MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Call for Proposals for 10th International Microinsurance Conference, Hosted by Munich Re Foundation, Microinsurance Network, Mexico City, November 11-13, 2014

Munich Re Foundation, a German nonprofit organization affiliated with reinsurer Munich Re, and the Microinsurance Network, a Luxembourg-based membership organization that seeks to improve access to insurance for poor people, recently issued a call for proposals for presentations to be made at the 10th International Microinsurance Conference.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Student Microfinance Movement Accepting Entries for Competitions to Raise Awareness of Microfinance

The Student Microfinance Movement, a US-based network of student organizations, through a partnership with US-based financial institution Citi and US-based nonprofit organizations AboutMicrofinance and Kiva U, is accepting entries for its student microfinance essay and video competitions, which are aimed at raising awareness of the impact of microfinance on poverty and gender inequality.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Loan $6.9m to Elana Agrocredit of Bulgaria to Expand Land Lease Financing

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based multilateral development bank, recently announced that it will extend a loan of EUR 5 million (USD 6.9 million) to Elana Agrocredit, a Bulgaria-based financial institution that provides lease financing to agricultural producers for farmland purchases.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fish Farming Project in Nepal Wins Social Venture Challenge at Seventh Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

The “Sustainable Fish Farming Project”, proposed to provide 500 families in the Baseri village of Nepal with funding to start fish farms, recently won a grant of USD 7,500 from the Resolution Project Social Venture Challenge, a competition among aspiring entrepreneurs who attended the seventh annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting at the US-based Arizona State University, Phoenix [1].

MICROFINANCE EVENT: 2014 Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Annual Conference, Arlington, Virginia, USA, September 22 – 25, 2014

Event Name: 2014 Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Annual Conference

Event Date: September 22 – 25, 2014

Event Location: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, Virginia, USA

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Caribbean MicroFinance Alliance (CMFA) to Host “Fifth Caribbean Microfinance Forum: Building an Environment for Entrepreneurs to Excel,” June 2 – 5, 2014, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Event Name: The Fifth Caribbean Microfinance Forum: Building an Environment for Entrepreneurs to Excel

Event Date: June 2 – 5, 2014

Event Location: Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Hotel, Montego Bay, Jamaica

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) Announces Fifth Microfinance Award of $132k for Environmental Initiatives

The European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), a Luxembourg-based network of approximately 130 microfinance organizations and individuals, has announced the 5th European Microfinance Award, which is themed “Microfinance and the Environment” to celebrate institutions offering new initiatives in environmental stewardship and sustainability in natural resources management.

MICROFINANCE EVENT: European Microfinance Network (EMN) to Host 11th Annual Conference, June 19 – 20, 2014, Lisbon, Portugal

Event Name: European Microfinance Network (EMN) 11th Annual Conference

Event Date: June 19 – 20, 2014

Event Location: Sana Lisboa Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India-based Five Star Raises Equity Financing from Matrix to Expand Branch Network, Increase Lending to Micro-, Small, Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)

Five Star Business Credits (Five Star), an Indian non-bank financial company that lends to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, recently announced that it has raised an undisclosed sum in equity financing from Matrix Partners India, the Indian subsidiary of US-based private equity firm Matrix Partners.

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) to Host “SOCAP14,” September 2 – 5, 2014, San Francisco, California, USA

Event Name: Social Capital Markets “SOCAP14”

Event Date: September 2 – 5, 2014

Event Location: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California, USA

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Applications Open for University Meets Microfinance (UMM) Scholarships for Students Seeking Field Experience in Developing Countries, Awards for Doctoral and Master Theses in Financial Inclusion

University Meets Microfinance (UMM), an initiative co-founded by Germany-based university, Freie Universitat Berlin (FUB), and France-based nonprofit, PlaNet Finance, recently announced that it is accepting applications for the “University Meets Microfinance (UMM) Scholarships & Awards 2014.”

MICROFINANCE EVENT: DC Microfinance Meetup to Host “Fireside Chat with Ben Powell, Founder and CEO, Agora Partnerships,” April 7, 2014, Washington, DC, USA

Event Name: Fireside Chat with Ben Powell, Founder and CEO, Agora Partnerships

Event Date: April 7, 2014

Event Location: 1776 Startup Incubator, Washington, DC, USA

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States and the European Union’s (ACP/EU) Microfinance Program Offers Scholarships for July Boulder Microfinance Training Through April 28, 2014

The microfinance program of the European Union and the 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States has announced that it is accepting applications for its last round of 46 scholarships for microfinance professionals from ACP member countries to attend the annual Italy-based Boulder Microfinance Training Program,

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Applications Open for 2014 Seed Awards for Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Development Until April 8

The Seed Initiative, a Germany-based nonprofit institution that supports small-scale social and environmental enterprises in emerging economies, recently announced that it is accepting applications for the “2014 Seed Awards for Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Development,” a set of annual awards presented to entrepreneurs in developing countries that Seed deems to be the “…most promising, innovative and locally led…[and that have the] potential to contribute significantly to sustainable development…”.

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Columbia Business School to Host “Beyond the Pioneer: Scaling New Industries to Benefit the Poor,” New York, USA, April 28, 2014

Event Name: Beyond the Pioneer: Scaling New Industries to Benefit the Poor

Event Date: April 28, 2014

Event Location: Uris Hall, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA