Microfinance, Innovations, Sustainable Development

Achieving Sustainable Health Development in the African Region: Strategic Directions for WHO 2010–2015

2010-07-07T14:20:41.088-07:00

World Health Organization (WHO) is in a unique position to engage with countries through its regional and country offices. In the Regions, WHO focuses on providing support in line with country priorities as reflected in the Country Cooperation Strategies (CCS) which derive from the core functions of WHO.

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12 Famous Designers Creates Bikes for the Planet with One Heart Channel

2010-07-06T14:16:09.673-07:00

Because now Sustainable development has become a lifestyle and a source of daily inspiration, because beauty and fashion can help spread the word in a very attractive way, several big names in fashion such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Jean-Claude Jitrois, Jerome L'Huillier, Kenzo Takada, Marithe and Francois Girbaud, Ylan Anoufa, Swarovski by On Aura Tout Vu or Antik Batik have kindly agreed to support the operation Be Cycle & Fashion. Daily reports and bikes pictures on www.oneheartchannel.com.

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Unsustainability in Today's Sustainable Development

2010-07-05T13:17:59.811-07:00

The axiom "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime" is widely accepted among the international development community, and for good reason. But taken on its own, this axiom leaves out very important principles.

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Institutional Investors keen to invest in Microfinance

2010-07-04T13:06:33.805-07:00

The second day of ‘Microfinance Cracking the Capital Market’ Conference began with an insightful perspective on future Institutional Investments in the Indian microfinance space. Victoria White, Vice-President and Director, India, ACCION and Alok Prasad, Country Manager-Microfinance, Citi India welcomed the audience with a brief remark on the need and future prospect of institutional investments which the industry requires.

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Microfinance: Beware of the Press

2010-07-03T13:00:26.074-07:00

Microfinance is going mainstream as international investors look to boost the value and the reach of small microlending institutions. As a result, the industry is likely to attract mainstream scrutiny from the press.

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In Microfinance, a ‘Dot-Com’ Boom?

2010-07-02T12:57:24.818-07:00

With hundreds of fledgling entrepreneurs ready to change the world and maybe make millions while they do it, the buzz around the microfinance industry looks a bit like the dot-com boom at the end of the ’90s.

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Tourism contributes to the Millennium Development Goals

2010-07-01T13:24:04.182-07:00

With only five years left until the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations has launched the MDG Report 2010 calling for accelerated progress to reach the 2015 deadline. As the UN Specialized Agency for Tourism, UNWTO is firmly committed to fostering the tourism sector’s contribution to development.

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Ghana Islamic Microfinance

2010-07-01T12:54:29.375-07:00

The Ghana Islamic Microfinance www.ghanaislamicmicrofinance an upcoming microfinance institution that seeks to offer ethical micro financing in Ghana, campaign against predatory loans and offer interest free loans for both the Muslim and Non-Muslim community in Ghana have learnt with shock the passing away of Ibrahim Shaributu the brother of the National Chief Imam Sheik Nuhu Shaributu.

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Microfinance Goes Where Banks Fear to Tread

2010-06-30T05:57:09.267-07:00

Small businesses are turning to nontraditional lenders as banks reject many loan applications following the credit crunch.

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What Green Businesses Should Know About Microfinance

2010-06-29T05:52:36.368-07:00

With global markets still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis and the reputation of many traditional financial instruments tarnished, investments in microfinance institutions (MFIs) have emerged as a promising option. The basic business model of microfinance focuses on creating sustainable long-term economic value for all stakeholders. Leading MFIs are characterized by high portfolio quality and strong profitability and operate in a market with many still-to-be-realized opportunities.

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Suisse Bank and African Capital and Business Support Offer N1b Loan To Microfinance Banks

2010-06-29T05:45:44.87-07:00

Nigerian micro-finance banks can now get as much as N1 billion loan to finance small scale businesses in the country through a new partnership between the Suisse Bank Plc of London,Smart Links Limited of Dubai and the African Capital and Business Support Limited. The loan being offered by the partnership is interest free for the first one year and subject to repayment in four years thereafter,the Vice Chairman of ACBS,Benjamin Aduli said yesterday in Abuja.

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The Impact of Microfinance: Grameen Foundation Provides a Primer

2010-06-28T05:41:28.956-07:00

What's the impact of microfinance? A question with 150 million answers, one for every client around the world who receives microfinance services.

