by Lena Phillips -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: AITEC Financial Services and Investment Options for a Secure Future, February 14-16, 2013, Nairobi, Kenya

Event Name: The African Information & Communication Technology Exhibition & Conference (AITEC) Finance for Your Future 2013: Financial Services and Investment Options for a Secure Future

Event Date: February 14-16, 2013

Event Location: Nairobi, Kenya

by Makai McClintock -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Briefing Note: The Landscape of Microinsurance in Africa 2012” by Michael J. McCord, Roland Steinmann and Molly Ingram; published by GIZ and Munich Re Foundation; 2012; 11 pages

By Michael J. McCord, Roland Steinmann and Molly Ingram; published by Deutche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Munich Re Foundation; 2012; 11 pages; available at: http://www.microinsurancecentre.org/resources/documents/doc_download/918-briefing-note-the-landscape-of-microinsurance-in-africa-2012.html

This report presents an analysis of the status and characteristics of the microinsurance industry in Africa.

by Lena Phillips -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa, March 13-14, 2013, Lagos, Nigeria

Event Name: African Information & Communication Technology Exhibition & Conference (AITEC) Banking & Mobile Money West Africa 2013: Consolidating and Monetizing the Gains of Innovation

Event Date: March 13-14, 2013

Event Location: Lagos, Nigeria

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Telenor Participates in Launch of MicroEnsure Asia, Opportunity International Sells Stakes in MicroEnsure to International Finance Corporation (IFC), Omidyar Network

MicroEnsure, a microinsurance intermediary founded by US-based nonprofit Opportunity International, has partnered with Telenor Group, a Norwegian mobile communications company, to launch MicroEnsure Asia, which will provide insurance products to Telenor’s business units in Asia.

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MicroEnsure to Tap Data from Meteo Rwanda to Provide Weather Index Insurance for Farmers

MicroEnsure, a UK-based microinsurance subsidiary of US-based nonprofit Opportunity International, recently announced that it will be partnering with Meteo Rwanda, the country’s meteorological agency, in order to provide weather index insurance (WII) to small-scale Rwandan farmers.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Cross River State of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture to Establish $1.27m Loan Fund for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The government of The Nigerian State of Cross River reportedly has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bank of Agriculture, a development finance institution owned by the federal government of Nigeria, to raise NGN 200 million (USD 1.27 million) for a loan fund to support agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Austria’s Absolute Portfolio Management Loans $11m to Microfinance Institutions Through Vision Microfinance Funds, Including $1.5m to Pro Mujer Bolivia, $1.5m to PRIDE Tanzania, $750k Renewed to FINCA Tanzania

In December 2012, Dual Return-Vision Microfinance and Dual Return-Vision Microfinance Local Currency, two funds managed by Austria-based asset management company Absolute Portfolio Management (APM), disbursed a total equivalent to USD 11.75 million in loans to microfinance institutions (MFIs) worldwide, including MFIs in Latin America and Africa.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FirstRand Bank of South Africa Receives $300m Line of Credit from African Development Bank (AfDB)

The African Development Bank (AfDB), a multilateral institution that provides loans and grants to governments and private companies in Africa, recently approved a seven-year line of credit in the amount of USD 300 million to FirstRand Limited, a financial service provider based in South Africa that operates in seven African countries.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Access Bank Plc of Nigeria Launches Early Savers Back to School Campaign to Promote Savings Among Kids

Access Bank Plc, a Nigerian commercial bank with branches in nine African countries and the UK, reportedly has launched an “Access Early Savers Back to School Campaign” aimed at instilling a savings culture in children in Nigeria.

by Chioma Okwudiafor -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Credinka of Peru, Ugafode of Uganda, FACES of Ecuador, Agora Microfinance Zambia, ASDIR of Guatemala Borrow $4m From Triodos Investment Management

Triodos Investment Management, a subsidiary of Dutch Triodos Bank, recently disbursed loans to the following five microfinance institutions: Caja Rural de Ahorra y Credito Quillabamba (Credinka) of Peru, Ugafode Microfinance Limited of Uganda, Fundación de Apoyo Comunitario y Social del Ecuador (FACES) of Ecuador, Agora Microfinance Zambia and Asociación de Desarrollo Integral Rural (ASDIR) of Guatemala.

by Chioma Okwudiafor -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: CGAP, MicroSave Host Virtual Conference on “Client Insights: How Can Providers Listen and Learn from Their Clients”, October 30-31, 2012

Event Name: Client Insights: How Can Providers Listen and Learn from Their Clients?

Event Date: October 30-October 31, 2012

Event Location: Online

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: YuMobile, MicroEnsure, Jubilee Insurance Partner to Offer Life, Disability Insurance to Mobile Subscribers in Kenya

YuMobile, a Kenyan mobile phone service provider; MicroEnsure, a UK-based subsidiary of Opportunity International; and Jubilee Insurance, a Kenyan insurance provider, recently partnered to offer life and disability insurance called yuCover for yuMobile’s pre-pay subscribers.