-
Microfinance Lenders in Sierra Leone Accused of ‘Payday Loan’ Interest Rates
A Guardian investigation into a microfinance programme run by Brac found that the NGO’s staff were failing to fully explain the conditions of the loan to borrowers.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
The Gates Foundation Has Enormous Impact. Its CEO Leaving Could Have an Enormous Impact, Too.
while Desmond-Hellmann has not been a household name, she held enormous influence across the globe, shaping everything from malaria programs in Africa to billionaires’ willingness to participate in the Gates-led Giving Pledge.
- Region
- North America
-
The Development Tool Nobody’s Using: Why it’s Time for the Women’s Empowerment Sector to Leverage Media and Advertising
In women’s economic empowerment circles, there’s no shortage of initiatives involving corporate partnerships with NGOs - often focused on agriculture or garment supply chains. But as Mara Bolis at Oxfam points out, this focus has led the sector to overlook other potential areas of impact – including media and advertising. Sharing some compelling examples, she argues that media could have as much – or even more – influence in shaping women’s economic opportunities as changes to global value chains.
- Categories
- Technology
-
NGOs Ordered to Retract Report Critical of Microfinance in Cambodia
Government officials and MFIs were quick to dismiss the report, noting that interviews were only conducted in 10 communes in the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Prey Veng and the city of Phnom Penh.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
National Bank of Cambodia Slams NGOs’ Lending Report
A report on predatory lending in Cambodia by local human rights NGOs Licadho and Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), was slammed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) as “flawed”.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
BRAC Changing With Changing Needs, but Ultra-Poor Still in Focus
BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, is changing its focus with the changing needs as well as Bangladesh context, but ultra-poor will still remain its ‘flagship’ development programme, new Executive Director Asif Saleh says.
- Region
- South Asia
-
The Trouble With ‘Women’s Empowerment’ Programs: Perceptions vs. Reality in India
India's government, funders and development initiatives have an increasing focus on including women in different programs. But according to Sudarshan Thakur at PRADAN, these efforts often seem more concerned about what women can do for development than what development can do for women. He argues that social change cannot come only from outside interventions or credit. Instead, global development agencies need to engage with women across different communities and contexts, as women themselves are the best judges of the types of services and programs they need.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Viewpoint: Diasporas Are Undertapped Resources For Global Development
Diaspora communities are vital groups for NGOs to positively engage, but it requires a fundamental shift in mindset.
- Categories
- Finance