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G20 leaders to strike balance between debt and growth

2010-06-27T12:34:50.8536325-07:00

World leaders put the finishing touches on plans to build a more stable global economy on Sunday but backed away from one-size-fits-all pledges as two years of crisis give way to an uneven recovery.

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The other G20 issue: remember China?

2010-06-27T12:30:09.4383775-07:00

With our focus so firmly fixed on the tension between the U.S. accent on stimulus and the deficit preoccupations of Canada and Europe, the question of China’s place in the G20 has been pushed a bit to the side of this weekend’s summit.

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What is the G-20 ?

2010-06-27T05:31:03.483-07:00

The G-20 is the premier forum for our international economic development that promotes open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging-market countries on key issues related to global economic stability. By contributing to the strengthening of the international financial architecture and providing opportunities for dialogue on national policies, international co-operation, and international financial institutions, the G-20 helps to support growth and development across the globe.

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Won Leads Drop in Asian Currencies as Europe's Crisis Outweighs Yuan Move

2010-06-26T12:41:31.053-07:00

Asian currencies dropped this week, led by South Korea’s won, as concern Europe’s debt crisis will worsen outweighed the benefits to the region of China’s decision to end the yuan’s two-year peg.

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Rwanda: Leasing Sector to Double Next Year

2010-06-26T10:55:15.26-07:00

Rwanda's leasing industry is expected to grow from $30 million (Rwf17.5 billion) in 2010 to $60 million (Rwf35.1 billion) next year, the President of Rwanda Leasing Association, Sanjeev Anand said during the closing ceremony of the IFC Rwanda Leasing programme.

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G8 + G20: 'Poverty in Uganda is the never ending story'

2010-06-26T05:18:16.411-07:00

As world leaders gather for the G8 summit in Canada, Machrine Birungi visits Francis Kamara at his farm in Uganda to see if the promises made at Gleneagles in 2005 have benefitted him and his country.

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CGAP CEO to head overseas Private Investment Corporation OPIC

2010-06-25T12:50:11.086-07:00

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of former CGAP CEO Elizabeth Littlefield to head the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

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Microfinance: Risky and Expensive

2010-06-25T10:51:20.456-07:00

Private equity investments have put a premium on the valuation of microfinance companies when maybe they should be giving them a discount. By Eric Bellman

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Is $1 billion G-20 summit worth it?

2010-06-25T05:23:06.139-07:00

As Dr. Evil learned in the Austin Powers movies, $1 billion isn't quite what it used to be. The upcoming G8 and G-20 summits in Toronto are expected to top $1 billion in costs. At such a large price tag, it's reasonable to ask if the meetings are worth it. But former top White House aides say that even with the hefty price, the meetings more than pay for themselves in both tangible and intangible ways.

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VIEW: The framework of hope —Anum Raza Hasan

2010-06-24T11:15:15.205-07:00

Motivations and initiatives should not be judged on how much or how little they can do. These remain the single most visible sign of a society that is alive.

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40m Euros for microfinance sector in Ghana and Nigeria

2010-06-24T10:48:16.481-07:00

The micro-finance sector in Ghana and Nigeria has received a boost through a 40 million Euro fund, which was launched by Goodwell Investments of The Netherlands, Alitheia Capital of Nigeria and JCS Investments from Ghana.

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Women's World Banking Ghana Meets Needs Of Rural Customers

2010-06-23T11:07:42.7534426-07:00

Technology-leading African microfinance institution continues its commitment to innovation and delivery of enhanced banking solutions with field-based account origination solution. In keeping with emerging trends in microfinance banking, Women’s World Banking Ghana (WWBG) continues its commitment to innovation with the deployment of a digital writing solution from ExpeData .

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Microfinance Organization Pro Mujer Wins Morgan Stanley Social Enterprise Strategy Challenge

2010-06-23T10:38:44.088-07:00

Morgan Stanley on June 16 announced microfinance organization Pro Mujer as the winner of the second annual Morgan Stanley Social Enterprise Strategy Challenge. This initiative features teams of Morgan Stanley employees providing pro-bono strategic advice to non-profits and competing for the honor of the best pro-bono advisor. The team developing business strategy recommendations for Pro Mujer was selected as the winner for providing the highest-impact analysis and advice.

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Helping people help themselves – Microfinance in action in Timor- Leste

2010-06-22T11:24:45.661-07:00

Helping women from poor households to establish small businesses is the daily work of the Timorese microfinance institution Tuba Rai Metin (TRM). Their belief is that the prosperity of Timor-Leste has to be built upon the prosperity of the most important structure in society, the family unit.

