March 1, 2010
February 23, 2010
February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010
February 18, 2010
February 23, 2010
Could you actively manage five financial accounts?
In this excellent post, Kate McKee highlights the intensive financial life of Hiram, a smart Kenyan entrepreneur with a thriving car rental business. Because one single institution cannot meet all his financial needs, Hiram has to patch together services from five differ
Themes:
Big Picture
February 19, 2010
Trends in microfinance investing
Funds investing in MFIs, commonly known as microfinance investment vehicles or MIVs, have grown dramatically in both number and size over the past several years. CGAP and Symbiotics report that there were 103 MIVs active in 2008, up from only 23 in 2000, and despite constraints imposed by the financial crisis their total assets grew by 31% in 2008.
Themes:
Commercialization & Subsidy
February 18, 2010
How microfinance can help Haiti
The recent tragedy in Haiti serves as a stark reminder of just how vulnerable the poor are in the face of emergencies. When crises hit, households often turn to family and friends for help, and the news stories from Haiti are full of inspiring stories of charity. But the news reports also bring home the fact that in large-scale disasters, like the earthquake in Haiti, it’s hard to rely on acquaintances, neighbors, friends, and family members. No one has much to spare.
Themes:
Credit, Insurance, Product Design
February 12, 2010
Weekly Tweets 2/7 – 2/13
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2/9: The Regulator’s Dilemma: Navigating Competition Policy http://shar.es/mn2lq via #microfinance
February 11, 2010
The Regulator’s Dilemma: Navigating Competition Policy
The post was originally published as a guest post on the CGAP Microfinance Blog.
Themes:
Consumer Protection
February 5, 2010
Funding innovation smartly
Z Zurich Foundation (the corporate responsibility arm of Zurich Financial Services Group) just announced a CHF 3 million (USD 2.8 million) grant to the International Labour Organization’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility. The grant aims “to facilitate the development of innovative approaches to provide better insurance coverage
Themes:
Insurance
February 5, 2010
Weekly Tweets: 1/31 – 2/6
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2/4: Rep. Dan Maffei cites FAI's research at this week's Congressional hearing (minute 19:25) http://bit.ly/ddLBkM #microfinance
February 4, 2010
Smart subsidies for microfinance
In a recent column, Nicolas Kristof of the New York Times advocated donating to BRAC, one of Bangladesh’s oldest microfinance organizations. But at a recent U.S.
Themes:
Commercialization & Subsidy
February 3, 2010
Updated behavioral economics research from FAI directors
FAI Directors Dean Karlan and Jonathan Morduch just released updated versions of two exciting papers:
Themes:
Behavioral Economics
February 2, 2010
New additon to FAI
We’ve got a new face spending some time with us this semester.
February 1, 2010
New journal on microinsurance launched
More good news from the microinsurance sector.
Insider Publishing has launched MicroRisk, a quarterly publication dedicated to the microinsurance sector. MicroRisk will cover market developments, regulatory and legal issues concerning microinsurers and reinsurers, technical questions, country-level developments and more.
Themes:
Insurance