Microfinance, Innovations, Sustainable Development - NGOs

World Council of Credit Unions

Gerard — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:52:55 GMT

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the leading international trade association and development agency for credit unions. WOCCU promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. WOCCU advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

World Concern: Reaching 153,000 AIDS orphans

Gerard — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:59:45 GMT

While it's sometimes hard to quantify success, one thing is certain – the ripple effect and long-term effects of good development work impact more people for generations to come than any of us will know.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Afganistan: Microfinance faces hurdles in empowering women

Gerard — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:42:42 GMT

More than 1.5mn loans worth $831mn have been given out in the past seven years, said the Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA), which was set up by the government in 2003 to coordinate the sector. Thirty years of conflict have shattered Afghanistan’s economy and infrastructure, leaving two-thirds of the roughly 30mn population illiterate and at least a third in dire poverty.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Sri Lanka: Harassment of women will be eradicated - Minister Tissa Karalliyadde

Gerard — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 20:17:34 GMT

"Harassment of women and domestic violence goes back to centuries. It continues to be in force today in many parts of the world including Sri Lanka. It must be eliminated at all costs" said Child Development and Women Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadde addressing the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) held in Port Macquarie, Australia on the theme 'Prevention of violence against women'.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Kiva.org and KIEDF Partner to Bring Online Microfinance to Israel

Gerard — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 16:00:19 GMT

Kiva, the world's first personal micro-lending website, has teamed with KIEDF (Koret Israel Economic Development Funds) to launch its first and only partnership with an Israeli microfinance institution. This alliance will allow individuals anywhere to make small loans through the Kiva website to Bedouin women of the Negev, Arab Israelis in northern Israel, and other low-income populations throughout Israel.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Opinions: How Microfinance Lost its Soul

Gerard — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:46:20 GMT

Microfinance has lost its soul. Six fundamental shifts in the practice of microfinance have left it operating more like a for-profit bank and less like an innovative pro-poor movement.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Muhammad Yunus: Microfinance Guru under Pressure

Gerard — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:29:39 GMT

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is under pressure after critics accused him of misusing development aid. The father of microfinance told SPIEGEL ONLINE the allegations are "a total fabrication."

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

An appeal from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales

Gerard — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:30:26 GMT

Jimmy Wales founder of Wikipedia is appealing for donations to support the activity of the open encyclopedia

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Zambia: Gender and Rural Finance workshop at Lusaka

Gerard — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 21:57:14 GMT

The grant funded a one day workshop in Lusaka to look at gender issues in rural microfinance programmes. 43 people participated in the workshop, including managers and gender specialists from government ministries, financial institutions, community based organizations and NGOs, donors and colleges. There was also participation from IFAD and FAO.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Cyprus : Females in the Arts announce Nicosia Regional Branch

Gerard — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:47:28 GMT

Since the launch of FITA in January 2010, the Group has rapidly expanded with new Members teaming-up together to generate awareness in Cyprus of female artists, artisans and designers.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Opportunity International Encourages Citizen Diplomacy and Economic Empowerment

Gerard — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:17:24 GMT

Claudia Kennedy, Member of Opportunity's Board of Advisors and First Woman U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Encourages Individuals to Recognize Their Power to Improve People's Lives Around the World.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Big concerns over small loans

Gerard — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:03:50 GMT

The recent controversy surrounding the microfinance sector has entirely eclipsed the fact that it is the first effort in India to have delivered financial services to remote corners of the country in a self-sustaining manner. The stakes are high for India’s poor, and we have to pave the way for orderly growth in the sector. Here is our view on some key issues that have featured in the current debate.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Opportunity International: Giving the Poor a Working Chance

Gerard — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:49:10 GMT

Opportunity co-founder and former president of Bristol Myers International Corporation, the late Al Whittaker, encountered poverty as he travelled throughout the world in the 1960’s and 70’s. He asked the people he met: “What do you need?” They replied: "Work. With jobs, we will solve our own problems."