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CGAP elects Indian as Executive Committee Chairman

2010-06-22T10:41:39.953-07:00

The global micro finance body set up by World Bank has elected India's Vijay Mahajan as Chairman of its Executive Committee.

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IFC Partners eTranzact on MobileMoney Project

2010-06-21T11:00:28.067-07:00

As part of efforts to bridge the gap between the banked and the unbanked population of Nigeria, eTranzact in conjunction with International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have embarked on a pilot project for the rural areas in Nigeria called Rural Telephony Project (RTP) MobileMoney.

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Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Award winners

2010-06-20T13:36:40.722-07:00

The Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Awards were created to help smaller enterprises learn the best practices of triple bottom line sustainability – strong financial, environmental, and community performance – from one another.

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Microfinance Could Be Bigger than Banking

2010-06-20T11:57:56.506-07:00

Microfinance — making tiny loans to poor people or groups of poor people — has soared in India in the past few years. Before long, it could reach more people in India than the regular banking system.

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How illiterate women became entrepreneurs

2010-06-20T11:53:04.106-07:00

This is an extraordinary story of women's empowerment in rural India. Women in Satara district in Maharashtra run a bank and a B-school successfully.

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Janta Provides Microfinance Loans for India’s Kids

2010-06-19T11:44:03.588-07:00

Sunny Mahant had been working as a product marketing manager for nine years at Cisco when he experienced an epiphany on a trip to India. On that trip, Mahant and his wife, photographer Geidre Nakutyte, witnessed firsthand the brutish conditions under which very young children work in India, and the extreme poverty suffered by their families. He came home determined to make a difference in the lives of young Indians.

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Microfinance emerges beyond conventional markets

2010-06-18T11:30:00.03-07:00

Offbeat financal avenues find buyers slowly but steadily. With the global meltdown behind, European debt crisis ahead, global economists are busy pondering new sectors like microfinance, carbon finance, water credit and so on to find hope for market expansion.

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Lawyer starts Bad Girl Ventures

2010-06-17T11:36:29.652-07:00

A 29-year-old lawyer is kicking off a new microfinance organization Tuesday that will help others as she herself was helped.

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Banking on Change Launched in Ghana

2010-06-16T11:39:49.768-07:00

Barclays and international development organisations CARE International (CARE) and Plan have launched Banking on Change in Ghana, a unique and pioneering microfinance initiative aimed at reaching half a million people in ten countries across the world and sixty three thousand people in Ghana.

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Burden of Financing Grassroots Economy

2010-06-12T13:07:34.651-07:00

Grassroots people identify easily with developmental banking, which is the reason they set money aside daily (Esusu) that would be used to grow their business as well as finance their families. So, it becomes a plus for them to have a private institution that provides funding for their business as well as refinance it in case there is misfortune that could prevent them from repaying their loans.

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How oil boom becomes oil doom: can Ghana use oil as a new window of development opportunity?

2010-06-11T13:03:18.488-07:00

Ghana is on test as it prepares for oil production. But oil endowment itself is not a doom. How it is managed could make it a boom or a doom. While it requires a lot of sacrifice and patience to make the boom work for the economy, the country cannot equally ignore the higher price to pay if the oil resources are not managed well.

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Low awareness may mar CBN’s m-Payment regulation

2010-06-10T12:54:09.49-07:00

As applicants await approval to operate mobile payment in Nigeria, stakeholders complain that the issue of low awareness must be addressed to ensure success

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South Africa: Business Confidence takes a dive

2010-06-10T05:04:21.088-07:00

Business confidence fell unexpectedly in the second quarter of this year, led by a plunge in retail trade and the vehicle industry and suggesting that economic growth has slowed, a leading survey showed yesterday.

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In Nigeria, power is about 40% cost of production

2010-06-09T12:46:27.864-07:00

Lack of sufficient capital to support Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) is said be responsible for the failure of microfinance banks in the country, just as the management of TechnoGlass Industries Limited(TGI) lamented the huge monthly electricity bill paid to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) without getting the desired services from PHCN.

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IBM launches microfinance IT service platform in Peru

2010-06-08T13:18:20.3030878-07:00

The conditions for investment and growth in Peru prompted IBM to develop a center to provide microfinance services in this South American country. Jaime Garcia Echecopar, general director for IBM in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay, announced the launch of this project.

