At least a couple of bloggers have posted about a potential default by one of Kiva’s larger MFIs (or field partners). The letter sent out to lenders indicates that a shortage of capital has created obstacles. If this is indeed the case, then are we seeing fallout of the global credit crisis start to hit ...
News and CommentaryHow often have you asked, or been asked by someone, whether microfinance is really making a positive social impact on communities and people? I’ve heard the question a lot, and though I’m predisposed to believe that it does, I want hard evidence to back up that supposition. Paul Gertler, at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business ...
News and CommentaryAs microfinance expands, larger MFIs are seeking new markets within the regions they are already servicing. Pro Mujer has come up with a novel segment: the 14-23 year old demographic set. “Pro Mujer Bolivia Launches Microloan Program for Young Entrepreneurs – Successful Pilot Program Proves Young Borrowers are Good Investment” In a sign of the ...
News and CommentaryToday’s roundup spans the range of microfinance news. In Nigeria, the newspaper Punch reports on the country’s hope for economic growth: “Women Empowerment’ll Grow Economy” The website Tonic features the story of MicroBike, a group of six recent college grads who are riding across country to raise money for Accion International: “Biking for the Developing ...
News and CommentaryThere is an incredible array of things going on in microfinance, and for those of us who aren’t engaged in it full time, it’s hard to keep up. In the interest of keeping the SeaMo community up-to-date on the latest, I’m going to start posting links with brief descriptions of interesting news in microfinance with ...
News and Commentary