Microfinance, Innovations, Sustainable Development - Organisation

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 .

Nigeria's top banker wins international recognition

Gerard — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:21:56 GMT

Nigeria is frequently cited as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, but its central banker has won two international banking awards. Mallam Lamido Aminu Sanusi has been named as the Central Bank Governor of 2010 for both the African continent and the entire world, by the prestigious Banker Magazine.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Three Innovation Takeaways from Asia

Gerard — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:18:29 GMT

The West is overly discounting Asia's growth potential. Innovation has never been more accessible. We're on the verge of a golden age of innovation. The human side of innovation must be addressed. More focus must go to solving the first mile problem... Written by Scott Anthony from Singapore

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 .

Good News Bank Story? Global Sustainable Banking Network Expands

Gerard — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 08:11:31 GMT

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of the world's leading sustainable banks, announces four new members today from South America, North America, and Europe. The banks join nine founding banks committed to building a better financial future in challenging times.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Shanti Microfinance Launches $772K MFI Fund

Gerard — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 02:24:36 GMT

Shanti Microfinance, a not-for-profit organization, is raising a $772,000 (£500,000) fund backed by UK and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The firm has already disbursed £10k (USD) and plans to start its operations in Gujarat before moving to Mumbai next year.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Why biodiversity loss and climate change are equal threats

Gerard — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:56:47 GMT

Our biggest ally will be lost if we do not protect and enhance biodiversity in forests and other systems. Since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the media and many organisations have pursued as separate narratives the issues of climate, biodiversity and sustainable development. One of the changes this year, at a UN level, has been recognition that this does not make sense.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Global launch of GEO Legacy Guidance for sustainable golf development

Gerard — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:40:57 GMT

The Golf Environment Organization's GEO Legacy Guidance launched to widespread acclaim following previews at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Bangkok and the European Golf Course Owners Association Conference in London.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Technology: IBM predicts five big tech innovations coming by 2015

Gerard — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:21:00 GMT

IBM unveils its fifth annual "Next Five in Five" -- a list of innovations with the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next five years. The Next Five in Five is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBM's Labs around the world that can make these innovations possible.

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 .

Lao stock exchange to begin trading on January 11 and get its first IPOs launch

Gerard — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:13:34 GMT

The Lao Securities Exchange is scheduled to start trading the shares of two state enterprises on January 11, state media reports said Wednesday.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Opinion: The Myths Behind Microfinance

Gerard — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:40:31 GMT

Debate over the value of microfinance in the developing world appears to be long overdue. Arguments against microfinance center around the claim that it is a development strategy increasingly forced on the poor, and that those who are claimed to benefit from it the most--poor women--are actually its chief victims. Critics have long sought a platform to reveal the weaknesses and explode the myths supporting microfinance.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Facebook for farmers: Technology empowers China's rural workers

Gerard — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:12:34 GMT

China Mobile's Nongxintong - or farming information service - launched four years ago. The company is currently focusing on expanding its delivery in China's west and south-west regions. "Building the mobile network and covering most of the country's administrative villages, we realised that there was only a network signal. In rural areas, this is not enough," explains Liu Jing, a local manager for the service at China Mobile.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes launches Jumo, social network for social activism

Gerard — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:09:05 GMT

Hughes, who left Facebook in 2007 to become the Obama campaign's director of online organizing, soft-launched Jumo last March. Jumo was designed to let users find, follow and support the causes important to them, and with 3,500 organizations on board at launch, would-be philanthropists should be able to find and follow something of interest upon joining.

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 .

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 .

University of North Carolina: Simulcast lectures broaden microfinance horizon

Gerard — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:35:39 GMT

Using Skype as a medium, a lecture at the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business was broadcast to UNC students along with students at other schools. The streamed lecture was part of an ongoing series that allows students to have access to the most prominent minds in microfinance.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

China: Postal Savings Bank's Microfinance

Gerard — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:53:51 GMT

Rural credit is changing the face of the Chinese countryside. The need for financing in rural areas is growing, but capital is still flowing out of the rural market. The Postal Savings Bank of China has provided us with a case to consider when pondering how rural microfinance can provide a sustainable business model.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

WAM: Women Advancing Microfinance International

Gerard — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:21:32 GMT

WAM began in 2003 after women professionals in the microfinance industry, most of them based in Washington, DC, began meeting, at first informally in each others' homes. This growing group of WAM Founders came together to discuss areas of common concern, to decide if a more formal organization made sense, to explore what such an organization might do to support women who work in the microfinance industry and, ultimately, to support the development of the industry itself. After several months of planning and program design, WAM was formally launched in October 2003. Membership has grown steadily since.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Europe: Google, Facebook to face tougher EU privacy rules

Gerard — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:18:50 GMT

The European Union (EU) wants stronger privacy rules to give Internet users more control over how social-networking sites such as Facebook, or search engines such as Google use their personal information.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Rise of the social entrepreneur

Gerard — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:58:50 GMT

rise of entrepreneurial innovations that use mainstream financial instruments to facilitate social development. Corporate social investment (CSI) experts predict that a growing merger between social entrepreneurship and CSI will be one of the world's top trends in the future.

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 .

Middle East And North Africa "Social Entrepreneurs Of The Year"

Gerard — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:38:14 GMT

Two Social Entrepreneurs one from Morocco and one from Tunisia - were recognized as leading social innovators during a plenary session at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, Marrakech, Morocco on 26 October. The awards were conferred by Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

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 .

Microfinance warns of collapse over credit freeze

Gerard — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:32:40 GMT

India’s microfinance industry has warned it is being pushed to the brink of collapse, as a result of a bank freeze on credit to microlenders triggered by a political crackdown. India’s commercial banks, which normally provide about $133m a week in credit to the microloan industry, have frozen those disbursals for the past two weeks, as companies wrestle with a backlash in one of their biggest markets, the state of Andhra Pradesh.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

USA: 'Capital Plus' Company Announces Small Business Banking Network for Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe

Gerard — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:55:41 GMT

A new initiative to expand these programs to the broader market called the Small Business Banking Network (SBBN) will launch in November. The SBBN is designed to bolster the capacity and effectiveness of financial institutions to profitably serve small businesses in developing countries, helping to close the gap between microfinance and commercial banking.

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 .

IFC Partners with Bank Constanta to Strengthen Risk Management Capacity in Georgia

Gerard — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:22:14 GMT

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will work with Bank Constanta to improve its risk management practices, which will help the bank increase lending to smaller businesses in Georgia. This initiative is part of a broader IFC strategy to strengthen local banks in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

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 .

Oikocredit wins award for development microfinance

Gerard — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:40:08 GMT

Oikocredit, the innovative development financing organisation, has been given an award in recognition of its contribution to socially responsible investing. The award has been made by The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Turkey: Grameen-Jameel Commits Over US$ 5 Million

Gerard — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:15:04 GMT

Grameen‐Jameel, a social business that serves the microfinance sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), announces it has entered Turkey. Grameen-Jameel has signed partnership agreements with the two leading microfinance institutions in Turkey, providing them with financial support and technical assistance amounting to over US$ 5 million, with the objective to alleviate poverty in Turkey by reaching and financing 16,000 underprivileged families.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Armenia: IFC Provides MFI Inecobank Support to Expand Access to Trade Finance

Gerard — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:46:30 GMT

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Provides Microfinance Institution (MFI) Inecobank Support to Expand Access to Trade Finance in Armenia

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

IFC's Annual Africa Investment Hits Record US$2.4bn

Gerard — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:03:13 GMT

The International Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a record investment volume in Sub-Saharan Africa for its 2010 fiscal year, underscoring its commitment to the region's private sector development, especially to supporting growth in the lowest income countries and those affected by conflict including Liberia.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

United Nations Development Programme Indicates 21% of Nigerian Adults Access Financial Services, Provides Support for Microfinance to Central Bank of Nigeria

Gerard — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:57:26 GMT

According to a recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the development arm of the United Nations, a humanitarian organization promoting peace and better living standards, 21 percent of the Nigerian adult population – 18 million people – have access to financial services, with women and youth least likely to have access.Limitations of the Nigerian microfinance industry are attributed to lack of capacity, inadequate coordination, policy shortfalls and a lack of strategy regarding stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Nigeria's microfinance policy review underway

Gerard — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:42:15 GMT

Nigeria's microfinance sector has failed to make the expected impact on the economy due to misconception by the operators, but this will soon change.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Confessions of a Micro-Financier

Gerard — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:20:54 GMT

Microfinance doesn’t help the very poor. While the argument that all the attention the microlending industry attracts sometimes diverts funds from reaching programs that need it more is not new, we were surprised to see it outlined by Vikram Akula, the founder of SKS Microfinance Ltd.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Microfinance groups help small businesses grow

Gerard — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:47:37 GMT

Three years ago, Loretta Nguyen took a business training class and scraped together several thousand dollars to start silk screening T-shirts and hoodies that she initially sold at street fairs and over the Web.

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 .

Public issue of SKS Microfinance to open on July 28

Gerard — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:16:27 GMT

SKS Microfinance Limited, the largest Micro Finance Institution in India, today announced that its public issue will open on July 28.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Italy offers microfinance expertise to Pacific

Gerard — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:18:32 GMT

A renowned microfinance training centre in Italy will welcome representatives from five Pacific Island countries.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Decoding microfinance

Gerard — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:27:49 GMT

He would have been a hardcore banker had he not branched out to microfinance. And that was because “it is a business with a social mission offering double bottom line satisfaction to all stakeholders”. Udaia Kumar, MD Share Microfin Limited Interviewed by Pranab Ghosh, Hindustan Times.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

Nigeria: D-8 Central Banks Endorse Monetary Collaboration

Gerard — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:47:53 GMT

Central Bank authorities from eight developing countries (D-8) including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey yesterday agreed to foster collaboration among member countries for the purpose of monetary, fiscal stability and development of member nations.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

The Complete Mobile Donor Plan

Gerard — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:58:09 GMT

MobileCause provides simple and powuerful ways to connect with your donors in the most personal way possible - their mobile device. As the leading web service for cause-related mobile communication and fundraising technology, the MobileCause complete mobile donor plan enables your cause to join this exciting new movement in a few easy steps. Let MobileCause mobilize your cause!

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

The Impact of Microfinance: Grameen Foundation Provides a Primer

Gerard — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:41:28 GMT

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

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .

What is the G-20 ?

Gerard — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:31:03 GMT

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.

This weblog is sponsored by Avgo .