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Azerbaijan familiarizes with best practice for successful transformation of microfinance organizations into bank

Gerard — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:47:11 GMT

The International Financial Corporation (IFC), entering into the World Bank (WB) Group, together with the Financial Commission on Regulation of Mongolia and Micro-Finance Development Fund (MFDF) has organized awareness-raising tour to Mongolia on studying of legislative practice on microfinancing for regulators from Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Branchless Banking 2010: Is the hype justified?

Gerard — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:23:23 GMT

After several years of very high profile attention on mobile money and other branchless banking schemes, we think it’s time to test the hype. Or more accurately, we’ve wanted to for awhile. But acquiring good data is really, really hard. We’ve been unable to say in anything but a fragmented, mostly anecdotal way whether the unbanked really use branchless banking, what they use it for, if it saves them any money, and what more they might want (but aren’t getting yet). Just because we are excited about branchless banking doesn’t mean it is living up to the promises we make on its behalf.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI) Invests $4.5m in Kenya Women Finance Trust – Deposit Taking Microfinance (KWFT-DTM) and Uganda Finance Trust (UFT)

Gerard — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:41:19 GMT

The Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI), a partnership between the Norwegian public and private sectors that provides assistance for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing countries, recently loaned KES 325 million (approximately USD 4.03 million) to Kenya Women Finance Trust – Deposit Taking Microfinance (KWFT- DTM), a microfinance institution based in Nairobi, Kenya, and UGX 1.25 billion (approximately USD 548,000) to the Uganda Finance Trust (UFT), an MFI in Kampala, Uganda, to support microenterprises.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

African Development Bank Supports African Women Entrepreneurs

Gerard — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:18:59 GMT

Women entrepreneurs constitute one of the key drivers of Africa's sustainable growth. As Africa's lead development partner, the African Development Bankactively supports women entrepreneurs.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Canada pledges $43.4M in aid to Francophone African countries

Gerard — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:59:53 GMT

Canada will invest $43.4-million in new aid to Francophone African countries, the most tangible product of Stephen Harper’s trip to the weekend’s summit of Francophone nations. The funding, part of $1.1-billion in aid that the Conservative government promised in June to protect mothers and their children at the G8 summit of leading developed nations in Huntsville, Muskoka, will help protect 1.1 million women and children from malnourishment and sexual violence.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

South India: Samasta Microfinance

Gerard — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:46:10 GMT

Samasta Microfinance is a public limited, for profit Non Banking Financial Company, established in March 2008. We offer microfinance solutions to the urban and rural poor in South India, and currently operate in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Their aim is to drive social change and be a catalyst for entrepreneurial ambition by providing a host of financial and non-financial products to our members. Their loan products are geared towards income generation supplemented by loans for education and social commitments. Samasta's operations use the Joint Liability Group (JLG) model.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Gerard — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:27:56 GMT

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) at Colorado State University provides innovative training in community-based development (online and face-to-face), consultation, evaluation, and project support services for individuals and governmental, international non-governmental, and community-based organizations around the world.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Village Earth : Sustainable Village Based Development

Gerard — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:39:48 GMT

Village Earth's mission is to help reconnect communities to the resources that promote human well-being by enhancing social and political empowerment, community self-reliance and self-determination.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Rural Finance Learning Centre

Gerard — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:33:45 GMT

Rural Finance is about providing financial services for people living in rural areas. This Learning Centre aims to assist organisations in developing countries to build their capacity to deliver improved financial services which meet the needs of rural households and businesses.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Asian Microfinance Forum 2010 concludes with success

Gerard — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 09:25:41 GMT

The three-day Asian Microfinance Forum 2010 wrapped up bringing to a close three full days of conferences, panel sessions and seminars all of which were well attended by almost 500 delegates from 50 countries who were in Colombo for the event as well as many local industrialists, bankers and other interested parties.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Banks encouraged to target small businesses

Gerard — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:59:55 GMT

Thirty-five bankers and trainers from 15 institutions in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam yesterday participated in a training programme on building sustainable small and medium-sized banking operations in HCM City.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Cameroon’s Banks, Microfinance Institutions Required to Increase Capital Reserves

