MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) that collects and publishes information on microcredit products and pricing, recently received the first submissions of loan data from ten Ghanaian microfinance institutions (MFIs) that are participating in its “Transparent Pricing Initiative in Ghana.”
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Opportunities to Partner With Opportunity International Bank of Malawi on Branchless Banking
Microfinance Opportunities (MFO), a microenterprise resource center based in Washington, DC, has announced a partnership with Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM), a Malawian microfinance institution (MFI) affiliated with US-based microfinance network Opportunity International, to implement its branchless banking program in Africa. OIBM joins Moble Transactions in Zambia, Financial Information Networks and Operation (FINO) Fintech Foundation in India and Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) in the Philippines as partners in MFO’s program, “Consumer Education for Branchless Banking” (CEBB).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Water Nonprofit Launches WaterCredit.org to Highlight Crossover Between Sanitation, Microfinance in Africa, South Asia, Central America
Water.org, a nonprofit organization promoting access to clean water in Africa, South Asia and Central America has launched WaterCredit.org, an online resource that seeks to educate interested parties about the growing intersection between international microfinance and water and sanitation needs.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency, Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN) Launch Transparent Pricing Initiative in Ghana
MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, and the Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN) have partnered to expand MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative to Ghana with the aim of collecting and publishing pricing data for microfinance products offered in Ghana and providing training on financial literacy for microfinance clients.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nigeria’s Niger Delta Ministry Announces Microfinance Scheme for Youth
Hon. Samuel Odewho, the minister responsible for youth empowerment within the Nigerian government’s Niger Delta Ministry, recently announced the launch of a microfinance scheme that will provide soft loans to individuals, cooperatives and youth in the Niger Delta region who have completed the ministry’s skills training program. Hon. Samuel Odewho stated that the skills training provided by the ministry will enable the youth to set up sustainable businesses as well as enhance their employability [1].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Host Second Annual Advanced Leadership Program
Women’s World Banking (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership, an organization that provides technical and advisory services to microfinance institutions (MFIs) affiliated with WWB, and the Aresty Institute for Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business recently partnered to host the second annual Advanced Leadership Program, a multi-day course focusing on trends and best practices in the microfinance industry.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Launches Transparent Microfinance Pricing Initiative in Togo and Benin
MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in July 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, the Association of Micro Finance Institutions in Togo (APIM-Togo), the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Benin (FNM) and the Association of Decentralized Financial Systems of Benin (Consortium ALAFIA) are partnering to expand MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative to Togo and Benin with the aim of providing training on interest rate calculations, publishing online pricing information and promoting consumer protection.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Launches Transparent Pricing Initiative in Rwanda Aiming to Reduce Interest Rates on Microfinance Loans
MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental watchdog that focuses on interest rates in the microfinance industry, recently expanded its Transparent Pricing Initiative to Rwanda to educate citizens in that country on interest rates in an effort to impel microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to lower microfinance interest rates. Plans for this expansion were announced on this website in October.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: YouthSave Project Launches New Website Targeting Young People With Microfinance
YouthSave Project, a consortium of youth- and microfinance-focused NGOs, has launched a website that will feature the research of the YouthSave Project, as well as broader information on youth savings accounts around the globe.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Launches Transparent Microfinance Pricing Initiative in Rwanda and Uganda
MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in July 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, the Association of Micro Finance Institutions in Rwanda and the Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda, are partnering to expand MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative to those two countries with the aim of providing training on interest rate calculations, publishing online pricing information and promoting consumer protection.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency and Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN) Partner on Initiative for Transparent Pricing in Microfinance
MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization launched in July 2008 that aims to provide information on credit products and pricing, and the Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN), an association of microfinance networks that is based in Benin, are partnering to encourage the participation of AFMIN members in MFTransparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative, which aims to provide training on interest rate calculations, publish online pricing information and promote consumer protection.
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: Transparent Pricing Initiative in Malawi on August 31, 2010, in Blantyre, Malawi, Hosted by Microfinance Transparency
Event Name: Transparent Pricing Initiative in Malawi
Event Date: August 31, 2010
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF) Announces $1m in New Grants to Promote Economic Opportunities Including Microfinance
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF), a nonprofit organization created by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to rebuild Haiti following the January 12 earthquake, has announced USD 1 million in new grants aimed at creating new jobs and promoting economic opportunity, including microfinance. An unspecified proportion of the grant will be used to finance the Haiti Emergency Liquidity Program (HELP), which will give recovery grants to “key” microfinance institutions (MFIs), which are defined as those having approximately 50,000 clients or more.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Issue $10m Bond to Fund PRIDE Tanzania Microfinance Loans to Women
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a US government agency that provides international economic and humanitarian assistance, has announced its intention to issue a USD 10 million bond to fund Promotion of Rural Initiative and Development Enterprises Limited (PRIDE Tanzania), a microfinance institution established in 1994, to make loans to women in Tanzania. Mr Alfonso Lenhardt, the US ambassador to Tanzania, said, “I have observed that when women are given loans they use the money wisely, have the perfect business spirit, support the community and finally repay the funds to the bank.”
MICROCAPITAL EVENT: MFTransparency’s “Kenya Data Launch Webinar” on June 29, 2010
Event Name: Microfinance Transparency’s Kenya Data Launch Webinar
Event Date: June 29, 2010 at 10:00am–11:30am EDT (5:00pm–6:30pm Nairobi, 4:00pm–5:30pm CEST, 7:30pm–9:00pm Delhi).
Event Location: The internet
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Rwandan Microfinance Institution Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB) Reports Lending Fosters Social Reconciliation
Radio Netherlands Worldwide recently reported that microfinance in Rwanda is “booming” and the Netherlands is contributing to this “success” [1]. One of the potential effects of the rise of microfinance in Rwanda is social reconciliation. Faustin Zihiga, the Chief Operating Officer of Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB) of Rwanda, the largest microfinance bank in Rwanda among those reporting to the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX Market), suggests that in group-lending programs, survivors of the genocide mix in the same groups as perpetrators of the genocide. They begin to associate themselves by their group, not by their ethnic background. According to Zihiga, the social change is often even more visible than the economic change that microfinance brings about [3].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Citigroup Pledges $1m to Help Rebuild Microfinance Sector in Haiti Following January Earthquake
Citigroup, a major American financial services company based in New York City, has pledged USD 1 million in grants to help rebuild Haiti’s microfinance industry [1]. The money will be distributed via three microfinance providers: SOGESOL, Fonkoze and FINCA-Haiti. The grants are to be used by microentrepreneurs whose businesses were damaged by the earthquake in mid-January. This adds to the large grants already given to microfinance institutions in Haiti. Fonkoze has already received a USD 4.5 million grant from the MasterCard Foundation, based in Canada [2].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Host Advanced Leadership Course
Women’s World Banking (WWB), an organization that provides technical and advisory services to its global network of microfinance institutions (MFIs), has partnered with Wharton’s Aresty Institute for Executive Education to host its first advanced leadership course for microfinance professionals in March.