by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: U’yo’olché, Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN) Look to Carbon Credits to Finance Improved Cook Stoves to Reduce Emissions, Improve Living Standards, Promote Women’s Rights in Rural Mexico

U’yo’olché, a Mexican environmental non-governmental organization (NGO), and Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C. (FMCN), a nonprofit funder of environmental efforts, are leading an initiative to provide improved cook stoves to families in rural areas of southern Mexico with the aim of reducing wood consumption, eliminating hazardous household smoke, decreasing the risk of accidents, minimizing household expenses and promoting women’s empowerment.

by Nicole Boyd -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grupo ACP’s Forjadores de Negocios Begins Operations in Mexico as Licensed Bank Banco Forjadores

Forjadores de Negocios, a Mexican microfinance institution (MFI) majority-held by Peruvian NGO Grupo ACP, recently began operations as Banco Forjadores, having received permission from Mexican banking authorities to convert to a multiservice bank in 2012.

by Samuel Allmendinger -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Curbing Debt Stress, Social Performance in Mexico, UN Human Development Report: The Rise of the South

“Regulatory Options to Curb Debt Stress;” by Gabriel Davel; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); March 2013; 29 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/publications/regulatory-options-curb-debt-stress

This report highlights how the dynamics of credit markets can lead to cycles of credit growth and accumulation of consumer debt followed by widespread default and contraction.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: The Role of Business in Society; Life Microinsurance in Mexico; Social Performance Report for India

“Invisible Giants;” by Lindsay Levin; published by Vala Publishing; March 2013; 176 pages, available for purchase at: http://vala.wazala.com/?page=product_det&id=112381

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Austria’s Vision Microfinance Funds Loan $5m to MFIs in Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay

Austria-based asset management company Absolute Portfolio Management (APM) recently announced that it has disbursed the equivalent of USD 5 million to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America through its two Dual Return-Vision Microfinance funds in early 2013.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Regulation and Supervision of Microfinance; Financial Inclusion in Russia; Life Microinsurance in Mexico

“A Guide to Regulation and Supervision of Microfinance;” by Robert Peck Christen, Kate Lauer, et al; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); October 2012; 120 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/publications/guide-regulation-and-supervision-microfinance

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Te Creemos of Mexico First Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Mexico to Issue MasterCards, Plans to Reach 250,000 New Customers Over 3 Years

MasterCard Inc, a US-based payments and technology company, has established a new business model to reach small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by enabling regulated microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Mexico to become card issuers.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Juntos Finanzas of California Wins $100k Mexico Financial Inclusion Competition

Juntos Finanzas, a US-based company offering mobile personal finance tools, recently was announced the winner of the 2012 Financial Inclusion Competition created at G2012 Mexico, the seventh summit of leaders from 20 large economies (G-20), and Ashoka Changemakers, an initiative of the US-based nonprofit Ashoka.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Peru’s Grupo ACP Receives Approval to Convert Microfinance Institution Forjadores de Negocios of Mexico into Banco Forjadores

Grupo Accion Comunitaria del Peru (ACP) Inversiones y Desarrollo, a nonprofit holding company based in Peru, recently received the approval of Mexican banking regulators to convert Forjadores de Negocios SA, its Mexican microfinance institution (MFI), into Banco Forjadores, which is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2013.

by Mihaela Grindeanu -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Accion Buys 9% of Microfinance Institution CrediConfia of Mexico for $1.9m

Accion, a US-based nonprofit organization, recently made an equity investment of USD 1.9 million in CrediConfia, a microfinance institution (MFI) providing financial services to microentrepreneurs and low-income households in rural and semi-urban areas of east-central Mexico.

by Mihaela Grindeanu -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: G2012 Mexico, Ashoka Changemakers Offers $100k for Winning Solution to Financial Services Access

The G2012 Mexico, the seventh summit of leaders from 20 large economies (G-20), and Ashoka Changemakers, an initiative of the US-based nonprofit Ashoka, have partnered to launch the “G2012 Mexico Financial Inclusion: Innovative Solutions for Unlocking Access” competition.

by Charlotte Newman -

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

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Agent Banking in Latin America,” by the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) of Mexico and Celina Lee, published by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion

By the National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico and Celina Lee, published by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, February 2012, 19 pages, available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m//template.rc/1.1.14613

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fitch Improves Outlook to Positive for Grupo ACP, Owner of Mibanco of Peru and Forjadores of Mexico

Fitch, a rating agency with headquarters in London and New York, reportedly has affirmed the rating of Peruvian nonprofit holding company Grupo ACP Inversiones y Desarrollo (Grupo ACP) at BB-, indicating an elevated vulnerability to default risk.