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Does Microfinance Still Hold Promise for Reaching the Poor?
Nearly two decades ago, when the concept of microfinance as a poverty reduction tool was in its infancy, there was hope that microcredit would transform economic and social structures. With its focus on reaching the previously unbanked, microcredit was expected to bring about change at the household level, a market in developing countries that traditional financial institutions had failed to reach.
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- Uncategorized
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Rwanda: Airtel to Give Clients Soft Loans
A micro-money lending platform whereby subscribers will be able to borrow up to Rwf50,000 payable in two weeks has been launched by telecom services provider, Airtel Rwanda and Atlantis Limited, a micro-finance institution.
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- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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MFTransparency is Dead … What Does That Mean for Pricing Transparency?: The CEO of the influential watchdog initiative discusses the future of pricing transparency in microfinance
MicroFinance Transparency recently announced that it has stopped collecting pricing data for the global microfinance industry. But as CEO Chuck Waterfield explains, that doesn’t mean the movement for transparent pricing is dead. He explains the decision and discusses how the industry can still make fair pricing a reality.
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- Impact Assessment
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In Myanmar, Microfinance Stagnates Due to Tough Rules
The domestic microfinance industry is being held back by a number of constraints on funding, preventing more small-scale loans from being disbursed, according to industry insiders.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance, regulations
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Indian Microfinance Institutions Want RBI, Not Mudra Bank, as Regulator
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are worried about the government's decision to set up the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency, or Mudra Bank, to regulate them as there could be a conflict of interest. They want the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI) to continue as their regulator.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance, regulations
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India’s SKS Microfinance: Back From the Brink
SKS Microfinance Ltd, one of the largest microfinance companies in India, was a model for many other firms in the sector. Established by financial services professionals, the company was once considered the answer to India’s financial exclusion problem. While SKS has been through its fair share of struggles in the last four years, things are starting to look better for India’s only listed microfinance company.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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U.S. Consumer Watchdog Unveils Plans to Regulate Payday Loans
The U.S. consumer financial watchdog on Thursday outlined its plans for cracking down on the payday lending industry and ensuring that borrowers can repay their loans.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- lending, microfinance, regulations
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Artoo IT Solutions Raises Rs 3.1 crore Series A Funds From Accion Venture Lab, Artha Initiative
Bengaluru-based Artoo IT Solutions, which has developed a financial customer relationship management solution for the financial sector, has raised $500,000 (Rs 3.1 crore) in Series A round of funding from Accion Venture Labs and Switzerland-based Rianta Capital Zurich's Artha Initiative.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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