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).
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A), Munich Re Foundation Survey: African Microinsurance Tripled in 3 Years
A recent study being released this week by Making Finance Work For Africa (MFW4A), an initiative that aims to coordinate financial sector development among African governments, and Munich Re Foundation, the charitable arm of the German reinsurance company, indicates the microinsurance market in Africa has grown by 200 percent in the past 3 years.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Microfinance Network Accepting Proposals To Present On “Microfinance as a Tool of Active Ageing”
The European Microfinance Network (EMN), a France-based NGO whose mission is to promote microfinance, microentrepreneurship and self employment to fight social and economic exclusion, recently announced plans to hold a debate on the topic “Microfinance as a tool of active ageing” on December 14, 2012, in Brussels.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Analysis of Microfinance Investment Vehicles; Female Microfinance Clients in Pakistan; Life Microinsurance in the Philippines
“The State of Microfinance Investment 2012: MicroRate’s 7th Annual Survey and Analysis of MIVs;” published by MicroRate; October 2012; 17 pages; available at: http://www.microrate.com/downloads/78
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Apexes; Confessions of a Microfinance Heretic; Selling Microinsurance
“A New Look at Microfinance Apexes;” by Sarah Forster, et al; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); July 2012; 26 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.9.58459/
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Trends in Latin America and the Caribbean; Livestock Insurance in India; Using “Digital Footprints” to Boost Financial Inclusion
“Latin American and the Caribbean Microfinance Market Trends 2006-2011;” by Renso Martinez Ramirez; published by Microfinance Information Exchange; June 2012; 22 pages; available at: http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2012/06/latin-american-and-caribbean-microfinance-market-trends-
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Munich Re Foundation, Microinsurance Network Present “8th International Microinsurance Conference”, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, November 6-8, 2012
Event Name: 8th International Microinsurance Conference
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Silatech, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Partner with Al-Amal Microfinance Bank, Alkuraimi Islamic Microfinance Bank to Provide Microsavings for Youth in Yemen
Silatech, a Qatar-based social enterprise, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the development agency of the German government, have partnered with Al-Amal Microfinance Bank (AMB) and Alkuraimi Islamic Microfinance Bank (AIMB), both of Yemen, to extend financial access to Yemeni youth through a microsavings program.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Financial Advisors on Sustainable Investing; Risk Management in Microfinance; Supply-Side Financial Inclusion Data
“Gateways to Impact: Industry Survey of Financial Advisors on Sustainable and Impact Investing;” published by Calvert Foundation; June 2012; 14 pages; available at: http://www.gatewaystoimpact.org/images/gatewaystoimpact.pdf
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Brazil Launches Financial Inclusion Action Plan
The Central Bank of Brazil (BCB in Portuguese) reportedly has released an action plan that aims to strengthen the institutional environment of the National Partnership for Financial Inclusion (NPFI), which was launched in November 2011.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Impact of Property Insurance in Ghana; Priority Issues for the Microfinance Sector; Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa
“’Doing the Math’ with Property Insurance in Ghana;” by Barbara Magnoni, et al; published by the Microinsurance Centre; May 2012; 9 pages; available at: http://www.microinsurancecentre.org/milk-project/milk-docs/doc_details/868-milk-brief-10-qdoing-the-mathq-with-property-insurance-in-ghana.html
MICROFINANCE EVENT: ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility Presents “Interactive Launch of the Microinsurance Compendium: ‘Protecting the Poor,’ Volume II”, July 3, 2012, Geneva, Switzerland, and Online
Event Name: Interactive Launch of the Microinsurance Compendium, Volume II
Event Date: July 3, 2012, 16:00 – 18:30
Event Location: International Labour Organization Library, Geneva, Switzerland, and Online
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Financial Service Needs in Mexico; Evaluation of an Insurance Education Radio Campaign in Kenya; Self-Assessment of Governance
“A Structured Approach to Understanding the Financial Service Needs of the Poor in Mexico;” by Xavier Faz and Paul Breloff; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); May 2012; 4 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/gm/document-1.9.57615/Brief_MexicoSegmentation.pdf
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microinsurance Network Launches Capacity Building Tools Inventory
The Microinsurance Network, an organization based in Luxembourg that aims to promote the development of insurance products for low-income populations, has launched a Capacity Building Tools Inventory providing training modules and handbooks for microinsurance operations.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Global Microfinance Equity Valuation Survey; Microfinance Governance Indicators; Audio Report: Role of Brokers in Microinsurance
“Volume Growth and Valuation Contraction: Global Microfinance Equity Valuation Survey 2012;” by Jasmina Glisovic, et al; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and JP Morgan; May 2012; 16 pages; available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.57526/VolumeGrowth.pdf
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women Entrepreneur Development Project of Ethiopia Borrow $50m From World Bank
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a no-interest loan of USD 50 million from the International Development Association (IDA), a unit of the World Bank, to the Women Entrepreneur Development Project, a nonprofit that was created to help female Ethiopians find employment opportunities and gain skills to increase their contributions to the country’s economic growth.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: World Savings Bank Institute Members to Offer Financial Training, Products Aimed at Unbanked
The World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI), a Switzerland-based association representing savings and retail banks with EUR 4.3 trillion (USD 5.4 trillion) in assets, announced a new plan at the 23rd WSBI Congress in Marrakech, Morocco, whereby its members will review their products, tailoring some to the specific needs of the most vulnerable potential customers.
MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Information Exchange Diamond Rating System; Savings-Linked Microinsurance in India; Banking Correspondents in Brazil
“Diamonds No Longer Forever;” by Scott Gaul; published by Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX); April 2012; available at: http://www.themix.org/publications/microbanking-bulletin/2012/04/diamonds-no-longer-forever