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Poor service: Tiny loans are getting more expensive
INTEREST on the minuscule loans made by microfinance outfits has always been high, but over the past few years it has become even higher. A recent paper, using data on over 1,500 microfinance institutions (MFIs) from around the world, shows that for the smallest loans, typically less than $150, the average rate climbed steadily from 30% in 2004 to 35% in 2011.*
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- Uncategorized
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Microinsurance coverage rises in the Philippines
Over 19 million Filipinos are covered by microinsurance, more than six times the number recorded five years ago, the Department of Finance yesterday reported.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- microfinance
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Microfinance, macro risk
MFX supports lending to entrepreneurs in low-income countries by offering currency swaps and forward contracts to international micro, small, and medium enterprise lenders to offset the risk they take when lending in the local currency of their borrowers.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- microfinance
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Online microfinance platform RangDe invites equity investments for social benefit
A not-for-profit company, infused with the commitment and passion of 'jholawala' NGOs and adorned by the rigour and trappings of a true-blue business entity, is inviting equity investments from donors-investors with the promise of returning their principal anytime they want after two years.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Tiny Loans Are Big Business Once Again in India
Lending to India’s poor is a good business once again.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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African Guarantee Fund, Diamond Bank In $25m Microfinance Deal
African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has entered into an agreement with Diamond Bank to support the lender’s microcredit to small businesses in the region to the tune of $25 Million.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- microfinance
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10,000 toilets to be built annually with microfinance in rural India
An NGO, Gramalaya, and a microfinance firm called Guardian have been implementing the sanitation project by providing financial loans to villagers to build toilets. They have also secured the support of government authorities to initiate the project.
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- Health Care
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Safaricom launches mobile micro-insurance service
Kenyan operator Safaricom, Britam and Changamka Health have launched a micro-insurance health cover service which enables Kenyans to make contributions via M-Pesa, looking to increase the level of medical insurance cover in the country.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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