by Aliz Crowley -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: ADA 20th Anniversary Academic Symposium and Exhibition, October 15-16, 2014, Neumünster Abbey Cultural Centre, Luxembourg

Event Name: ADA 20th Anniversary Academic Symposium and Exhibition

Event Date: October 15, 2014 and October 16, 2014

Event Location: Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Myanmar Investments International Announces Joint Venture with Microfinance Institution (MFI) Myanmar Finance

Myanmar Investments Limited (MIL), a subsidiary of British Virgin Islands-based investment company Myanmar Investments International Limited (MIIL), recently entered into a conditional joint venture agreement with Myanmar Finance Company Limited (MFC), a Myanmar-based microfinance institution (MFI), to create Myanmar Finance International Limited (MFIL), which will be based in Myanmar and provide microfinance services in the country.

by Tejas Jain -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Asociación de Bancos del Perú (ASBANC) Partners with Ericsson to Implement Mobile Money System

The Asociación de Bancos del Perú (ASBANC), an association of 23 financial institutions in the country, has announced a partnership with Ericsson, a Sweden-based telecommunications company, with the aim of implementing a mobile money platform in Peru called Mobile Money.

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Myanmar: Demand, Supply, Policy and Regulation;” by Doubell Chamberlain et al; published by the Centre for Financial Regulation & Inclusion (CENFRI)

“Myanmar: Demand, Supply, Policy and Regulation;” by Doubell Chamberlain, Hennie Bester, Herman Smit, Christiaan Loots, Shirley Mburu, Ahmed Dermish, Lara Gidvani and David Saunders; published as a Making Access Possible (MAP) Study Synthesis Note by the Centre for Financial Regulation & Inclusion (CENFRI); 2014; 41 pages; available at     http://cenfri.org/documents/MAP/2014/MAP%20Myanmar%20Synthesis%20Note.pdf

This document covers an assessment of the retail financial services market in Myanmar as performed by the Making Access Possible (MAP) program, which was developed by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to support global financial inclusion.

by Ben Krupp -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company Purchases 10% Equity Stake in Rocket Internet for $445m with Eye on Mobile Payments

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), a Philippines-based telecommunications company, reportedly has purchased a 10-percent stake in Rocket Internet, a Germany-based web service provider and e-commerce investment firm, for EUR 333 million (USD 445 million).

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: South Korean Hana Bank Establishes Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Myanmar

Hana Bank, a Seoul-based commercial bank that is the primary banking subsidiary of South Korean Hana Financial Group, reportedly has announced the establishment of Hana Microfinance, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Myanmar.

by Sarah Luo -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Increases Maximum Microinsurance Benefits for Clients in the Philippines to $11k

The Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, has issued Circular Number 841, which amends the Manual of Regulation for Banks, increasing mandated maximum microinsurance premiums and benefits.

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade Donates $13m to Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP)

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Canberra-based government agency responsible for Australia’s international relations, trade and development assistance programs, reportedly will fund a three-year program with AUD 14.15 million (USD 13.13 million) to support the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP).

by Aliz Crowley -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Considers Implementing $27m Western Balkans “Women in Business” Financing Program

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a multilateral funder, is considering implementing a Western Balkans “Women in Business Financing Program” (WiB Program) in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia.

by Nisha Koul -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Philippines’ Government Announces $46m Fund to Support Microentrepreneurs Affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of the Philippines, a government body that allocates government resources with the intent of promoting the socio-economic development of the country, has announced that it will establish a Credit Support Fund (CSF) of PHP 2 billion (USD 45.7 million) to aid microentrepreneurs through the provision of microfinance in regions that are recovering from the effects of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) that affected the country in 2013 [1].

by Meraj Husain -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Mobile Money Agents in Uganda; Sustainable Microfinance; Mobile Money for the Global Unbanked

“Agent Network Accelerator Survey: Uganda Country Report 2013;” published by Helix Institute of Digital Finance; January 2014; 26 pages; available at http://www.helix-institute.com/data-and-insights/agent-network-accelerator-survey-%E2%80%93-uganda-country-report-2013-0

This document presents the results of a study conducted by the US-based nonprofit Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and India-based for-profit consultancy MicroSave that seeks to identify the challenges, trends and successes of the mobile money market in Uganda by surveying 2,000 agents.

by A'kos Szebeni -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: American Refugee Committee (ARC) Sells Liberia-based Liberty Finance to DCRB Investments

The American Refugee Committee (ARC), a US-based nonprofit that provides humanitarian assistance in Africa, Asia, Haiti, and the Middle East, recently announced that it has sold its Liberia-based microfinance institution, Liberty Finance, to DCRB Investments (DCRB), a private investment company based in Liberia.

by Meraj Husain -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Water, Sanitation and Microfinance Toolkit 1: Introduction to Opportunities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Finance,” Published by Water.org, MicroSave

“Water, Sanitation and Microfinance Toolkit 1: Introduction to Opportunities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Finance;” published by Water.org and MicroSave, 2013, 75 pages, available at http://www.washmicrofinance.org/

Water insecurity and unhygienic sanitation practices pose significant health and financial risks in the developing world.

by Chikondano Faith Chisala -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States and the European Union’s (ACP/EU) Microfinance Program Offers Scholarships for July Boulder Microfinance Training Through April 28, 2014

The microfinance program of the European Union and the 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States has announced that it is accepting applications for its last round of 46 scholarships for microfinance professionals from ACP member countries to attend the annual Italy-based Boulder Microfinance Training Program,

by Meraj Husain -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Supports Sovereign Lending for Public Sector Projects, Private Investments in Ukraine

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based financial institution, is putting together an economic support package for Ukraine that includes sovereign lending for public sector projects such as infrastructure development and increased funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

by A'kos Szebeni -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Applications Open for 2014 Seed Awards for Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Development Until April 8

The Seed Initiative, a Germany-based nonprofit institution that supports small-scale social and environmental enterprises in emerging economies, recently announced that it is accepting applications for the “2014 Seed Awards for Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Development,” a set of annual awards presented to entrepreneurs in developing countries that Seed deems to be the “…most promising, innovative and locally led…[and that have the] potential to contribute significantly to sustainable development…”.