Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Microfinance Focus, Oct. 8, 2009: Kerala-based NGO ESAF said it has received more than Rs. 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million) from the international European Ethical and Fair Trade Market Place (ETFAM) Trade Fair at Eindhoven, Netherlands held last month. ESAF is an accredited Fair Trade member of World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). ESAF has participated in ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 25, 2009: Access Development Services is inviting applications for Institution of the Year Award and Contribution to the Sector Award. The awards are sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. The awards will be presented on the inaugural day of the Microfinance India Summit – October 26, 2009. The Microfinance India Awards are to recognize the contribution of notable thought leaders, ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 19, 2009: Pune-based College of Agricultural Banking (CAB) is holding a program from Oct. 10 to 15, 2009 on strengthening rural financial institutions in collaboration with CENTRAB, the official training and research arm of APRACA (Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association). Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 18, 2009: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India office invites proposals from Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs), Associations or Consortium of MFIs for the design of innovation support in financial products and services suited to the livelihood needs of poor women and men. The documents required are detailed description of the proposed model, methodology and work plan and budget requirements. The last date is Oct. ... Full story

By Naagesh, N. Microfinance Focus, Sept. 16, 2009: To provide additional financial security to potentially 50 lakh (5 million) families, SKS Microfinance, in partnership with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has now launched its best-selling micro-insurance project ‘Swayam Shakti Suraksha’ to cover husbands of SKS members, who are usually women. ‘Swayam Shakti Suraksha’ scheme that presently covers SKS members will be extended to cover members' husbands. The premium ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 9, 2009: French Burgundy School of Business will organise a two-day conference focusing on "Institutional and Technological Environment for Microfinance" in New Delhi on January 7 and 8. Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 8, 2009: India's Reserve Bank of India has in an order cancelled the licence of Surendranagar People's Co-operative Bank Ltd., Gujarat stating the bank's affairs were found detrimental to the interests of the depositors. The central bank has also asked the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Gujarat, to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator. It said following liquidation, every depositor is entitled to repayment of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs. 1,00,000 from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 2, 2009: IDBI Fortis Life Insurance has tied up with Regional Rural Development Centre (RRDC) to offer rural consumers the protection of Termsurance Grameen Suraksha in Orissa. IDBI Fortis, in association with RRDC, has already insured 3,440 rural individuals through Termsurance Grameen Suraksha. IDBI Fortis Life Insurance Company Ltd, which started its commercial operations from March 2008, aims to sell 10,000 Termsurance Grameen ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept.1, 2009: Declining U.S. economy through July has impacted remittances and have had profound rippled effects on the economies of Caribbean countries, according to new research from Map Financial Group, a leading microfinance lender in the region. Facing hardship in the United States, American relatives have dropped remittances by an estimated 9% on an annualized rate to their families residing on the Caribbean ... Full story

Microfinance Focus August 31, 2009: Grameen Foundation on Monday announced it has facilitated the first privately placed corporate note issued by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Inc. (CARD) of the Philippines. The $10.4 million transaction, which was supported by a $5 million guarantee from Grameen Foundation’s Growth Guarantee program and related advisory support, was oversubscribed by six local Filipino institutional investors: Security Bank Corporation, ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Aug. 28, 2009: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is planning to conduct an assessment study of fnancial literacy in seven states of India - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. The study will focus on understanding components of financial literacy, compilation and analytical overview of available packages and highlight the best practices in the delivery of tools and packages and ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Aug. 27, 2009: International Finance Corporation, an investment arm of the World Bank, has provided $1 billion in new financing to businesses in West and Central Africa in the year ended June 2009, a 58 per cent increase, as part of its commitment in private sector investment and advisory services in the region, said Director for West and Central Africa, Yolande Duhem, ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Aug. 26, 2009: Despite the continued progress made by the countries in Asia and Pacific, hunger still remains widespread and many economies are struggling to meet other Millennium Development Goals (MDG), including reductions in maternal mortality rates and access to sanitation, latest available data show, said Asia Development Bank in a statement.  The trend reflected in 'Key Indicators 2009,' the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) flagship annual statistical publication, which presents the latest available economic, financial, social, environmental, and MDG indicators for regional members of the ADB. Full story