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Nigeria: SMEDAN signs MoU with six Microfinance Banks on micro-credit

2010-06-08T12:32:09.9386173-07:00

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with six Microfinance Banks on the provision of micro credit for small and medium scale enterprises in the country. The pact will also enable business owners in the country to benefit from entrepreneurship training programmes put together by SMEDAN and the microfinance banks.

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Nigeria: Integrated Microfinance Bank's Dream Not Dead

2010-06-07T12:40:30.625-07:00

Despite the challenges that the board and management of Integrated Microfinance Bank, IMFB, have been faced with, it is determined to come out stronger and bigger. In this interview, IMFB's Managing Director, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, takes us through the events of the past 9 months, steps being taken to regain public confidence and the recent injection of funds by an investor.

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CBN jerks up capital base of micro-finance banks by 500%

2010-06-06T13:13:47.702-07:00

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to increase the minimum paid-up capital of Unit Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs) by 500 per cent to N100 million. It also increased that of State MFBs by 100 per cent to N2 billion. Under the micro-finance bank policy introduced in 2006, there are two categories of MFBs -State MFBs and Unit MFBs.

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From Change-A-Life, a reward for excellence and hard work

2010-06-02T12:59:00.746-07:00

For little Nkamere Precious, Opayemi Toluwani, Ebuka Uba, Umoh Uwana and Miss Ngozi Ogudu, the 2010 Children’s Day will ever be remembered for the impact it is going to make in their lives. It was the day they were rewarded for their outstanding performance and achievements for the year with a minimum of between 10 As and 14 As out of 12 to 16 subjects they sat for in their various schools.

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Funding the future of social enterprise

2010-03-30T20:17:39.045-07:00

Ten years ago, it was not fashionable for social enterprises to take loans. Even if they wanted to, nobody would lend them money... Many small social investment firms have emerged recently.

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Grameen Foundation Expanding Technology for Microfinance Initiative Working With Support From The MasterCard and Cisco Foundations

2010-03-30T19:51:11.352-07:00

Grameen Foundation announced it is expanding its technology for microfinance initiative to provide enhanced support to high-growth, mid-size microfinance institutions (MFIs) serving up to one million clients.

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Atlanta: Birthplace of Sustainability?

2010-03-14T15:20:18.235-07:00

If Atlanta was the crucible from which these two movements sprang forth, why shouldn't Atlanta also be the place where a third movement will also originate - a third movement that will complete the sustainability triad and anoint Atlanta as the birthplace of sustainability?

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Enhancing Financial Inclusiveness: CGAP, Deutsche Bank, Grameen-Jameel and Islamic Development Bank Partner to Launch 'Islamic Microfinance Challenge 2010'

2010-03-13T10:36:15.172-07:00

CGAP, Deutsche Bank, Grameen-Jameel and Islamic Development Bank have joined forces to challenge the Islamic microfinance industry to develop new ideas for business models.

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Are microfinance institutions in a mire?

2010-03-13T10:27:50.113-07:00

Even as financial inclusion emerges as one of the top goals of government and Reserve Bank of India, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which are the pioneers of financial inclusion, are finding themselves in a bit of soup, strangely enough for fats growth and for big profits. So are MFIs doing too much too fast?

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Sustainable development: Definition

2010-03-12T11:50:09.456-07:00

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

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Great female IT role models: Sheetal Mehta

2010-03-11T11:22:40.779-07:00

Sheetal Mehta is founder of Shanti Microfinance, which is a social enterprise charity that provides access to technology and capital for entrepreneurs in slums and villages in Gujarat, India.

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Boost for Mobile Banking for the Unbanked

2010-03-11T11:10:16.815-07:00

CGAP, an independent microfinance center based at the World Bank, today announced a new partnership with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to expand ongoing global efforts to use information and communication technologies (ICT), especially mobile phones, to increase access to basic financial services for the poor. In addition to a 2006 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CGAP funding, DFID will provide GBP 8 million to the CGAP Technology Program.

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Microinsurance industry sees profits from the poor

2010-02-28T16:04:59.598-07:00

Slum-dweller Krustin bin Juri lost everything when floodwaters swept through his home and shop on the banks of Jakarta’s filthy Ciliwung river two years ago. But when the next flood hits, and it will because Jakarta sees frequent floods in the rainy season, bin Juri may have a modicum of protection thanks to a low-cost insurance policy that he purchased this month. He is among millions of the world’s poor who are covered for natural disasters by cheap insurance, or microinsurance, as commercial firms recognise that insuring the poor is not just good public relations but also profitable.

