The Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI), a nonprofit trade group, has become the sixth partner in the Bankers Without Borders (BwB) Alliance, a volunteer program started by the US-based Grameen Foundation.
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: US Government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Inks $45m Investment in Habitat for Humanity Housing Initiative, Microbuild Fund
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance agency of the US government, has finalized its commitment to issue a 10-year loan of USD 45 million to the Microbuild Fund, a Habitat for Humanity initiative to provide loans via microfinance institutions for poor people to improve their housing situations and funding for related technical support [1] [2].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Obopay, Warid Telecom Partner to Launch Warid Pesa Mobile Banking and Payment Service in Uganda
Obopay, a mobile payments company headquartered in the US state of California, has partnered with Warid Telecom, a Pakistan-based postpaid cellular phone service provider, to launch a mobile banking and payment service in Uganda called Warid Pesa.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Citing High Repayment Rates, FINCA Zambia to Reduce Rates, Charge Interest Based on Declining Balance
FINCA Zambia Limited, a Zambian microfinance institution (MFI) affiliated with US-based nonprofit FINCA International, plans to reduce its effective lending rates in 2012 by 20 percent after having experienced a repayment rate of 97 percent during the 2011 fiscal period.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: “SPM in Microfinance 24*7 Helpline” Offers Advice to Front-Line Workers Regarding Social Performance Management
Founded in 2011 in India, “SPM in Microfinance 24*7 Helpline” is an online resource that aims to help institutions and individuals worldwide with issues related to social performance management (SPM) in microfinance [1].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SKS Microfinance to Further Downsize Workforce, Cap Return on Assets at 3%
SKS Microfinance, a microfinance institution (MFI) in India, reportedly will continue to downsize its workforce as it has been since the enactment of the Regulation of Microlending Act in October 2010 in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which requires government approval of each microloan.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: responsAbility Lends $4m to ACLEDA Bank, Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL) of Cambodia
Switzerland’s responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans amounting to USD 4 million to Cambodian financial institutions ACLEDA Bank and Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: responsAbility Lends $3m to Microfinance Institutions Advans Cameroun, Opportunity International Bank of Malawi
Switzerland’s responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans totaling the local-currency equivalent of USD 3 million to financial institutions Advans Cameroun and Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: responsAbility Lends $1.85m to Microfinance Institutions AgroInvest Holding of Montenegro, Forus Bank of Russia
Switzerland’s responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans totaling the equivalent of USD 1.85 million to financial institutions AgroInvest Holding of Montenegro and Forus Bank of Russia.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Participatory Microfinance Group for Africa (PAMIGA) Collaborates with MicroLead Program to Open Office in Ethiopia, Support Microsavings Services of Buusaa Gonofaa, Wasasa
The Participatory Microfinance Group for Africa (PAMIGA), a Paris-based microfinance network, has opened an office in Ethiopia with the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) MicroLead Program, which aims to promote microsavings.
MICROFINANCE EVENT: LDJ Capital, NowStreet Media to Host “The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Conference (TSLCCAC),” January 23, 2012, New York, United States
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Releases 2010 Latin America & the Caribbean Regional Snapshot
The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), a US-based nonprofit organization that publishes financial and social performance information from microfinance stakeholders, recently released an analysis of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America and the Caribbean based on 2010 data.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: 48 Tanzanian Microfinance Institutions Adopt Code of Conduct Covering Transparency, Client Protection
The Tanzania Association of Microfinance Institutions (TAMFI) has announced that 48 of its member microfinance institutions (MFIs) have adopted a code of conduct. Winnie Terry, TAMFI Executive Secretary, was quoted as having said, “With this code of conduct, TAMFI members are expected to take a leading role to deliver high quality and responsible financial services to the community. The code is intended to make Microfinance Institutions become more responsive to the clients they serve.”
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Asasah of Pakistan to Collect Microloan Repayments via Easypaisa Service of Tameer Microfinance Bank, Telenor Pakistan
Asasah, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Pakistan, reportedly has announced that it will be utilizing Easypaisa, the branchless banking service of MFI Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited (TMFB) of Pakistan, as an option for borrowers to repay their loans [1].
MICROFINANCE EVENT: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Hosts Virtual Conference “Understanding Multiple Borrowing and Avoiding Over-indebtedness Among Clients,” January 12 and 13, 2012
Event Name: Understanding Multiple Borrowing and Avoiding Over-indebtedness Among Clients
Event Date: January 12 – 13, 2012
Event Location: Online
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Village Savings and Loan Associations Featured in The Economist as “Hottest Trend in Microfinance”
A recent article in British weekly news magazine The Economist featured village savings and loan associations (VSLA), describing them as the “hottest trend in microfinance.”
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Incofin Lends $6m to Microfinance Institutions Vision Banco of Paraguay, Lazika Capital of Georgia, Credit Mongol of Mongolia, Forus Bank of Russia
Belgian company Incofin Investment Management (Incofin IM) has disbursed loans through microfinance investment funds it manages to four microfinance institutions (MFIs): USD 3 million to Vision Banco of Paraguay, USD 1 million to Lazika Capital of Georgia, USD 1 million to Credit Mongol LLC of Mongolia and USD 1 million to Forus Bank of Russia [1, 2, 3, 4].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: responsAbility Lends $6.2m to Mutual Alajuela of Costa Rica, Cooperativa Mixta Mujeres Unidas Limitada (COMIXMUL) of Honduras, Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) of Nigeria
Switzerland’s responsAbility Social Investments AG (responsAbility) recently reported to MicroCapital that it has made loans amounting to USD 6.2 million to financial institutions Mutual Alajuela of Costa Rica, Cooperativa Mixta Mujeres Unidas Limitada (COMIXMUL) of Honduras and Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) of Nigeria.