-
How Tony Elumelu’s ‘Africapitalism’ Aims to Redefine African Economic Development
Tony Elumelu did not set out to create social change during his tenure at the helm of United Bank of Africa. "We wanted to democratize banking – at the time, it was an economic, not a social act,” he said during a keynote speech the Global Philanthropy Forum. Elumelu turned the failing Nigerian bank United Bank of Africa (UBA), which was purchased in 1997 for $5 million, into a multi-billion dollar financial services powerhouse. Elumelu is now taking his learnings from this experience to redefine strategies for African economic development.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Can SKS Change Its Spots?
After being the bad boy of microfinance, SKS is now trying to pick itself up and transform into a more cost-effective, diversified organization.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Microplanet Technologies Names Daryl Skoog, Former Head of Opportunity International MIS, as Executive Director
MicroPlanet brings together a world-class team of technology professionals to support microfinance sector
- Source
- Press Release
- Categories
- Education, Technology
- Tags
- microfinance
-
Microfinance Giant Launches Venture Capital Fund For East Africa
Accion, an international microfinance and investment firm, has launched Venture Lab, a $10 million investment vehicle which will provide seed capital and management support to financial inclusion startups worldwide, with a particular focus on East Africa and India.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
-
Government’s Heavy-handed Regulation of Microfinance Will Kill It and Bring Back Moneylenders
Among many Bills stuck in the legislative process is the Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill. This is a 2011 Bill. An earlier 2007 Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, but lapsed with the lower House's dissolution in 2009. Financial inclusion shouldn't mean only credit.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
What It Will Take to ‘Graduate’ 1.2 Billion People Out of Extreme Poverty
Despite the worldwide recession of the late 2000s, the total number of people living in extreme poverty has actually gone down in recent years -- so much, in fact, that we've reached the first of the UN's eightMillennium Development Goals five years ahead of schedule, a startling achievement. The number living in "extreme poverty" decreased by 100 million between 2005 and 2008.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
-
Accion Launches Venture Lab, a Seed-Stage Investment Initiativefor Financial Inclusion Start-ups
Accion, a pioneer and leader in global microfinance, today announced the launch of Venture Lab, an initiative dedicated to providing seed capital and management support to financial inclusion start-ups worldwide.The $10 million program will seek out companies that have completed research and development and are at the pilot/first-revenue stage. Investments will typically be in the range of US $100,000-$300,000, invested either as convertible debt or equity.
- Source
- Press Release
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Is Microfinance an Engine of Development? Finca Says Yes
The jury is still out on whether microcredit makes a difference to the lives of the poor, but stories of its success are compelling
- Categories
- Agriculture