The MicroInsurance Innovation Facility (MIF), an initiative of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Social Finance Program, recently published a research paper that analyzes the determinants of the utilization of curative care in a rural area of Senegal where health insurance will be extended as part of a pilot project for the national insurance scheme for agricultural workers.
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroSave’s India Focus Notes Examines Microfinance Turmoil in Andhra Pradesh
MicroSave, a private consulting company that provides technical assistance to microfinance institutions (MFIs), recently published a series of papers that examine the trouble that has arisen in microfinance in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh since late 2010.
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: Microinsurance Network Reviews 2010 Work on Performance Indicators, Technology, Standards Development
The Microinsurance Network, a member-based platform of approximately 60 organizations interested in advancing the development and distribution of insurance products for low-income households, has recently released an overview of its 2010 activities. These include the development and publication of 11 social performance indicators by the Performance Indicators Working Group; the launch of the Microinsurance Technology Inventory, an online database that provides insight into the use of technology for microinsurance; and enhancement of the organization’s website.
MICROCAPITAL SPECIAL REPORT: “Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance” Launched at Responsible Finance Forum in The Hague, Netherlands
A group of 40 global investors in the microfinance industry, including US retirement planning firm TIAA-CREF and several microfinance investment vehicles (MIV), recently launched a set of guiding principles for investing in the microfinance industry at the Responsible Finance Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. The initiative – titled “Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance” – is reportedly the brainchild of Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, and a core group of Dutch investors, including; Triodos, a microfinance investment vehicle (MIV); Goodwell, a for-profit social investment outfit; Oikocredit, a cooperative investment fund; PGGM, an investment and pension firm; and SNS Asset Management, an institutional investment group. The group and Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima developed the principles together with CGAP and the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a network of international investors created to promote the practice of responsible investing.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: African Development Bank (AfDB) Launches Migration and Development Fund (MDF), Taking Proposals for Projects Relating to Remittances, Local Investment
African Development Bank (AfDB), a development finance institution established in 1964 that gives loans and grants to governments and private companies in Africa, recently launched the Migration and Development Fund (MDF) to support development projects in Africa.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Standard Chartered, MicroSave Launch Microfinance Risk Management Toolkit
The Bangladesh branch of Standard Chartered PLC, an international bank headquartered in the United Kingdom that reported total assets of USD 436 billion in 2009, and MicroSave, a company based in India that specializes in technical assistance and training for microfinance organizations, have jointly launched a risk management toolkit for microfinance institutions (MFIs).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MasterCard Foundation, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Launch YouthStart to Expand Financial Services for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa
The MasterCard Foundation, a private Canadian foundation that seeks to alleviate poverty through microfinance and education, and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the investment agency of the UN, recently announced that they have partnered to launch YouthStart, a competition-based program aimed at increasing access to financial services for low-income youth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Grants Transparency Certificates to Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs) That Adhere to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Standards
CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a policy and research center dedicated to enhancing financial access for the world’s poor, has announced its granting of Transparency Certificates to several microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs) that are in compliance with its environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines for MIVs.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Munich Re Foundation, International Labour Organization (ILO) Announce Microinsurance Has Potential to Reach 3 Billion People
Munich Re Foundation, a nonprofit founded by German reinsurer Munich Re, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), an arm of the United Nations promoting fair work conditions, announced in advance of a microinsurance conference in Manila, Philippines, that unnamed studies indicate microinsurance has the potential to reach three billion people.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroSave Launches Social Performance Management Framework for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
MicroSave, an organization that provides technical assistance to microfinance institutions (MFIs), recently unveiled its flagship Social Performance Management framework, which aims to improve MFIs’ social and business performance.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Z Zurich Foundation Contributes $3m to International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Microinsurance Innovation Facility (MIF), Call for Proposals is Open
Z Zurich Foundation, the charitable microinsurance arm of Zurich Financial Services, has contributed CHF 3 million (USD 3.08 million) to the Microinsurance Innovation Facility (MIF), an outfit within the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Social Finance Programme, to promote research on using technology and process innovations to protect low-income households.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Labor Organization (ILO) Microinsurance Innovation Facility Accepting Applications for Research Grants
The International Labor Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations, a humanitarian organization promoting peace and better living standards, and the European Development Research Network (EUDN), an academic network of economic development researchers, recently announced that they are accepting grant applications for research funding from the Microinsurance Innovation Facility.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Peter Van Dijk Outlines Measures to Strengthen Rights of Microfinance Institution Customers
Peter Van Dijk, a consultant based in Indonesia, recently wrote an opinion piece that appeared on the Microfinance Focus website outlining measures to enhance the rights of consumers of microfinance institutions (MFIs).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Nigeria to Discontinue Issuance of Universal Banking Licenses, Introduce Three New Banking License Classes in 2011, Microfinance to Fall Under “Specialized” Category
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s central banking authority, recently announced that in January 2011 it will introduce three new classes of banking licenses—for commercial banking, merchant banking and specialized banking—as well as discontinue the issuance of universal banking licenses.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroSave and Microfinance Focus Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Microfinance Resources
MicroSave, a microfinance consulting company established in 1998, has partnered with the Microfinance Focus website in a strategic alliance to promote microfinance knowledge sharing and dissemination with an emphasis on engaging diverse and geographically dispersed practitioners.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund Launches Microfinance Program for Persons with Disabilities
The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), a nonprofit supporting microfinance institutions and other development efforts, recently implemented a microcredit program for persons with disabilities in the Pakistani districts of Quetta, Khairpur and Swat, and will soon implement this program in Abbottabad.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation Inc. of Philippines Receives $100,000 Grant from International Labor Organization (ILO) Under Microinsurance Innovation Facility
The Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation Inc. (RBRDFI) of the Philippines will receive a USD 100,000 grant from the International Labor Organization (ILO) under its Microinsurance Innovation Facility.