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Bank of Ghana Revokes Preliminary Approval of 70 Prospective Microfinance Companies
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has revoked its preliminary approval of 70 prospective microfinance companies and one money lending institution.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- microfinance
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Electrifying India, With the Sun and Small Loans
A few years ago, the hundred or so residents of Paradeshappanamatha, a secluded hamlet in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, gathered along the central pathway between their 22 densely clustered homes, and watched as government workers hoisted a solar-powered streetlamp. As the first display of electricity in the town, it was an object of mild interest, but, being outside, the light didn’t help anyone cook or study, and only attracted moths.
- Region
- South Asia
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Six Questions for Microfinance’s Biggest ‘Haters’
Since January, when six randomized control trials were published stating that microcredit is not a viable poverty alleviation tool, microfinance has been taking a lot of heat in the media. But though she says the backlash is partially the sector’s own fault, BRAC’s Maria May offers six questions she wishes its loudest critics would consider.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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10 Takeaways from the World Bank Forum on Microcredit’s (lack of) Social Impact
"For a researcher working on microcredit, this is kind of a defining moment." That’s how Abhijit Banerjee described the six recent studies on microcredit’s social impact (or lack thereof). NextBillion has compiled 10 takeaways (and 11 tweets) from the research and the sector’s reaction to it, based on the World Bank event.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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The Most Popular Posts of 2015: Which One Most Influenced You?
For the fourth year in a row, we're launching our Most Influential Post of the Year Contest – think of it as a listicle that you control. Below are the 12 most viewed articles on NB by month. Please read or re-read them and then vote for your favorite(s).
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Zephyr Peacock, Omidyar Network invest Rs 100 Crore in Swarna Pragati
Bengaluru-based private equity funds Zephyr Peacock and Omidyar Network have picked up about 15 per cent stake in housing microfinance firm Swarna Pragati for about Rs 100 crore, people close to the development said.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Measuring Environmental Performance in Microfinance
What responsibility does the microfinance industry have in reaching each of the Sustainable Development Goals? Of the 1,100 microfinance institutions reporting social performance information to MIX in 2014, 40 percent reported that they raised clients’ awareness of environment impacts. Additionally, 34 percent claimed to have some form of environmental risk management in place and 19 percent said they offer environmentally-friendly credit products. But the microfinance sector still lacks a set of established metrics to track their green performance management.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment
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New IFC Report Examines Challenges to Microfinance in the Arab World
A new study from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has found that external risks, security concerns, and over-indebtedness are perceived as the most serious challenges facing the microfinance sector in the Arab World.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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