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Microfinance Services in Ghana Greeted With Hope, Concern
Microfinance, providing financial services to low-income clients, has gained popularity in Ghana in the past 20 years and has played an important role in helping the poor - especially women - improve their lives.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Unitus Seed Fund Launches with Three Social Enterprise Investments in India
New Unitus Labs Initiative Seeks to Accelerate Development of Innovative Startups Which Have the Potential to Significantly Benefit Families Living on Less Than $2 Per Day
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- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Microfinance Will Eliminate Severe Poverty – John Hatch
In an exclusive interview with Microfinance Focus, John Hatch, founder of FINCA and creator of Village banking, discusses the future of microfinance industry and FINCA’s efforts to stay committed to its social mission.
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- Uncategorized
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NexThought Monday: A New Roadmap for Microfinance Transparency, Client Protection and Social Performance
The crises of the past few years have underscored the essential role of transparency, client protection, and high standards of social performance. Without a fundamental understanding of our clients and a commitment to tailoring our products and services to meet their needs, we are not fulfilling the promise of microfinance.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Tags
- microfinance
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Housing Series: The Critical Shift Toward Asset Building
For over two decades, the partnership between the Citi Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International relied heavily on a "one house, one family," volunteer house-building model. But a shift to a strategy that increases the supply of financial products and services that accelerate financial inclusion is urgently needed.
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- Finance, Uncategorized
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Housing Series: The Case for Bundling Housing Finance With Housing Support Services
Studies suggest that between 20 to 30 percent of microfinance institution (MFI) clients use portions of their small business start-up or production loans for housing improvements. While MFIs see this as "leakage" for non-productive activities, "productive housing" should be viewed as both a livelihood strategy as well as asset creation.
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- Uncategorized
- Tags
- housing, microfinance
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Lessons Learned, Using Livelihoods to Combat Extreme Urban Poverty
Partners in Prosperity is the non-profit affiliate of Mimo Finance, a microfinance institution. The pilot project in Dehradun, India focused on livelihoods; training such as candle-making, small shops, and snack stands. PnP’s training and "starter kits" gave participants the jumpstart they needed without relying on government programs.
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- Uncategorized
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From the Roundtable: Reflections on Improving Microfinance
Citi Foundation recently hosted an interesting day-long roundtable that focused on the Center for Financial Inclusion’s (CFI) report on "Opportunities and Obstacles to Financial Inclusion." It’s an important report because it raises significant issues for the sector. The discussion focused on how to protect and educate legitimate borrowers.
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- Uncategorized