches Housing Micro-Credit in Costa Rica
October, 10 2013
Costa Rica - Poor would-be homeowners will have the chance to remodel or build their own homes in a housing market that skews toward the rich ...
Islamic Microfinance Should Be Introduced Internationally: Dr. Fatima Al-Blooshi
October, 10 2013
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Three days’ 3rd Global Islamic Microfinance Forum ended in Dubai with a declaration to put joint efforts for poverty alleviation. ...
Georgia: EFSE Signs USD 20 Million Senior Loan with Bank Republic
October, 09 2013
Georgia - The European Fund for South Eastern Europe (EFSE) agreed to a USD 20 million senior loan facility with Bank Republic to support the bank’s lending activities to micro and small (MSE) enterprises in Georgia ...
Sri Lanka's Hatton National Bank Sets Up Finance Company for Microfinance Business
October, 09 2013
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Hatton National Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in Sri Lanka, has decided to spin off its smallholder agriculture finance and microfinance programme and operations into a separate financial entity to provide specialized services. ...
China Commercial Seeks Acquisitions to Bond Sales in Loans Push
October, 09 2013
China - China Commercial Credit Inc. (CCCR:US), the nation’s first U.S.-listed micro credit firm, plans to boost its lending capacity by almost 10-fold in three years through acquisitions and more capital raising. ...
Myanmar Central Bank to Control Banking Financial Institutions Only
October, 09 2013
Myanmar - The newly reformed Myanmar Central Bank will not control financial institutions other than banks, according to a bank official ...
First Microfinance Institutions in Latin America Certified for Strong Client Protection Practices
October, 09 2013
Latin America - The Smart Campaign today announced the first three microfinance institutions in Latin America to become Client Protection Certified for meeting strong standards of client care: Pro Mujer Mexico, and Fundacion Mundo Mujer Popayan and Crezcamos in Colombia. ...
World Bank President to Open 2013 Microcredit Summit
October, 08 2013
Philippines - Delegates at the 2013 Summit will explore the different roles that microfinance institutions, banks, payment providers, regulators, policy makers, and social development organizations can play in partnership to help in the process of ending severe poverty ...
Zimbabwe: Microfinance Act a Step Towards Easy Access to Loans for SMEs
October, 07 2013
Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe Association of Microfinance Institutions (Zamfi) executive director, Godfrey Chitambo told Standardbusiness that the microfinance sector was poised for better collaboration with SMEs ...
India: Most SMEs Lack Access to Banks, FIs - ASSOCHAM
October, 07 2013
India - Most of the Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) lack access to banks, financial institutions (FIs) and so they intend to raise finance through informal financers, friends, family and other such personal channels, apex industry body survey said Monday ...
Habitat for Humanity’s 2014 Shelter Report Highlights the Importance of Housing Microfinance in Addressing the Need for Affordable Shelter Around the World
October, 07 2013
Global - Worldwide, half of the adult population does not have an account at a formal financial institution. Far fewer can get financing to purchase a home or an apartment. ...
Azerbaijani Microfinance Market to Double in Near Future
October, 06 2013
Azerbaijan - In the near future Azerbaijani microfinance market may double, the head of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of Azerbaijan (NCEA) Mammad Musayev said during a speech at the Investors Fair in Baku. ...
Ethiopia: NBE’s New Directive Lifts Microfinance Paid Up Capital to Two Million Birr
October, 06 2013
Ethiopia - The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has issued a directive that requires Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to have a minimum paid-up capital of two million Birr, effective October 1, 2013. This is a tenfold increment from the previous requirement of 200,000 Br. ...
South Africa: New Blow for Microlenders
October, 06 2013
South Africa - With South Africa failing to create a meaningful number of jobs while cash-strapped consumers continue to struggle to repay loans, some experts have warned that the microcredit bubble could pop, raising the risk of social unrest ...
How Can Regional Integration Improve Access to Finance in South Asia?
October, 04 2013
South Asia - The case for closer integration has remained strong for a while now, and it is refreshing to see that some movement, albeit watchful, is addressing some of the region's deep rooted political economy issues, particularly between India and Pakistan ...
India: Accenture Wins Outsourcing Contract from Janalakshmi Financial
October, 04 2013
Bangalore, India - Accenture will manage Janalakshmi’s back offices as the microfinance firm looks to save costs. ...
Triodos Facet and Shorebank International Become Enclude
October, 03 2013
Global - Triodos Facet (Zeist, NL) and ShoreBank International Ltd. (Washington, DC) joined forces to form an expanded international advisory firm and today announced its new name and brand identity ...
Andrew Karolyi, Co-Director, Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University: Interpreting the Emerging Markets
October, 03 2013
Global - The emerging market countries account for an estimated 45% of the world’s GDP, a figure that is expected to surpass 50% in the next year, eclipsing the economies of the developed markets ...
Global Microscope Finds the World Getting More Microfinance-Friendly
October, 03 2013
Global - Globally, the microfinance industry is improving, fueled largely by an increase in credit bureaus, improving client protection, and the spread of regulatory frameworks for mobile banking ...
India: Aavishkaar Invests in Housing Microfinance Player Swarna Pragati
October, 03 2013
India - New Delhi-based Swarna Pragati Housing Microfinance has received a primary infusion of capital led by Aavishkaar Goodwell II in its first investment in the segment. ...
Azerbaijani Non-Bank Credit Organizations Prepare to Diversify Sources of Funding
October, 03 2013
Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani non-bank credit organizations will be able to diversify their sources of funding as a result of the involvement of the country's exchange currency system on the monetary market, executive director of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA) Jala Hajiyeva told Trend today ...
PRI Launches New Reporting Framework for Signatories
October, 02 2013
Global - The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have launched a new reporting framework that is designed to enhance the transparency of disclosures by asset owner and investment manager signatories ...
Reaching Out to the World's Poor with Financial Services
October, 02 2013
Global - Financial services matter because they have a great ability to buffer people against risk ...
Nigeria: Mobile Money - Analysts Blame Telcos’ Exclusion for Slow Off-take
October, 02 2013
Nigeria - Those who believed that the mobile money services would spread like wide-fire in Nigeria, as is usually the case when anything new is introduced in the country, may by now have become disappointed, judging by the very limited success recorded so far ...
India: Rejected in Andhra Pradesh , Microfinance Institutions Move to Other States
October, 01 2013
India - The Microfinance Institutions (MFI) in Andhra Pradesh are being driven away by the provisions of the APMFI Act and the developments that followed, according to the industry. ...

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