by Hope Gitangu -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India’s Ujjivan Financial Services Raises Debt Capital Worth $10m Through Issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) to International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Ujjivan Financial Services, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI), has raised INR 60 crores (USD 10 million) debt capital by issuing listed, secured and redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group.

by Juan Blanco Ramos -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India-based Ujjivan Financial Services Disburses Loans Totaling $166m Via Direct Deposit to Bank Accounts

Ujjivan Financial Services, a Bangalore-based microfinance institution, has disbursed local currency loans totaling the equivalent of USD 166 million, approximately 50 percent of its total loan disbursements this year, directly to customer’s bank accounts.

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ANZ Royal Bank, Microfinance Institution (MFI) Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL) to Share Branches, ATMs

ANZ Royal Bank (ANZ), a joint venture between the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ Group) and the Cambodian Royal Group of Companies, and Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI), reportedly have entered into a partnership to offer a wider range of financial service products to the clients of the two institutions.

by Ben Krupp -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) Upgrades Rating of Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) Microfinance

Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL), an Indian ratings, research, risk and policy advisory company, has elevated the rating of Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) Microfinance, a microfinance institution (MFI) based in the Indian state of Kerala, to “mfr2.” [1][2]

by Chikondano Faith Chisala -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: International Conference of Social and Solidarity Finance, May 8-9, 2014, Bochum, Germany

Event  Name: International Conference of Social and Solidarity Finance

Event Date: May 8-9, 2014

Event Location: GLS Bank (Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen und Schenken eG), Bochum, Germany

by Juan Blanco Ramos -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Seven International Lending Institutions Launch Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF)

The Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF), an alliance focused on creating a sustainable financial market for small agricultural businesses, recently was launched by seven international lending institutions at the 11th Skoll World Forum on social entrepreneurship in Oxford, United Kingdom.

by Adrija Vaiciulionis -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: LeapFrog Raises $204m for Second Fund; to Invest in Microinsurance, Other Financial Services for Poor People in Africa, Asia

LeapFrog Investments, a Mauritius-based investor in financial services for poor people in emerging markets, has raised USD 204 million for its second equity fund.

by Anesa Kratovac -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroCredit Enterprises Partners with Freedom from Hunger to offer Health-related Services to Clients of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

MicroCredit Enterprises (MCE), a US-based NGO microfinance fund manager, and Freedom from Hunger, a US-based NGO that aims to alleviate hunger and poverty, are collaborating on a project that will offer “health-related education, loans, savings, insurance and linkages to local healthcare providers” in hopes that it will alleviate loan defaults caused by poor health and strengthen clients’ abilities to endure income-producing activities [1].

by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Risk Management Initiative in Microfinance (RIM) Launched

MFX Solutions, a US-based company that provides currency hedging solutions for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs), recently announced that it is one of eight partners launching the Risk Management Initiative in Microfinance (RIM), which will aim to mitigate challenges MFIs face in risk management; promote best practices; institute global MFI risk management standards; and protect MFIs and their clients from internal and external risks.

by Makai McClintock -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATON ROUND-UP: Drivers of Over-Indebtedness in Cambodia, Accelerating Impact Investing, Mobile Banking in Tanzania

“Study on the Drivers of Over-Indebtedness of Microfinance Borrowers in Cambodia: An In-depth Investigation of Saturated Areas;” by Dannet Liv; published by BlueOrchard Microfinance Investment Management, Incofin Investment Management, Oikocredit; March 2013; 83 pages; available at: http://www.blueorchard.com/jahia/webdav/site/blueorchard/shared/Publications%20and%20Resources/News%20%26%20Press%20releases/OID-Final%20Report.pdf

This report presents an analysis of the factors that drive microfinance borrowers in Cambodia to take on excessive levels of debt.

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Responsible Microfinance Implementation Action Group Looks to Boost Usage of Existing Tools, Distributes Template of Covenants for Investors to Attach to Loans to Microbanks

At the European Microfinance Week conference today in Luxembourg, representatives of the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) Action Group on the Implementation of Responsible Microfinance led a discussion on its work. The group presented graphics compiling existing social performance tools such as social audits and the publication of pricing data via the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Transparency. One of the suggested steps for microbanks embarking on the process of evaluating its social performance is to make a public commitment through an effort such as the Smart Campaign, which is backed by US-based nonprofit Accion, or the Global Appeal for Responsible Microfinance, which is promoted by a set of institutions led by Oxus Group, an initiative of French NGO Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED).

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Banking Production Centre’s SmartVista to Implement Banking Technology for Microfinance Institution Hattha Kaksekar of Cambodia

Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI), has contracted Russia-based Banking Production Centre (BPC) Banking Technologies’ SmartVista, an electronic payments product provider, to implement electronic banking for the MFI.

by Mihaela Grindeanu -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: “Plus” of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Offer Debt Counseling Services, Financial Education to Microfinance Clients in Sarajevo

Formerly known as the Centre for Financial and Credit Counselling, the Association for Responsible Personal Finance Management, a nonprofit debt counseling organization also known as “Plus”, has recently opened an office in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

by Brett Cohen -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroScore From MicroNed Measures Success of Microfinance Institution Capacity Building Programmes

MicroNed, a network of Dutch organizations involved in microfinance, has introduced MicroScore, a tool intended to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) and cooperatives assess themselves before, during, and after conducting capacity building programmes. MicroScore measures the following four performance ratios: governance, institutional, financial performance management, and services and social performance management.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROFINANCE BRIEF: Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation (GCAMF) Issues $1.25m Loan to Hattha Kaksekar Limited of Cambodia, $800k to Alide of Benin

The Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation (GCAMF), which was founded in Luxembourg by French bank Credit Agricole and Grameen Trust of Bangladesh, has reported to MicroCapital that it has issued a loan of USD 1.25 million with a three-year term and a one-year grace period to Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI).