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Microcredit loans fall for first time in 13 years
The number of people around the world who have access to microcredit financing has fallen for the first time in 13 years, reflecting turmoil in the sector and the fallout from the global financial crisis.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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- microfinance
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Lessons of Empowerment: Drishtee’s is building new business networks in rural India
Drishtee has provided education, health, household products and banking services to thousands of rural villages over the course of the last 13 years. Kunal Rajpal, of Acumen Fund - a Drishtee investor - reflects on how the enterprise is helping to spawn new businesses.
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- microfinance
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AKF USA Makes its First Mission-Related Investment in Afghanistan
Mohd Nabi Allah Yar runs a yarn-producing business in Afghanistan. He employs 80 local women and supports many Afghan shepherds by purchasing their wool. The impact of his business on the shepherds, his employees, and his customers would not have been possible without his first loan, which he received from the First MicroFinance Bank of Afghanistan (FMFB-A) through its Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) portfolio.
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- Uncategorized
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Microfinance CEOs: Smart Campaign Certification is a Clear Step Toward Responsible Microfinance
As co-chairs of the Microfinance CEO Working Group, we are pleased to share with NextBillion readers this joint statement from the Working Group in support of the recently announced Smart Campaign Client Protection Certification Program. Certification will offer public recognition for institutions that meet adequate standards of care in appropriately protecting microfinance clients, as verified by an independent evaluation. It marks a clear step forward in ensuring the microfinance industry puts the treatment of its clients first.
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- Uncategorized
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- microfinance
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Measure, Crunch and Benchmark: Helping organizations advance business and social performance goals
At Grameen Foundation, we are using a mix of primary and secondary data to support decision-making in MFIs and pro-poor organizations across different regions. To illustrate this, we wanted to share an example of how we are helping an MFI better allocate its resources to increase its poverty outreach. This approach also gives the MFI a better understanding of how customers at different poverty levels are contributing to the “bottom line” of the business.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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- microfinance
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Chinese microcredit firms lend 600 bln yuan
BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese microcredit companies reported 600 billion yuan (96.31 billion U.S. dollars) in outstanding loans by the end of last year, up 52 percent year on year, an association head said Tuesday.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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- microfinance
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Paying with ‘kisses’ as Brazil’s social currencies spread
Shopkeeper Heraldo Rodrigues da Silva, 55, owns a small store in Sao Benedito, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Vitoria, the capital of the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo.
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- Environment
- Region
- Latin America
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AP microfinance crisis helped Bandhan grow by over 50%
At a time when many microfinance companies are still reeling under pressure following the crisis in Andhra Pradesh about two years ago, Kolkata-based Bandhan Financial Services is planning to expand. The company plans to apply for a banking licence as and when the Reserve Bank of India comes out with the final guidelines on the subject.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance
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