by A'kos Szebeni -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Inclusix Index of Financial Inclusion in India; Obstacles to Access in Microinsurance; Microfinance in Kenya

“CRISIL Inclusix: An index to measure India’s progress on Financial Inclusion;” published by Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL); June 2013; 101 pages; available at http://crisil.com/pdf/corporate/CRISIL-Inclusix.pdf

Based on data from 2009 through 2011, this report gives an overview of the findings of the CRISIL Inclusix index, an analytical tool designed by Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) to measure progress in financial inclusion in India at the national, regional, state and district levels.

by A'kos Szebeni -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microcredit Interest Rate Determinants; Mobile Phones and Microinsurance; Health Financing Through Gifts and Remittances in Kenya

“Microcredit Interest Rates and Their Determinants 2004-2011;” by Richard Rosenberg, Scott Gaul, William Ford and Olga Tomilova; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); June 2013; 32 pages; available at http://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/Forum-Microcredit-Interest-Rates-and-Their-Determinants-June-2013_1.pdf

This study explores the factors affecting the determination of interest rates that microfinance institutions (MFIs) charge their customers by analyzing financial data reported from 2004 to 2011 by MFIs to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), a US-based nonprofit data provider.

by Megan McGowan -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institutions Trident, Bhartiya Samruddhi Finance Limited (BSFL) May Close Due to Lack of Funds

Trident Microfin Private Limited, a microfinance institution (MFI) in India, reportedly may shut down operations after being denied a loan write-down and additional funding from a forum of 21 lenders in the Indian state Andhra Pradesh.

by Megan McGowan -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “A Microcredit Crisis Averted: The Case of Bangladesh,” by Greg Chen and Stuart Rutherford, Published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)

“A Microcredit Crisis Averted: The Case of Bangladesh,” by Greg Chen and Stuart Rutherford, Published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), July 2013, 20 pages, http://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/Focus-Note-A-Microcredit-Crisis-Averted-July-2013.pdf

by Michael Averell -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Government of Cameroon Partners with United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) To Consolidate Microfinance Sector

The government of Cameroon recently partnered with three agencies of the United Nations to consolidate the country’s microfinance sector by increasing governmental regulations and mergers of microfinance institutions (MFIs).

by Makai McClintock -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Financing Africa, Social Performance Indicators for Microinsurance, Segmentation of Agricultural Households

“Financing Africa Through the Crisis and Beyond;” by Thorsten Beck, Samuel Munzele Maimbo, Issa Faye and Thouraya Triki; published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Bank Group, African Development Bank; 2013; 322 pages; available at: http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Financing%20Africa%20Through%20the%20Crisis%20and%20Beyond.pdf

This book presents a review of trends in Africa’s financial sector in the context of Africa’s past economic development trends and broader historical background.

by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Maroc Launches “Financial Solutions Youth” Project in Morocco

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), a Canada-based nonprofit that aims to alleviate poverty through financial investment via 227 partner institutions in 56 countries, and its Morocco division, MEDA Maroc, are launching the “Financial Solutions Youth” project in an effort to support Moroccan microfinance institutions (MFIs) in improving access to financial services for youth.

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 Makai McClintock -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “2012 MicroMeter;” published by India’s Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)

Published by the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN); 2013; 40 pages; available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.60963/MicroMeter_Feb%202013_Issue%2004_5th%20Feb%202013_for%20distribution.pdf

The Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), an association of 47 Indian microlenders, has released the fourth issue of MicroMeter, an analysis of the Indian microfinance industry’s performance during the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 (spanning October to December 2012).

by Brian LeBlanc -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institutions in the Philippines Urged to Harness Remittances as Source of Funding

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), an agency of the government of the Philippines responsible for development and planning, is reportedly urging microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to tap into remittances from overseas Filipino workers as a source of funding. 

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Microfinance Handbook; Evolution of Microfinance; Impact of Private Sector Investment on Job Creation

“The New Microfinance Handbook: A Financial Market System Perspective;” edited by Joanna Ledgerwood, Julie Earne and Candace Nelson; published by the World Bank Group; February 2013; 504 pages; available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/12272

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 Brendan Millan -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “2012 Asia Regional Snapshot”; by Amar Samarapally; published by Microfinance Information Exchange

By Amar Samarapally, published by Microfinance Information Exchange, February 2013, 19 pages, available at: http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2013/01/2012-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-regional-snapshot

This Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) report reviews the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) during 2011 in two of the six world regions designated by MIX: East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) and South Asia.

by Brendan Millan -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “2012 Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Snapshot”; by Ralitsa Sapundzhieva and Agharazi Babayev; published by Microfinance Information Exchange

By Ralitsa Sapundzhieva and Agharazi Babayev, published by Microfinance Information Exchange, January 2013, 27 pages, available at: http://www.themix.org/publications/mix-microfinance-world/2013/01/2012-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-regional-snapshot

This Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) report reviews the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECA).

by Brendan Millan -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Microfinance in Myanmar Sector Assessment”; by Eric Duflos, Paul Luchtenburg, Li Ren and Li Yan Chen; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), International Finance Corporation

By Eric Duflos, Paul Luchtenburg, Li Ren and Li Yan Chen, published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and International Finance Corporation, January 2013, 43 pages, available at:  http://www1.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/d87bf8804e5aba9bad7dadfce4951bf6/Microfinance+in+Myanmar+Sector+Assessment-Final.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

This joint CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) report reviews the current state of Myanmar’s microfinance sector and the challenges involved with its future development.

by Nicole Boyd -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Vulnerability: The State of the Microcredit Summit Campaign Report, 2013;” by Larry R. Reed; Published by the Microcredit Summit Campaign; 48 Pages

By Larry R. Reed; published by the Microcredit Summit Campaign; 2013; 48 pages; available at: http://stateofthecampaign.org/multimedia/print-version/

This report is the latest iteration of an annual assessment issued by the Microcredit Summit Campaign, a project launched in 1997 by the Results Educational Fund (REF), a US-based nonprofit that seeks to reduce poverty. The report indicates that the number of people living in extreme poverty with access to financial services has declined from 138 million in 2010 to 125 million in 2011, the first decrease since the organization began compiling the report in 1998.