by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: State Bank of Pakistan Issues License for U Microfinance Bank to Operate Nationwide

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the nation’s central banking authority, reportedly has issued a national-level microfinance banking license to U Microfinance Bank Limited, a Pakistani microfinance institution (MFI) that was formerly known as Rozgar Microfinance Bank.

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 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 Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: African Development Bank (AfDB) Microfinance Capacity Building Fund (MCBF) Offering up to $500k per Institution

The African Development Bank (AfDB), a multilateral institution that provides loans and grants to governments and private companies in Africa, recently announced its second call for proposals for the Microfinance Capacity Building Fund (MCBF), which was launched by AfDB and the government of Spain to expand the outreach of the African financial sector.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Peru, Bolivia, Pakistan Top 2012 Global Microscope on Microfinance Business Environment

According to the Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment 2012, a recent report by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Peru is the top country in microfinance for the fifth consecutive year due to its strong regulatory environment.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: First Bank of Nigeria, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Launch Firstmonie Mobile Money Service

First Bank of Nigeria, a commercial bank based in the Nigerian state Lagos, recently launched Firstmonie Mobile Service in collaboration with Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), a Nigeria-based information technology utility provider.

by Jaime Fellers -

MICROCAPITAL PAPER WRAP-UP: “Youth’s Financial Inclusion Policy Reform Study;” by Yassir Ahmed Hassan Jamie; published by MDG Achievement Fund; Microfinance Unit, Central Bank of Sudan; United Nations Development Programme

By Yassir Ahmed Hassan Jamie, published by MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Achievement Fund; Microfinance Unit, Central Bank of Sudan; United Nations Development Programme, May 2012, 103 pages, available at http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.57618/Youth%20Financial%20Inclusion%20Policy%20Reform%20Study%20FINAL.pdf

by John Crawford -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Financial Inclusion Strategy Includes Goal of 63m Savings Accounts by 2020

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released a “National Financial Inclusion Strategy” that includes goals such as growing the number of savings accounts in the country at a 12-percent compound annual growth rate to reach CBN’s target of 63 million. Currently, there are 21 million savings accounts in the country.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: In Islamabad, Pakistan, Orascom’s Waseela Microfinance Bank Limited (WMBL) Opens First Branch

Waseela Microfinance Bank Limited (WMBL), a microfinance institution (MFI) in Pakistan, reportedly has announced the opening of its first branch, which is located in Islamabad, Pakistan.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Waseela Microfinance Bank of Pakistan to Commence Operations With $11m in Backing from Egypt’s Orascom Telecom

Waseela Microfinance Bank, a microfinance bank (MFB) in Pakistan, reportedly has been authorized by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the central banking authority of Pakistan, to commence operations and will begin providing financial services nationwide in the upcoming weeks.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Accion Launches $10m Venture Lab to Invest in Microfinance Institutions, Other Financial Inclusion Start-Ups

Accion, a US-based nonprofit microfinance organization, recently announced that it has launched Venture Lab, a USD 10 million investment vehicle that will provide seed capital to financial inclusion start-ups across the world.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Telenor’s Easypaisa, Adamjee Life Insurance Partner to Launch Free Life Microinsurance in Pakistan

Easypaisa, a Pakistani branchless banking services company, and Pakistan-based Adamjee Life Insurance Company Limited, have partnered to launch a free life insurance plan for Easypaisa clients.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Scaling Up Nationwide Financial Literacy Program (NFLP)

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reportedly has launched the Nationwide Financial Literacy Program (NFLP) to educate low-income Pakistanis on financial concepts through workshops and television and radio programming.

by Natalie Baer -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Reserve Bank of India to Issue Guidelines For Interoperability Among Business Correspondents “Shortly”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working to enable interoperability among business correspondents (BCs) to promote financial inclusion in rural areas [1].