Grameen Foundation Selects AEMFI to Join Bankers without Borders® Alliance

Grameen Foundation Press Release Skilled Business Volunteers Help Ethiopian Social Enterprises Alleviate Global Poverty Washington, D.C., January 25, 2012 – Bankers without Borders® (BwB), Grameen... 

Other News

Oxfam launches its first investment fund

By Vibeka Mair, Civilsociety.co.uk Oxfam has launched an investment fund, with social and financial returns, which will target small and medium companies in developing countries by investing... 

India: Microfinance could crush target groups

By Saye Sekhar, Postnoon Microfinance as a concept hit a roadblock in India. When someone offers cash sans any security or questions, it is difficult to resist the lure of lucre. The indigent... 

India’s biggest microlender SKS reports $83 mn loss

From AFP MUMBAI — India’s largest lender to the poor, SKS Microfinance, posted its third straight quarterly loss on Thursday, hit by bad loans and dwindling investor confidence. The company... 

• Cashless Lagos: Confusion, divergent views trail policy
• NDIC amid dual roles… data integrity, others top chart
• Acumen Fund Invests $1M In Microfinance Firm GUARDIAN

Around Africa

Uganda: National health insurance scheme to spur sector growth

By Faridah Kulabako, Daily Monitor Insurers are eagerly eying the planned National Health Insurance Scheme, which is expected to take effect next year, as an opportunity to grow insurance uptake... 

Kenya: Youth urged to take loans

From The Star YOUTHS in Busia County have been urged to take loans from microfinance institutions that charge low interest rates. Uzima Foundation coordinator Fredrick Were said the loans will... 

Liberia: No Bank Will Implement CBL’s L$200M, Bank’s Microfinance Unit Clarifies

By George D. Kennedy, Liberian Observer The Microfinance Unit of the Central Bank of Liberia has clarified that the L$200 million Loan Extension Assistance Facility (LEAF) scheme launched recently... 

• Kenya: Technology Firm Woos Farmers With Records Automation
• Ghana: Financial service providers tasked to develop a robust risk culture
• Uganda: Kazibwe sacked, Kiwanuka appoints new Microfinance board

Technology & Mobile Money

Entrenching cashless economy through secure, affordable mobile money solutions

By Biodun Coker, Business Day Online Mobile money solutions will play a major role in integrating Nigeria’s huge informal economy which is driven by small scale farmers, traders, craftsmen... 

CBN to issue more mobile money licences

By Akinola Ajibade, The Nation The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued more banks licences to provide mobile money services, its Deputy Director, Domestic Payment Division, Emmanuel Obaigbona... 

Cashless Lagos to Cost CBN, Banks Over N2.5 billion

By Festus Akanbi and Malachy Agbo, This Day Live The push by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the 24 banks to discourage the reliance on cash for transaction by Nigerians for most of their transactions,... 

• More banks push for mobile money licences
• Fortis Mobile Money signs MoU with NAMBLAG
• NIPOST partners eTranzact on Cashless Policy Initiative

Events

First round speakers announced for Mobile Money West Africa summit

Mobile Money Africa, Africa’s leading resource for mobile financial inclusion today announced  that  executives  from EcoBank International, Africa centre for mobile financial inclusion,... 

Sustainable Microenterprise and Development Program-Ghana 2012

March 12-23, 2012, Accra, Ghana The SMDP Ghana is an intensive training program offering critical skills for African microfinance and enterprise development leaders. Five Learning Tracks 1. Microfinance... 

CBN hosts 6th microfinance conference

By Cami Ezenwa, National Daily OPERATORS would be expecting major policy directives when registered microfinance banks in the country gather at their 6th annual conference next February 7 and... 

• Sudan: 2nd Microfinance Conference to be kicked off next Sunday
• Microfinance: Is there really a Crisis? Interactive webinar on October 4, 2011
• 3rd Annual World Islamic Retail Banking Conference

Microinsurance

Microinsurance Network: 10 years on

Microinsurance Network Press Release Luxembourg – When 16 experts first sat down in early 2002 to form the CGAP Working Group on Microinsurance, none of them could have imagined what would... 

Insurance can combat poverty

By Chuks Udo Okonta, The Nation The government, donor agencies have been told to use insurance as a weapon to combat poverty. The Deputy Manager Authorisation and Policy National Insurance Commission... 

‘Why health insurance scheme can’t cover every Nigerian’

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha, The Nation Dr Mohammed Dogo, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in this interview with Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha... 

• Expanding health insurance coverage in Nigeria
• ‘Life insurance future lies in developing rural market’
• Developing micro insurance for an inclusive financial system

Views & Opinions

Microfinance Dependency on Government Funds

By Graham Orodje In March the Ag Chairman of Lagos National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) Mr Olufemi Babjide announced that 183 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) had applied for access to... 

Where is the data to support Delta State’s Microfinance Programme Success

By Graham Orodje - As a native of Delta State I was extremely proud to read that the State had won the award as the best at supporting Micro-credit financing at the recently concluded 5th... 

Depositors do not trust Microfinance Banks

By Graham Orodje - I wrote an article in 2010 entitled ‘State of Microfinance in Nigeria’. In it I highlighted some of the issues affecting Microfinance in the country, from the haphazard... 

• Where Next for Microfinance Investors?
• Microfinance Banks should take reponsibility for the state of the sector
• Is CBN to Blame for the Failure of Microfinance Banks

Interviews

Microfinance Africa Interview with Kopo Kopo

“Sulay, the Hope Micro MIS Administrator, tests Splash Mobile Money” (image provided by Kopo Kopo) Kopo Kopo recently announced the launch of Mobile Microfinance in Sierra Leone... 

Operators’ lack of knowledge is ruining microfinancing —Oyekanmi

From National Daily - Microfinance banks in the country have been generating much controversy of late following the report from the Central Bank of Nigeria that most microfinance banks (MFBs)... 

Microfinance banks can do better than commercial banks – Wale Adeduro

By Chima Nwokoji, Daily Sun  - Following recent revocation of licences of some microfinance banks, there have been calls from various quarters for the ... 

• ‘An Older Husband Is More Caring, Understanding’

Jobs

Fortis Microfinance Bank Job Recruitment (over 18 positions)

Fortis Microfinance Bank Limited was licensed to operate as a Microfinance Bank in October 2007 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Our major goal is to meet the high demand for microfinance... 

FINCA: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo FINCA International, one of the world’s leading microfinance institutions, provides financial services to over 900,000... 

FINCA: Regional Research & Marketing Specialist Consultant, Africa region

Regional Research & Marketing Specialist Consultant, Africa region Location: Uganda Job Code: 904 No of openings: 1 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Description FINCA... 

• Microinsurance Local Coordinator – KENYA
• Kenya: Micro-Insurance Executive
• Accion Microfinance Bank Ltd Job Vacancies