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Diving into the Gap: What Separates Savers from Non-Savers?
In three years, the gap between the poorest 40 percent and the richest 60 percent nearly doubled across many developing countries. Meanwhile, the gap between primary and secondary school graduates has also doubled – and these inequalities in income and education are more significant than ever in dividing savers and non-savers. Scott Graham at FINCA International analyzes the latest FINDEX numbers to explore how we can reconcile a decline in savings, while poverty is largely falling throughout the world.
- Categories
- Finance
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‘It is Time to Rethink Microfinance’: Exploring a Sector in Transition in the Asia Pacific Region
The Asia Pacific microfinance sector is changing. Its MFIs have seen rampant growth, and the enterprises they serve have financing requirements that are growing more complex. In response, some MFIs are adapting their business models into different types of financial institutions, such as small banks. In short, the sector is evolving from a niche segment to a mainstream industry – with all the challenges and opportunities that implies. The Asia Pacific Microfinance Forum will discuss this evolution in Singapore on October 30-31, bringing together MFIs, NGOs, impact investors, entrepreneurs and others, all committed to building a better world.
- Categories
- Finance
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Press release: FINCA Impact Finance, MEF and BlueOrchard Announce USD 20 Million Loan Facility
The three-year revolving loan facility will enhance FIF's ability to manage liquidity throughout its network of 20 banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) and leverage the resources of MEF, an innovative provider of impact capital, and BOMF, the world's first and largest commercial microfinance investment fund.
- Categories
- Investing
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Cambodia Has a Big Problem With Small Loans
Economists worry that at best the debt could put the brakes on economic growth, and at worst could fuel social unrest as inequality rises.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Press release: Grameen America Hits $1 Billion Milestone in Microloans to Low-Income Women
"This record $1 billion achievement is proof that the model can scale successfully, and we are excited to see where the next decade takes us," said Yunus. "Many had doubts that microfinance would be effective as a poverty alleviation tool in the United States, but we have clearly proved them wrong."
- Region
- North America
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Conference Coming Soon: A Sneak Peek at the e-MFP’s 2018 European Microfinance Week
The fall conference season is in full swing. This week, NextBillion profiles the 2018 European Microfinance Week, coming to Luxembourg Nov. 14-16, which will feature over 500 global microfinance leaders exploring topics that range from serving the needs of smallholders and refugees, to ensuring client protection in digital finance. NextBillion will be a media partner at the event, and we'll be broadcasting a livestream of one of the plenary sessions - a debate on whether smaller MFIs are still relevant in today's market.
- Categories
- Finance
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Swiss impact investor BlueOrchard invests $4.7m in Satya MicroCapital
New Delhi-based microfinance company Satya MicroCapital Ltd has raised $4.7 million (Rs 34 crore) from Swiss impact investment manager BlueOrchard Finance Ltd for on-lending to the Indian micro, small, and medium business sector, with a focus on women entrepreneurs, said a statement on Monday.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- business, impact investing, MFIs, microfinance, MSMEs
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Foreign banks are pouring into Cambodia’s microfinance sector
When Samic Microfinance sold its entire operation to South Korea-based NongHyup Bank late last month, Samic’s CEO King Kap Kalyan said the decision was due to rising competition within the country’s financial industry.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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