MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Risk Management Develops “Simple Poverty Scorecard for Jordan,” Expanding Range of “Progress Out of Poverty” Index

Microfinance Risk Management Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) recently developed a simple poverty scorecard that can be used to track the poverty level of individual households and hence the poverty rate of communities in Jordan.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Bankers Without Borders Initiative Provides $150,000 in Funding for Alliance Program to Expand Volunteer Work in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bankers Without Borders, which is an initiative of US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) Grameen Foundation, recently announced a second round of funding for its Alliance Program in the amount of USD 150,000, which is intended to engage active and retired business professionals as a resource for microfinance and other development initiatives.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Under Scrutiny – Arguments For and Against From the Daily Star of Bangladesh and Forbes Magazine

Since the onset of the debt crisis in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh during the last quarter of 2010, in which borrowers stopped making payments on their loans to microfinance institutions (MFIs), microfinance has come under intense scrutiny.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Releases Updated Microfinance Management Information Software (MIS) Mifos 2.0

The Grameen Foundation, a nonprofit based in Washington, DC, that aims to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) replicate the microfinance model of Grameen Bank, has announced the release of Mifos 2.0, the latest version of its management information software (MIS) for microfinance.

MICROFINANCE BRIEF: Bangladesh Government to Investigate Allegations of “Financial Irregularities” Against Microfinance Institution (MFI) Grameen Bank

The Bangladesh government recently announced that it will form a committee to investigate allegations of “financial irregularities” against Grameen Bank, a microfinance institution (MFI) started in Bangladesh by Dr Muhammad Yunus.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation, Grameen Capital India and Grameen-Jameel Announce $8m Guarantee Pool to Improve Liquidity of Indian Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit; Grameen Capital India, a Mumbai-based social business that promotes growth in the microfinance sector in India; and Grameen-Jameel, a joint venture founded in 2007 by the Grameen Foundation and Grow Well Limited of Saudi Arabia, have launched a new initiative to address the liquidity needs of Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs) that demonstrate a focus on social as well as financial returns.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Launches Upgraded Mifos Cloud Service For Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in India

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, announced at the recent Microfinance Leadership Summit on Technology in Manila, Philippines, that it has launched a hosted version of its Mifos management information system, Mifos Cloud, that is available for a fee to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India. Unlike Mifos Cloud, which runs off-site, a version of the service has been available for free to MFIs around the world to run on their own hardware since 2006.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Announces Creation of Bankers Without Borders (BwB) Alliance Program to Expand Microfinance Institution (MFI) Volunteering Initiative

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, has announced the creation of the Alliance Program, within its Bankers Without Borders initiative, which will focus on increasing volunteerism in the microfinance and development technology sectors in Asia and Latin America.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Serbian Government Reviews Microfinance Law Aimed to Improve Lending to Low-Income Citizens

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Delic of Serbia recently announced that the Serbian government is reviewing a law that will allow for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to lend directly to their clients instead of lending through the current framework, which only allows lending through local banks.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Commences Certificate Program for Users of Its Progress Out of Poverty Index, Inductees to Appear on Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX)

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, has launched a certificate program to recognize organizations that comply with new standards of use for its Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI), a tool developed by Grameen for tracking and reporting poverty data.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Labels IPO of Indian Microfinance Institution SKS “A Critical Transition”

A paper recently published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) discusses how initial public offerings (IPOs) can shape the microfinance industry.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation, China Social Entrepreneurship (YouChange) Foundation and Several Chinese Businesses Partner to Found Microfinance Institution, the Beijing YouChange PuRong Information Advisory Company Limited

The China Social Entrepreneurship Foundation, a Chinese nonprofit microfinance institution also known as the YouCheng or YouChange Foundation; the Washington-based nonprofit Grameen Foundation; and several Chinese businesses recently agreed to collaboratively found a new microfinance institution in China, the Beijing YouChange PuRong Information Advisory Company Limited (YouChange PuRong).

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mary Ellen Iskenderian, Chief Executive of Women’s World Banking, Urges Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to Avoid Mission Drift

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, Chief Executive of Women’s World Banking (WWB), an organization that provides technical and advisory services to its network of microfinance institutions (MFIs), wrote an article which appeared on the Huffington Post website urging MFIs to stay true to their mission of serving the poor.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Issues Standards for Progress out of Poverty Index Prior to Commencement of Certification Program

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, recently announced the issuance of standards of use for its Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI), a tool developed by Grameen for tracking and reporting poverty data as reported by MicroCapital on February 26, 2009.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Wins $200,000 Funding from the Members Project of American Express and TakePart

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, recently announced it is a winner and recipient of a $200,000 funding award from the Members Project by American Express, a global consumer services company, and TakePart, a social action network of people.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Partners with Sungard Global Services to Support Mifos Technology Platform

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, recently announced it is partnering with SunGard, a global software and technology company, which will provide a dedicated team of technology and consulting professionals from its Global Services business unit to provide support to Grameen’s Mifos technology team and users.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Announces Official Launch of Mifos.com to Promote Microfinance Institution Management Software

The Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization, recently announced the official launch of “Mifos.com,” a website that it will use to promote Mifos, its free, open-source microfinance institution (MFI) management software package.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Foundation Receives $125,000 from Citi Foundation to Help Improve Human Capital Management Practices at Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

Grameen Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization, recently announced that it has received grants totaling USD 125,000 from the US-based microfinance funder, Citi Foundation. USD 100,000 is directed to Grameen’s efforts to improve human capital management practices at microfinance institutions (MFIs), while the remaining USD 25,000 is in support of Grameen’s broader strategic initiatives. The details of these broader initiatives have not been specified.