by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microcredit Regulatory Authority of Bangladesh Revokes Licenses of 12 Microfinance Institutions, to Deploy Observers to Others

The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) of Bangladesh reportedly has announced that plans are in place to appoint administrators to observe troubled microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country.

by Amira Berrada -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AccessBank of Azerbaijan Implements Loan Repayment by Telephone, Debit Card

Microfinance institution (MFI) AccessBank of Azerbaijan, an affiliate of Germany’s Access Microfinance Holding AG (AccessHolding), recently announced the implementation of a new service allowing customers to make loan payments by telephone.

by Emilia Akonom -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Women are Useful to Microfinance: How Can We Make Microfinance Be More Useful to Women”, Workshop paper at 2011 Global Microcredit Summit

By Dr. Linda Mayoux, Consultant for Hivos and Oxfam Novib UK, November 2011, 20 pages, available at: http://www.genfinance.info/documents/MyPubs/Women%20are%20Useful%20to%20Microfinance_final.pdf

This report introduces methods for promoting women’s empowerment as a strategy for increasing the long-term financial sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs). It introduces points of entry for gender equality and empowerment as well as innovation in policies, product design, non-financial services, customer protection, regulations and gender indicators in social performance management and management information systems.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Advans SA Opens Microfinance Institution Advans Cote d’Ivoire, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Invests $1m in Equity

Advans SA, a microfinance investment vehicle managed by Horus Development Finance of France, has announced that it has opened the first branch of its fifth microfinance institution (MFI), Advans Cote d’Ivoire, in Abidjan, the capital of the country.

by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Peru as a Model for Microfinance Regulation; M-Pesa Mobile Banking E-book; and Geographic Analysis of Thai Enterprise

“Research Insight: Peru – Model Market for Microfinance;” by Christian Etzensperger; published by responsAbility Social Investments; March 2012; 9 pages; available at: www.responsability.com/domains/responsability_ch/data/free_docs/Research_Insight_Acces_to_Finance_in_Peru_EN.pdf

by Natalie Baer -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Indian Microfinance, Treating Colombian Clients with Respect, and Expanding Microinsurance

“Indian Microfinance: Looking Beyond the AP Act and its Devastating Impact on the Poor;” published by Legatum Ventures; March 2012; 17 pages; available at: http://www.legatumventures.com/

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Airtel, uniBank, Star Microinsurance Offer Free Life Insurance to Customers of Airtel Mobile Money

Commercial bank uniBank Ghana Limited reportedly has partnered with the local arm of telecommunications firm Airtel and Ghana-based insurance provider Star Microinsurance Services Limited to offer free life insurance coverage to subscribers of the mobile commerce product Airtel Money.

by Kristha Abores -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Cracking the Nut 2012: Attracting Private Sector Investment to Rural and Agricultural Markets, Washington, DC, United States, June 25-26, 2012

Event Name: Cracking the Nut 2012: Attracting Private Sector Investment to Rural and Agricultural Markets

Event Date: June 25 – June 26, 2012

Event Location: Enrique V Iglesias Conference Center, Washington, DC, United States

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC), KfW Bankengruppe, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to Invest $100m in Micro Finance Initiative for Asia (MIFA)

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, reportedly plans to set up the Micro Finance Initiative for Asia (MIFA), a Luxembourg-based USD 100 million microfinance debt fund.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BNP Paribas China Enters Microfinance With $2.3m Loan to MicroCred Nanchong

BNP Paribas China, a branch of the France-based financial services provider BNP Paribas, has disbursed a loan in local currency equivalent to USD 2.3 million to Chinese microfinance institution (MFI) MicroCred Nanchong, a member of the France-based MicroCred.

by Emilia Akonom -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment 2011

By the Economist Intelligence Unit, funded by The Multilateral Investment Fund, Corporación Andina de Fomento and the International Finance Corporation, October 2011, 72 pages, available at: http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=36453519.

This paper examines the microfinance business environments in 55 countries, comparing them across three categories: supporting institutional framework, political stability, and regulatory framework and practices. It is the fifth annual paper in the series, covering the 12-month period through June 2011. The research comprises data collected in 21 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, 11 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, seven of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, seven of East Asia, five of South Asia and four of the Middle East and North Africa.

by Ariana Malushi -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Harvard Business School, Kennedy School of Government Host “13th Annual Social Enterprise Conference,” Boston, Massachusetts, USA, February 25 – February 26, 2012

Event Name: 13th Annual Social Enterprise Conference

Event Date: February 25 – February 26, 2012

Event Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA