by Pranav Agarwal -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fintech Kacha Gets Regulator Approval to Roll Out Mobile Money App in Ethiopia

Kacha Digital Finance Services, an Ethiopian financial technology (fintech) company, recently received approval from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) to offer services such as remittances, bill payments, airtime purchases and accepting merchant payments through its eponymous mobile app. The firm, which

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Global SME Finance Forum; September 12-14, 2023; Mumbai, India

The ninth iteration of this event will explore financial services providers’ delivery of digital services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), leveraging samples from India and abroad. The forum will cover topics – particularly “ecosystems” – relating to digital finance, international

by Elva Montelongo -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Credit Bank, FSD Kenya Engaging SACCOs in Effort to Reduce Remittance Costs for Rural Kenyans

The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently announced a pair of programs that will operate in Kenya under the EU’s Platform for Remittances, Investments and Migrants’ Entrepreneurship in Africa (PRIME Africa). In particular, IFAD will fund

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SentBe Launches Remittances from US to 50 Countries

The South Korean money-transfer service SentBe recently announced the official launch of its service allowing individuals to send remittances from the US to Australia, Canada, Nigeria, member nations of the EU and 24 additional countries in Eurasia. The firm also serves individuals sending payments from

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Future of Fintech; June 14-15, 2023; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; NEW DATES

Originally scheduled to take place starting March 1, this event will focus on “disruptive ideas from across the fintech ecosystem.” The two-day event offers online and in-person sessions including: (1) Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s FinTech [Financial Technology] Venture Activity – Key Drivers and Factors; (2) Offering Financial Flexibility to

by Renata Samadova -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroVest Loans $4.5m to Financiera FAMA for MSMEs in Nicaragua

US-based asset manager MicroVest recently reported disbursing a loan of USD 4.5 million to Financiera FAMA, a microfinance institution (MFI) that was founded as Fundación para el Apoyo a la Microempresa. Established in 1991 and headquartered in the city of Managua, FAMA provides

by Renata Samadova -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Remote Coaching to Prevent Dormancy Among Low-income Savers,” by Scott Graham et al, Published by WSBI

This report addresses the phenomenon of “dormancy” in the savings accounts of new owners of financial accounts, whereby the newly established accounts go unused after initial deposits are complete. The authors describe the use of coaching – via phone calls and SMS messages – to increase

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Kiva Refugee Investment Fund Lending $1.5m to FINCA Guatemala to Support Returning Migrants

FINCA Guatemala, whose name derives from that of the US-based Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International), recently agreed to borrow USD 1.5 million over two years from the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund, which is managed by Kiva Capital, a unit of the US-based NGO Kiva. The goal is to expand lending to “Guatemalan migrants returning

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: PayPal Expanding Money Transfer Options, Waiving Fees in Ukraine; Cutting Service in Russia

The US-based money transfer firm PayPal recently announced that Ukrainians in their home country and elsewhere will be able to receive British pounds, Canadian dollars, euros and US dollars into PayPal accounts to make purchases or transfer funds to bank accounts, credit cards and debit cards. Previously Ukrainians could

by Sheen Gupta -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: One World Connect, Philippine National Bank (PNB) Partner on Online Remittances

One World Connect, a UK-based company that facilitates remittances from the UK and Australia to the Philippines, recently announced a partnership with Philippine National Bank (PNB) to expand the options the firms offer recipients in the Philippines. Users can now receive money transfers in cash at 700 PNB branches or directly into their PNB accounts, whether denominated in pesos or US dollars. For example,

by Sheen Gupta -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Beyond Wage Digitization: Financial Capability and Economic Empowerment of Cambodian Women Migrant Workers,” Published by Women’s World Banking (WWB)

This report analyzes the financial awareness, financial behaviors and economic empowerment of 2,800 women – mostly migrants – who work in 13 factories in Cambodia and are paid via digital accounts with Wing Bank. The authors’ initial literature review indicated