Unitus Names Eliza Linford Kelly Vice President Of Global Communications

SEATTLE, WA, 10 March 2010 — As part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to alleviate global

poverty through microfinance, Unitus is proud to announce that Eliza Linford Kelly has been named

Vice President, Global Communications.

Launch of an Online Home for Microfinance Client Protection, www.smartcampaign.org

Back in October of 2009 The Smart Campaign (formerly known as the Campaign for Client Protection in Microfinance), a global coalition of microfinance institutions, networks, associations, and  professionals serving as an umbrella for all microfinance industry‐wide efforts on client protection, was announced.
The Smart Campaign is working with microfinance leaders from around the world to provide [...]

New Washington & Lee University Microfinance Club to Give Small Loans in Developing Countries

Spurred by a course on development economics, three students and a faculty member at Washington and Lee University are turning theory into practice by starting a microfinance club called The General Development Initiative .
At first the club will focus on raising donations to be invested directly in microfinance projects helping communities in Central and South [...]

Person-to-Person Website Connects You to Mongolian Yurt Dwellers to End Climate Change

Meet Tol Gormaa who lives in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where winter temperatures can be as cold as -40 Celsius. Like 60% of the city population, Tol and her family, including 9 grandchildren, live in tents called gers, with wooden frames covered by layers of wool felt.

Focusing on Social Enterprise, Global Partnerships Invests in Mexico

Global Partnerships (GP), a Seattle-based nonprofit that supports microfinance programs and other sustainable poverty solutions in Latin America, announced that it has expanded its programs to Mexico.

New Year, New Wokai

New Year, New Wokai Celebration

Join us in the global celebration of Chinese New Year and learn how Wokai is moving forward in the “Year of the Tiger” to make a greater impact in the lives of impoverished entrepreneurs in rural China.

Thursday, February 18th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Café Amore in Belltown, Seattle

Hors [...]

The Pocantico Declaration

The Pocantico Declaration was drafted at a retreat of microfinance leaders on April 22, 2008 and remains an essential guiding document for the field. SeaMo republishes it here in its entirety as a reminder of the challenges and goals we face in microfinance.

Lumana Reports on the 2nd Microfinance Summit in NYC

Sammie Rayner, the founder of Lumana, was asked to speak last week in New York. Here she provides a report of her experience. SeaMo will be hosting Lumana on February 18th at our Microfinance and Microbrews series in Seattle.
“The 2nd Microfinance and Sustainable Development Summit was held in New York City last week and [...]

HAITI EARTHQUAKE: Fonkoze Microfinance Institution Opens Relief Fund

I met Leigh Carter, the Executive Director of Fonkoze USA a decade ago while working for Witness for Peace. Leigh was leading a delegation in Haiti when the earthquake struck two days ago, and is now in need of emergency medical evacuation.

Pro Bono for Microfinance

How a former Lehman attorney used the extra time the financial meltdown provided her to create a conduit for pro bono support for microfinance institutions.