Gerard — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:08:30 GMT

A group of financial experts has ordered all commercial banks in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, to raise the minimum amount of their capital reserves.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Few Sub-Saharan Africans Aware of Local Microfinance Options

Gerard — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:40:55 GMT

Residents in sub-Saharan African countries report a wide range of awareness about the availability of microfinance lending in their communities, suggesting these institutions remain locally inaccessible to many who would benefit most from using them. Malawians (65%) and Ugandans (63%) are the most likely to say they are aware of these institutions in their communities, while respondents from Ivory Coast (18%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (16%), and Zimbabwe (15%) are the least likely to say the same.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Africa: Book Notes

Gerard — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:33:55 GMT

This AfricaFocus contains a diverse selection of recent books likely to be of interest and new to AfricaFocus readers. You will find, for example, new books by Africa's distinguished elders, such as Achebe, wa Thiong'o, and Mandela. Selected new books from publishers such as Africa World Press, HSRC Press, and Aflame Books. Books on topical themes such as SMS activism and other ICT developments, on India and China's relations with Africa, and on xenophobia and migration. And more.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Ghana: Prestigious US$350,000 Africa Entrepreneurship Prize Launched

Gerard — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:54:07 GMT

2010 Legatum Africa Awards to Recognise and Reward Africa's Entrepreneurial Business Leaders. Awards Ceremony to be Hosted in Accra, Ghana

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:20:41 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Unsustainability in Today's Sustainable Development

Gerard — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:17:59 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

In Microfinance, a ‘Dot-Com’ Boom?

Gerard — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:57:24 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Speakers booked for the inaugural 2010 Innovative Giving Conference

Gerard — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:51:59 GMT

Non-profit industry leaders, telephone carriers and technologists are joining the Innovative Giving Conference entitled ‘Mobile Giving and Communication Demystified’ held September 27th – 28th in Malibu

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:18:16 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

40m Euros for microfinance sector in Ghana and Nigeria

Gerard — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:48:16 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Microfinance Organization Pro Mujer Wins Morgan Stanley Social Enterprise Strategy Challenge

Gerard — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:38:44 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:24:45 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Award winners

Gerard — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:36:40 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

How illiterate women became entrepreneurs

Gerard — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:53:04 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Janta Provides Microfinance Loans for India’s Kids

Gerard — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:44:03 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:51:11 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Financial Women's Association Events Calendar

Gerard — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:46:42 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:39:15 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

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

Gerard — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:52:25 GMT

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

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Nairobi To Host Global Microcredit Summit In April

Gerard — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:17:57 GMT

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

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

ACCION: Microfinance is a solid investment in economic growth

Gerard — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:38:59 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Investing in Haiti's People, Microfinance and Opportunity

Gerard — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:18:30 GMT

"The relief effort is intense right now, and we know that Haiti needs food, water and medicine immediately, but Haiti will also need foundational support for it's economy"

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Gates at Davos: $10B vaccine program could save 8.7M lives

Gerard — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:40:28 GMT

Bill and Melinda Gates announced plans Friday to invest $10 billion in the fight against a number of illnesses including AIDS and said the record donation could save nearly nine million lives. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, they said the 10-year program will focus on vaccines for AIDS, tuberculosis, rota virus and pneumonia.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Sejal Hathi Empowers Girls

Gerard — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:44:19 GMT

Founder of an international nonprofit, a speaker before the World Bank, Presidential Scholar, a veteran in microfinance, participant in a discussion with the Dalai Lama — the graduating senior from San Jose's Notre Dame High School has packed more into her slender years than most people do into a lifetime. And she's not yet 18.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Debriefing Jacqueline Novogratz

Gerard — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:53:19 GMT

Jacqueline Novogratz interviewed by David Serchuk (Forbes). Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and chief executive officer of Acumen Fund, a nonprofit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to combat global poverty.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Dana Dakin: How I Started a Microfinance Program

Gerard — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:23:39 GMT

Be sure to read Founder, Dana Dakin’s Story of how she traveled to Ghana in 2003 on the occasion of her sixtieth birthday to find a village and start a microlending program.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .