Page 8 of 9« First«...56789»
By Microfinance Focus, on August 24th, 2009 Jerome Peloquin | Managing Editor-US |Microfinance Focus |
I believe the answer is, “NO,” not as it is presently structured. Present day MF has only one lending methodology, the installment loan. Although some are trying to find new models, basically the tried and true method of lending money at significant rates and collecting every week is the method of choice for many MFI’s.
Although the concept of Microfinance has been around for centuries, for most of us . . . → Read More: Can Microfinance End Poverty?
By Microfinance Focus, on August 24th, 2009 G Muralidhar | Akshara Network for Livelihoods Support
We, as a country, have come a long way in meeting the financial needs of the poor. We are witnessing a transformation of micro-finance as a growth industry. More and more women are mobilized into SHGs all over the country. They are further mobilized into higher order federations. Bank linkages are growing rapidly. Some banks have started to offer cash credit lines of Rs.5 lakh per group. Credit Cards to farmers, . . . → Read More: Livelihoods and Microfinance
By Microfinance Focus, on August 24th, 2009 Background
Mobile banking, a symbiosis of technology and financial services, is the hottest area of development in the banking sector and is expected to replace the debit/credit card system in future.
ATM and Internet banking have been around in India for a while. While both modes have had some success, penetration and use levels have been moderate. While ATMs offer convenience, they pose a perceived security threat in India given instances of mugging around them. Senior citizens and women appear . . . → Read More: PEST analysis of Mobile Banking
By Microfinance Focus, on August 24th, 2009 MICRO- FINANCE FOR SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES : NEED FOR ACTION PLAN
Dr Amrit Patel
In recent years India has made rapid strides in providing micro-credit to a very large number of SHGs. While individual members, more importantly, women borrowers, of these SHGs have been able to eke out a living thriugh taking up & expanding their traditional economic activities being financed under the Micro-credit programs through out the country, it is now most essential that these borrowers should be . . . → Read More: MICRO- FINANCE FOR SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES : NEED FOR ACTION PLAN
By Microfinance Focus, on August 23rd, 2009
Pondicherry University will hold its third annual international conference on microfinance from January 22 to 24 next year and has called for research papers. The conference is being held every year by the university’s School of Management, Department of Commerce to bring together policy-makers and researchers from educational institutions and universities in India and abroad.
Research papers by professionals from banks, non-governmental agencies, microfinance institutions, regulatory agencies, financial advice domains, insurance agencies and self help groups — are invited . . . → Read More: Pondicherry Univ. to hold 3rd international microfinance conference
By Microfinance Focus, on August 23rd, 2009 The sixth in a series of annual summits organised by ACCESS Development Services, this year’s Microfinance India Summit will be held on October 26-28, 2009 at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. Over the years, the microfinance India Summit has emerged to become among the most important sectoral platforms globally, bringing together thought leaders to delve into and debate key current issues in the sector. The theme this year “Doing Good and Doing Well: The need for balance” will seek . . . → Read More: Microfinance India Summit 2009
By Microfinance Focus, on August 22nd, 2009 The sixth in a series of annual summits organised by ACCESS Development Services, this year’s Microfinance India Summit will be held on October 26-28, 2009 at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. Over the years, the microfinance India Summit has emerged to become among the most important sectoral platforms globally, bringing together thought leaders to delve into and debate key current issues in the sector. The theme this year “Doing Good and Doing Well: The need for balance” will seek . . . → Read More: Microfinance India Summit 2009
By Microfinance Focus, on July 29th, 2009 Micro Financing Institution as catalyst of economic growth. . . . → Read More: Micro financing need to focus on job creationon
By Microfinance Focus, on May 30th, 2009 1. Santosh
-350 milllion below poverty line, appreciable figure or achievement?
-Agriculture, middle means doing great
-MF more organizaed than before
-More people committed to social cause because of system
-Mostly women are promising themselves towards the development in rural areas
-There are alternative methods available for developing rural because of Yunus and young people in microfinance
-500,000 Crores are unaccounted money of governtment to the welfare of the people; the reason NGOs are managed by bureaucrats
-Good rupees have . . . → Read More: Samvad:Highlights
By Microfinance Focus, on May 30th, 2009
Vijaylakshmi Das
CEO-FWWB
What do you think about microfinance and women empowerment?
There has been a lot of change, microfinance helps women grow not only in terms of finance, but also in terms of the creation of assets, consistency of family development, and promotion of values. We choose which women to finance . . . → Read More: Exclusive Interview with Vijayalakshmi Das
By Microfinance Focus, on May 17th, 2009 Samvad: A Dialogue on Microfinance
A MICROFINANCE CONFERENCE Organized by Grameen Koota 30th May 2009 at Bangalore
21st century India is a land of resources, opportunity and economic vitality. In the midst of this robust development lies an India starved of equal opportunity and growth. For India to harness her full potential her two worlds must be reconciled and she must go forth as a single unit. Institutions and individuals have shown grit . . . → Read More: Samvad: A Dialogue on Microfinance
By Microfinance Focus, on April 20th, 2009 Bruce Meraviglia , Technology & Marketing Editor [ Microfinance Focus ]
The theme for this month’s issue is Social Performance Management (SPM), as highlighted in several of our articles. In our first Marketing Reflections column (February 2009), I mentioned that one of the primary roles of the marketing department was the creation of a brand image for its organization; in our context, the MFI it is a part of. A key to the creation of any brand, especially one that . . . → Read More: Creating a Sense of Trust
By Microfinance Focus, on April 20th, 2009 Bruce Meraviglia , Technology & Marketing Editor [ Microfinance Focus ]
The answer to the questions above is “Yes!” Since the beginning of mankind’s invention of new technologies, and new ways of using those technologies, the debate as to whether social policy should guide (or constrain) the development of technology, or whether technology should be created independently of social policy, with the outcome then informing those who create social policy as to what is possible, has raged back and forth. . . . → Read More: Should Technology inform social policy, or Social Policy Guide Technology
By Microfinance Focus, on April 20th, 2009 Vikash Kumar |Editor-in-Chief | Microfinance Focus
Most MFIs might not have consciously evolved SPM as their key objective to measure their performance but none of them could evade their responsibility to do good to the society as their sole objective is to fund the poor who are denied access to fund from other financial institutions and that itself leads to transformation of the society by empowering poor people to earn their livelihood by pursuing some business. or farming.
However . . . → Read More: Social Performance Commitment…, It is for your benefit!!!
By Microfinance Focus, on April 20th, 2009 Jerome Peloquin | Managing Editor-US | Microfinance Focus
Let’s stop providing grants, subsidies, and regulatory relief to those MFI’s who have abandoned or fails to live up to their social mission agenda.
The need for “Social Performance Management,” is a clear indicator of substantial mission drift within the Microfinance sector. Presently, Microfinance is engaged in an ongoing debate over the morality and ethics of the micro credit movement. Our magazine believes there is a pressing need to establish a shared . . . → Read More: No Social Mission? No Microfinance!
By Microfinance Focus, on April 9th, 2009
“This is truly an unparalleled speaker faculty! The diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise are sure to bring something new to Microfinance events. This will provide a fresh look at the most current and relevant issues facing this industry”-Elizabeth Funk, Founder and CEO, Dignity Fund; Board Member, Unitus, SVMN and Deutsche Bank Microfinance Consortium
“San Francisco is truly the hub of social investments, creative innovations, effective solutions for the microfinance community. . . . → Read More: Microfinance 2.0: Innovative Solutions to Thrive in the Downturn
By Microfinance Focus, on April 2nd, 2009 A Confluence of two world`s Microfinance Leader`s
Indian Microfinance Leaders …learning from Guru
After several years.. Old friends meet again
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Matthew Titus (Executive Director, Sa-Dhan)
Disbursements have reached 6,000 crores of commercial credit.
Over 200 institutions of varied legal forms and a variety of models
Rakesh Rewari (Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI)
Reaching the Unreached SIDBI’s microfinance services offer assistance packages to the under-reached areas (like the North East).
Ela Bhatt (Founder, SEWA Bank)
Self employed women’s associations typically utilise loans in 3 phases: 1) Loans used to repay existing debts 2) Further credit used to purchase tools and material 3) Third phase . . . → Read More: Unveiling the New Microfinance Ecosystem (Highlights)
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Veena Mankar: Pick your investors wisely
Veena Mankar (Managing Director, Swadhaar Finacess) endorses the social development aspect of microfinance, but offers a word of caution.
“Investors expect higher returns while MFIs want to spend on financial literacy or livelihood enhancement. Carefully pick investors,” she advises.
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Participating MFIs at the conference took the opportunities presented in open discussion to raise several issues of concern in the sector and also seek the opinions of reknowned practioners.
G. Pannirselvam (Vice President – Operations, Mahasemam Trust) talked about a few areas that require attention and effort; one area is the human reources. “It is important to have the rigt people in the right places,” he explained. Further, he spoke of funding, affordable interest rates, effective programs for the poorest of . . . → Read More: The Common Challenges
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 B. B. Mohanty (right) and Dr Jeyaseelan (left)
A conference opinion from B. B. Mohanty (CGM, NABARD)
The conference is going very well and the presence of distinguished practioners of microfinance only adds to the quality of the discussions. Core issues have been focussed on to give us food for thought.
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Our organisation started with Microfinance only four years back and we have different loan products. The main challenges we face in the rural areas is the time it takes to recover from desasters like floods. In the urban sector it is our size: We have a lot of competitors and our operational costs are higher than those of the big ones. Yes, and then it is difficult to get along with the human resources. At the conference I . . . → Read More: Small MFI, big operational costs
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Sanjay Sinha (Managing Director, M-CRIL)
Availability of human resources is the real challenge. During the rating of an MFI, it was found that the manager of a branch was, in fact, a trainee (a “training trainee” according to him). The system of trainees training trainees is not sustainable.
Many MFIs, in an effort to minimise costs, increase the loan size. The average cost does decrease, but depth of outreach is compromised.
The portfolio quality of the large MFIs has not been affected . . . → Read More: The Structural Challenges of Scale – The Balancing Act (Highlights)
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 The conference for me is taking place at the corridor, to meet people, building networks.
The main challenge I face with Mimo Finance is HR: Because of a low quality education system you have to invest a lot in training. And even offering compensation packages and working on career plans is our biggest challenge.
Manab Chakraborty, CEO
mimo Finance
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Aloysius Fernandez (Chairperson, Sanghamitra Rural Financial Services)
The deeper the poverty, the lesser the micro credit effectiveness.
When an individual member stays with a group for more than 8 years, having taken 15 to 20 loans to the tune of Rs 1, 50,000 to Rs 3, 00,000, only then can that person stand on her own feet.
B. B. Mohanty (CGM, NABARD)
Rating agency reports indicate that most MFIs have weak internal control and governance systems. There should be focus . . . → Read More: Growth in Microfinance and Gaps in the Practice: Highlights
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Helping people raising capital to spread the system is our mission. Funding is the main constrain for almost every MFI. The economic crisis definitely affects us and it is a huge challenge to raise money, especially for start-ups and young organisations. Anyway, the MF-sector is doing much better than other sectors because the poor are more isolated from the system.
At the conference I am here for meeting people. In fact Yunus’ session was the first I attended at these . . . → Read More: Crisis affects Start-Ups
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Alok Prasad (Country Director, Citi Micro
Alok Prasad: In business, there must be profit
finance) reaffirmed the neccessity of assessing a borrowers repayment capacity. “There are two things at work here – the ability of the borrower to repay the loan and the willingness of the borrower to repay the loan,” he explained. While also touching upon the changing needs of different client segments, he also expressed the need for MFIs to customise credit products.
. . . → Read More: Alok Prasad: Make Sound Lending Decisions
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009
Ela Bhatt (Founder, SEWA Bank) talks to Christina Weichselbaumer (Associate Editor, Microfinance Focus)
MF Focus: Founding SEWA helped practically so many women getting out of poverty and becoming more self-confident. What about the political impact?
Bhatt: This is part of the game, SEWA has grown large and has its presence. We are dealing in the mainstream economy and we are bound to shed up the power structures: With . . . → Read More: Ela Bhatt: Most important – coming together
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 CASHPOR INDIA
J. S. Tomar, Managing Director
The biggest problems we are facing with Microfinance are the financial resources and trained staff, HR. We are already heavily influenced by the economic crisis and it practically affects our work.
Concerning the human ressources, it is difficult to train and retain people. We are operating in a very remote area and people don’t want to stay there. They are heading for better career perspectives . . . → Read More: Resources, both financial and human
By Microfinance Focus, on March 31st, 2009 Swadhaar FinAccess Haseena Vahanvaty Director
The main challenge we face with our work is get the women in the slums to save. We have modules for financial education, working on urban Microfinance. We want to get the women start to save, to get a saving account, use it and make the women regularly safe. We try to get them at our meetings once a week and make it fun for them.
At the concerence I am here for the sessions. . . . → Read More: Saving is the challenge
Page 8 of 9« First«...56789»
|
|
About Microfinance Focus Microfinance Focus (MF) is an online knowledge platform about microfinance and sustainable development. Our worldwide recognition has been driven by a great need for shared information regarding the industry. Much of this growth can be attributed to our commitment to help the industry excel by plugging the knowledge gap, via free access to news and information that will benefit microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their practitioners.
Visit : www.microfinancefocus.com
|
Share/Save
Uncategorized 
Loading ...
Recent Comments
Twitter Updates