Symbiotics's microfinance news feed

Measuring The Risks of Microfinance Institutions

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:25:03 +0200

On May 16, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Vietnam Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) held a conference to set up sustainable interest rate and risk management in microfinance.

Asian Migrants Send $260 Bln Home But High Fees, Poor Services Reduce Impact - Report

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:40:30 +0200

Asian migrants sent $260 billion home to their families in 2012 but high fees and a lack of services outside urban areas mean the impact of the money on millions of rural poor is limited, said a new report.

Financial Inclusion in Europe and Central Asia

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:35:09 +0200

The countries of Europe and Central Asia have made undeniable, if uneven, progress in expanding financial inclusion in recent years.

Microfinance in Madagascar Helps Small Businesses Buck The System

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:21 +0200

Borrowers get business advice and a buffer against disaster from growing microcredit sector in cyclone-prone Madagascar.

Alleviating Poverty, Mobile Communications, Microfinance and Small Business Development Around The World

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:12:38 +0200

Yet with the growth of mobile technology, there are new opportunities for individuals and small businesses to lift themselves up.

Mexico, Put to The Test

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:51:31 +0200

Overall, the studies show that microcredit, even the for-profit kind, typically benefits borrowers in a variety of ways, even if it does not lift them immediately out of poverty.

Luxembourg, Responsible Investing Needs to Move to Mainstream - Alfi Survey

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:17:41 +0200

Between 2010 and 2012 Microfinance funds continued to grow both in number of funds and AUM (growth of 26%).

IFC Promotes Mobile Finance in Ivory Coast

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:12:10 +0200

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, has assembled financial players to build further momentum for mobile financial services in Ivory Coast.

Solomon Islands, Financial Inclusion Activities Saw Mix Results

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:41:49 +0200

The 2012 Central Bank annual report revealed that last year has seen mixed results in the development and promotion of Financial Inclusion activities in the country.

India, Return of The Moneylender

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:10:13 +0200

The return of the moneylender in rural India can broadly be explained by the failure of the formal banking system to reach out to more people, the utter failure of institutions like the regional rural banks and the recent implosion of microfinance.

Inclusive Finance and Segmenting Smallholder Farmers

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:08:13 +0200

An estimated 500 million smallholder farmers live in low- and middle-income countries. Despite some improvements to their access to broad financial services, relatively little progress has been made to advance services that cater specifically to their agricultural activities.

Ghana, Venture Capital Trust Fund Signs MoU with GIMPA to Establish Centre

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:18:06 +0200

Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to establish a Centre for Impact Investing in the country.

Nigeria, Giving Microfinance Banking a Facelift

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:49:54 +0200

The author, Obinna Chima, examines efforts by operators of microfinance banks to comply with the revised microfinance policy framework.

India, Now, a Regulatory Body to Set Norms for Impact Investment

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:29:00 +0200

In order to avoid excesses of the kind that derailed the Indian microfinance industry three years ago, nine entities doing 'impact investing' have come together to form a grouping that will define what they can do and cannot do in their investment practices to always stay aligned with their stated objectives.

Grameen Foundation Taps Microfinance and Technology to Battle Poverty

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:51:33 +0200

MFIs can show more modesty by reducing huge pay packages and stock options. Humility is needed to realise that microfinance is just another anti-poverty intervention.

Live Chat, Can The Poor Bank on Financial Services?

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:32:46 +0200

What are the best ways to provide access to financial services that can reduce income inequality and increase economic growth?

Microfinance Institutions Study Issue of Entering into Credit Bureau in Azerbaijan

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:24:21 +0200

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) of Azerbaijan have returned to the idea of entering into the first credit bureau, being created in Azerbaijan.

A Microlender Backs Startups to Bring More Than Loans to the Poor

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:12:33 +0200

Investors are moving beyond microfinance to offer a broader range of financial products for the developing world.

Microfinance Needs Better Policies to Safeguard the Environment

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:40:46 +0200

When it comes to policies that govern the behaviour of microfinance institutions in their interaction with the environment, so far the only ones that exist are voluntary and internal.

Belarus’ National Bank Makes Maya Declaration Commitment

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:06:11 +0200

The National Bank and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion teamed up to conduct two national surveys on the access of the population and small businesses to financial services.

Ghana, BOG Gives License to 171 Financial Institutions

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:54:17 +0200

Head of Micro-finance and Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Yaw Gyima-Larbi has revealed that 171 financial institutions have been issued with final license to legally operate in the country.

MSMEs, Big Opportunity In Small Lending

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:31:22 +0200

There is significant evidence that Micro,Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets have insufficient access to finance.

Re-evaluating Impact Evaluation, Why Solely Focusing on Financials is Flawed and Other Key Points From a Recent Workshop

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:08:47 +0200

In such a resource-constrained environment, it is not surprising that funders and investors are demanding evidence of impact to guide investment decisions and help them allocate limited capital to the most effective programs.

Uganda, $10.3m Grant Unveiled For Rural Financial Extension

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:15:37 +0200

The German Development Bank (KfW) has unveiled a $10.3 million grant facility to financial institutions seeking to promote innovations that will stir access to financial services in rural Uganda.

Triodos Launches New Ethical Investment Funds

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:46:47 +0200

Green banking specialist Triodos Bank yesterday launched two new Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Funds, dubbed the Sustainable Pioneer Fund and the Sustainable Equity Fund.

Tilman Ehrbeck, CEO, CGAP, Does Microfinance Work?

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:03:37 +0200

Much of the evidence strongly supports microfinance, but there is room for interpretation, says Tilman Ehrbeck.

Microlending, Getting Too Big to Work?

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:10:24 +0200

The lesson for lenders is that they need to develop more effective strategies to contend with patriarchy and avoid drifting away from their mission.

London Promotes Social Impact Fund

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:22:41 +0200

The City of London Corporation has made its first forays into social impact investments, in an effort to catalyse development of the nascent asset class.

India, RBS Exits SKS Microfinance, Makes Quick Gain

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:57:21 +0200

Royal Bank of Scotland has sold its 4.62% stake in SKS Microfinance for about R63.50 Cr through the open market transactions.

India, RBS Sells 4.62% Stake in SKS Microfinance For Rs.63 cr

info@symbioticsgroup.com — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:17:43 +0200

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on Thursday offloaded 4.62% stake in Hyderabad-based SKS Microfinance for about Rs.63.50 crore.