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Microfinance: yet another definition

2010-02-28T13:55:10.185-07:00

Microfinance is a term for the practice of providing financial services, such as microcredit, microsavings or microinsurance to poor people. By helping them to accumulate usably large sums of money, this expands their choices and reduces the risks they face. Suggested by the name, most transactions involve small amounts of money, frequently less than US$100.

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Bloom Energy reveals new 'Bloom Box' fuel cell technology

2010-02-28T13:45:32.439-07:00

Silicon Valley company Bloom Energy revealed its heavily hyped and closely guarded solid oxide fuel cell on Wednesday, heralding the technology as a likely clean-tech game-changer. The system is already in use by companies like Google, eBay, FedEx, Staples and Wal-Mart.

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Saving holds key to women's empowerment

2010-02-27T16:10:24.174-07:00

Once upon a time, Sumitra used to roam the streets of the Indian city of Ahmedabad, collecting discarded caps which could be recycled and sold back to manufacturers such as Coca-Cola.

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Nigeria: Clickatell Provides SMS to Microfinance Bank

2010-02-27T16:00:17.944-07:00

Clickatell, a vendor of messaging, is providing in-country SMS alert services to Satelite Microfinance Bank.

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Financial Women's Association Events Calendar

2010-02-26T15:46:42.558-07:00

A permanent Calendar about the events of the FWA. The Financial Women’s Association brings together high achieving professionals from every sector of the financial world.

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How to protect the world's most vulnerable banking clients.

2010-02-25T15:39:15.139-07:00

In reaction to the financial crisis, the U.S. banking industry and its regulators have been forced to seek new consumer protections that will put the industry on stronger ground. In marked contrast, one global subsector of the financial industry is moving proactively to ensure that client protection remains at the core of its business model. That subsector is microfinance, the provision of loans and other financial services to the poor worldwide.

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Kiva President Premal Shah on the company's mission to fight poverty by lending to entrepreneurs

2010-02-24T15:52:25.884-07:00

Kiva President Premal Shah on the company's mission to fight poverty by lending to entrepreneurs. Video at Forbes.com

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Nigeria: Data on borrowers now critical to lenders

2010-02-24T15:33:32.61-07:00

Ladi Smith, director, SIAO, in this interview with Daniel Obi, says Credit Awareness Nigeria Initiative is geared towards sensitising lenders on the need for credit information to avoid non-performing loans.

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Mobile money faces plastic barriers in Europe

2010-02-20T16:13:16.751-07:00

The ubiquity of the credit card and the impact of the recession mean the move to use a mobile phone to make payments and conduct banking is likely to be a slow and tortuous affair in Europe.

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Nairobi To Host Global Microcredit Summit In April

2010-02-13T17:17:57.2621444-07:00

The summit will focus on urban poverty by bringing attendees to visit any of the seven leading microfinance organizations in Kenya.

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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: New Microfinance Bill in Indian Parliament Would Remove Microloan Interest Rate Cap

2010-02-13T17:13:22.111-07:00

A new microfinance bill that was recently introduced in the Indian Parliament would remove the cap on microloan interest rates. Although there would be no cap on interest rates, the regulatory body would “advise” microfinance institutions to keep rates low and would “closely monitor” them, according to government officials.

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Nigeria: Spring Bank Rewards Its Customers

2010-02-13T17:09:57.4276074-07:00

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been advised to shelve its proposed plan to conduct examination for all managing directors of registered microfinance banks across the country.

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Micro loans, macro gains

2010-02-13T16:49:44.5915193-07:00

Will regulating the microfinance market in Egypt help breach a gap between supply and demand? Sherine Nasr seeks answers

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Deal agreed on sources of funding for micro-finance facility

2010-02-12T16:43:54.223-07:00

MEPs gave the green light for EU funding to help Europe's unemployed start up small businesses. Credit will be made available to budding entrepreneurs through a "microfinance facility" funded partly from the existing Progress programme and partly from unallocated money in the EU budget.

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Microlending site makes advances in France

2010-02-11T17:25:04.461-07:00

Online sites like Babyloan or Kiva have taken the idea of lending small sums to help lift people out of poverty to create a direct personal link between lenders and borrowers.

