by Vaughn Rajah -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Luxembourg Invests $25m in First Close of Green Earth Impact Fund, Managed by BlueOrchard, Schroders

The Luxembourg Ministry of Finance, the UK-based Schroders Group and its Switzerland-based unit BlueOrchard Finance recently announced the first closing of the Green Impact Earth Fund (GEIF) with a USD 25 million commitment from the Ministry of Finance. The fund

by Saulius Ramanauskas -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: UNCDF Announces Funding, Guarantees, Technical Assistance for Enterprises Reducing Environmental Impacts of Agriculture, Energy, Forestry in DRC

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) recently launched two new funding instruments to provide financial and technical assistance for enterprises that help address deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 95 percent of households rely on wood for cooking. One instrument, Investments Aimed at Quantifiably Reducing the Consumption of Wood Energy in DRC, offers technical assistance and grants valued at

by Benjamin Greissman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BlueOrchard Launches 2nd Private Equity Fund, Seeking to Invest $300m in Financial Inclusion of 30m Poor Households, MSMEs

BlueOrchard Finance, a Switzerland-based member of the UK-based Schroders Group, recently launched its BlueOrchard Financial Inclusion Fund, seeking to invest

by Teo Lin-Bianco -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EIB Lending Jordan Kuwait Bank $119m for SMEs Adjusting to COVID-19 Pandemic

Recently, the European Investment Bank (EIB), an entity of the EU, extended a credit line of EUR 100 million (USD 119 million) to Jordan Kuwait Bank in an effort to boost the Jordanian economy in response to the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are to be used for

by Teo Lin-Bianco -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Impact Investing World Forum; September 23-24, 2021; London, UK, with Virtual Option

The Impact Investing World Forum (IIWF) is focused on investments that are in line with concerns such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The event will feature speakers from

by Bradley Shulman -

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Savings and Climate Resilience;” by Elisa Sandri, Leonie Beckmann, James Robinson; Published by Itad

This paper explores how inclusive finance increases the ability of vulnerable populations to “anticipate, cope and adapt to climate shocks and stresses.” Savings groups, for example, can “enhance social capital by building group solidarity and networks,” and they have been successful outside of the financial arena, such as

by Tiannah Steele -

MICROFINANCE EVENT: Foro Latinoamericano de Inversión de Impacto (Latin American Impact Investing Forum); February 19-21, 2019; Merida, Mexico

This forum will host conversations among representatives of organizations that partake in and advocate for entrepreneurship in Latin America in general, and especially those focused on impact investing, a term that refers to investing with the dual aims of