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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Association (MA) Launches Global Academy Program (GAP), Seeks Internship Sites for Students

2010-02-11T17:07:22.836-07:00

The Microfinance Association (MA), an international membership organization for practitioners in the microfinance industry, has launched its Global Academy Program (GAP). The three-month program, developed by MA and Marconi University of Italy, is aimed at graduates seeking to develop a professional career in microfinance or international development.

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WORLD BANK VIDEO: MONGOLIA: MICROFINANCE HELPS RURAL BUSINESSES

2010-02-10T16:55:31.553-07:00

In Mongolia, a microfinance system supported by The World Bank and its international partners helps create business opportunities in poor rural areas through the Mongolia Microfinance Development Fund and brings development to remote areas that have been severely affected by the global economic downturn.

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Angel Acquisition Corp. Announces 3.5 Million Dollar Private Investment for Microfinance Web Portal

2010-02-09T17:03:16.45-07:00

Angel Acquisition Corp. ("Angel Acquisition Corp." or the "Company") (OTCBB: AGEL) announced today that the Company has signed a financing agreement with a Private Investor to partner with Angel's new micro financing, micro banking and micro lending network www.angelsinaction.tv

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Bankers without Borders to expand microfinance programme

2010-02-09T16:42:16.756-07:00

Bankers without Borders, a nonprofit that recruits finance executives to volunteer their time and expertise at microfinance projects in developing countries, has secured a $3m grant from JPMorgan Chase to expand the programme.

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ACCION: Microfinance is a solid investment in economic growth

2010-02-08T16:38:59.228-07:00

Microfinance, perhaps best known as a means of helping small business owners in developing countries move out of poverty, is one source already in place in the United States. These organizations make small loans and other financial services available to low- and moderate-income businesses.

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Microcredit Offensive: Taliban Threatened by Microfinance in Afghanistan

2010-02-07T17:37:09.368-07:00

Shah Mohammad Mir is the director of the Helmand Islamic Investment and Finance Corporation (HIIFC), an Islamic credit union, which makes microloans to farmers and other microentrepreneurs. Some farmers that previously grew poppies with Taliban-provided inputs have used loans to buy their own seeds and other supplies to grow wheat and other food crops. To comply with Shariah, Islamic law, loans do not bear interest but instead are repaid with a 2 percent administrative fee. Mr Mir says that the loans, normally for no more than USD 2,000 each, have enabled over 30 people to leave the Taliban. As a result, Mr Mir has received threatening phone calls and had guns fired outside his home. He left town for a short while, but has returned to operate HIIFC’s three branches, which have lent USD 1 million to 1,441 people since late 2007. Regarding the unrest in his country, Mr Mir says: “If we can get rid of the unemployment that should bring security.”

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OPINION: Reinventing microfinance in Pakistan

2010-02-06T17:33:14.71-07:00

Poverty certainly emerged as the single most problem that lies at the heart of modern day crisis. It quite recently has assumed alarming proportions. Many efforts were made in the past but they could not wholly succeed. Among significant tools, the microfinance was also used for getting rid of poverty which quite recently plagued the whole world. There is always a room for innovation to be introduced to already existing structures. Though microfinance made some gains in alleviating it but with sufficient services the amount invested lie in the danger of being spent on the items of daily use owing to extreme poverty.

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Pakistan: Islamic banking to be introduced in microfinance

2010-02-05T17:42:46.61-07:00

The Governor State Bank Syed Salim Raza said Islamic banking will be launched in microfinance sector.

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Namibia: First Micro-Finance Bank Gets Licence to Operate

2010-02-05T17:20:21.165-07:00

NAMIBIA's first micro-finance bank is a reality after the Bank of Namibia (BoN) yesterday granted Fides Bank Namibia a permanent banking licence.

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About Microfinance : Yet another point of view

2010-02-03T15:49:53.749-07:00

Microfinance: Trading bread for briquettes—MFIs are a new type of charity. Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean you have to give up on giving. While supporting traditional environmental charities is a wonderful way to make a difference, you might also want to consider giving to eco-oriented microfinance institutions (MFIs). An MFI differs from a traditional aid program in that it lends, rather than donates, money at a low interest rate, which allows people to invest in small scale entrepreneurial projects of their own choosing.

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Damian Von Stauffenberg: State Of Global Microfinance

2010-02-03T14:27:13.739-07:00

MicroRate is the first rating agency dedicated to measuring the performance of microfinance institutions ("MFIs"). MicroRate's rating teams visit MFIs and "kick their tires". Statement of Damian von Stauffenberg Chairman and Founder MicroRate. Committee on House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.

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