Posts by admin:
- Microfinance Could Be Bigger than Banking
- Our economic framework is wrong, it must change – INTERVIEW: Muhammad Yunus: Nobel laureate & Grameen Bank founder
- MICROCAPITAL EVENT: 2010 CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest is Open for Entries
- Meeting Kiva Borrowers in Kitengela, Kenya (3.5 minute video)
- Citigroup gives $1m to microfinance in Haiti
- SPECIAL REPORT: The Merger of Microfinance and Carbon Finance – A Mechanism for Small-Scale Technology Transfer
- Register & Attend Microfinance USA Single Sessions
- MICROFINANCE EVENT: Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) Hosts the 2010 Mobile Money Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 24 – May 27, 2010
Looking Forward to Volunteering for Lumana Credit in Ghana
August 21st, 2010
I’m really looking forward to my trip to Ghana coming up in late October – my friend Dan and I are planning to fly to Accra about October 23rd after a month in Kenya. It’s been a couple years since I last visited the Dominican Republic and got an in person look at the impact microfinance has on the ground, but I couldn’t be more excited to get back out in the field! I’ll be helping Lumana Credit, a microfinance organization based in Seattle but focused in Ghana, for a couple weeks doing whatever they need — – I’m not sure what I’ll be helping out with as of yet, but that’s the fun of it. I’ve known their founder Sammie Rayner as a result of both being involved in the Seattle microfinance scene for the past couple years, and she’ll be working from Ghana at the same time my friend and I are planning on visiting!
Also, it sounds like my friend Sloane Berrent, who is a former Kiva Fellow, is going to pop in for a visit at the beginning of November for 10-14 days.
It’s still a little ways off, but looking like it’s going to be an awesome trip — I’ll certainly try to share some photos and stories here on myKRO.org during my stay!
Help Nathan Richardson Accept his Fellowship with the Vittana Foundation
August 17th, 2010Vittana Ambassador Nathan Richardson, who I met in Los Angeles earlier this year, is going to Jordan for 16 weeks for a Fellowship for Vittana. But here’s the kicker – he needs YOUR help to fund the trip! He’s trying to raise $7,500 to cover expenses (which is nothing for 16 weeks). If you can afford to help him out, I know he would be extremely grateful. More details about the opportunity can be found on his blog:
My placement will be at the Microfund for Women which in the country of the city of Irbid in Jordan. For 16 weeks in 2011, I’ll be assisting in efforts to help alleviate poverty in the area through microfinance and education. To say this honor bestowed upon me is a once in a lifetime opportunity is definitely an understatement. I will be helping to start a program that doesn’t exist anywhere in the Middle East.
In addition to contributing to his fund via the ChipIn module (which can be found on Nathan’s blog), another great way to help out would be to spread the word about Nathan’s opportunity to anyone who you feel might be inclined to help.
In my mind, helping passionate people such as Nathan reach their goals and help others is a much better investment than your next big screen TV will ever be.
Why We Need Transparent Pricing in Microfinance
August 1st, 2010Here’s a presentation from mftransparency.org making the argument that we need transparent pricing in microfinance (I agree) that I stumbled on while exploring the mftransparency.org website today.
What are your thoughts? Are there any arguments to be made to discourage transparent pricing?
WOKAI x FREXH 2010 Shanghai
July 31st, 2010For those of you who will be in China in early August (or wanting to do a bit of traveling), check out Frexh Shanghai 2010 — a two day art/food/fashion/music event in Shanghai August 6th and 7th! Part of the proceeds will benefit Wokai, which as most of you likely know, is China’s first microfinance lending platform.
Here’s a video the Frexh team put together highlighting Wokai. I don’t have a ton of experience with video, but I do know making high quality videos is not easy and I’m impressed with the quality of this one by the Frexh team.
You can get further info about the event here.
[via Jenny Gao at the Wokai blog]
MicroRate Publishes the 2010 MicroRate MIV Survey – Interest in Microfinance Still Strong
July 21st, 2010
MicroRate just published their State of Microfinance Investment: The 2010 MicroRate MIV Survey that highlights the fact that, even with the recession and financial problems around the globe, interest in microfinance funds still remains strong.
Microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs) are a relatively new category of funds that mobilize investments in rich countries and channel them to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the developing world. “The flow of funding through MIVs is one of the little noticed triumphs of development,” says Sebastian von Stauffenberg, CEO of MicroRate.
While MIVs’ assets continued to grow at a commendable 22% (2009) reaching over $6 billion, prior to the financial crisis, the annual rate of growth was 97% (2007). “Pre-crisis growth rates were not sustainable. MIVs now have an opportunity to strengthen their organizations and lending criteria, focusing on the needs of MFIs,” reflects Sebastian von Stauffenberg.
“While demand from microfinance investors remains, it is being met by weaker demand for funding from MFIs,” says Sebastian von Stauffenberg. “We’ve observed that MFIs tend to borrow from local funding sources first and MIV funding is used during peaks of growth. When MFI growth slows as it has in 2008 and 2009, demand for MIV funding decreases disproportionally. MIVs are now faced with notably higher levels of liquidity than previously observed due to this decrease in MFI’s need for funding.”
The significant increase in liquidity was exacerbated by lending to MFIs by public development finance institutions (DFIs). A liquidity-providing facility was announced by DFIs at the end of 2008, but by the time the funds were disbursed in mid-2009, there was no credit shortage to relieve and instead these funds displaced private funding. Damian von Stauffenberg, founder of MicroRate, comments “One would wish that DFIs were less intent on meeting their lending targets and more attuned to the needs of the institutions they are trying to help.”
You find find further details on MicroRate.com.
Grameen (and Kiva) Need Your Help!
July 21st, 2010Grameen (and Kiva) are trying to win the online voting campaign to win $200,000 through the Members Project® from American Express and TakePart and they need your vote! You can vote here.
And if you don’t believe me that Grameen needs your help, here are the Grameen Interns with a creative rap video…
Hitting the Microfinance Links – June 23rd
June 22nd, 2010Global Partnerships’ First Social Investor Forum
May 26th, 2010Global Partnerships is holding its first ever Social Investor Forum in early June, and since many people passionate about microfinance are also passionate about putting their money into initiatives that produce a social as well as economic return, I thought I’d post the event here. For those of you who are in the greater Seattle area, or willing to travel, and interested in social business and investing, I hope you can make it.
Below are further details regarding the event from the Global Partnerships’ website:
WHAT: Global Partnerships Social Investor Forum
WHEN: Tuesday, June 8, 7:30-9:00 a.m. (Registration and breakfast at 7:00 a.m.)
WHERE: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, Washington
With $39 million in capital at work, Global Partnerships has a 15-year track record of investing in Latin American microfinance.
Attend our inaugural Social Investor Forum on Tuesday, June 8 and learn about investment opportunities that generate both social and financial returns. Gain a deeper understanding of GP’s investment strategies and partner organizations, and ask questions of President & CEO Rick Beckett and board leadership, including Board President Dean Allen, CEO of the McKinstry Co.
This event is designed primarily for current investors and donors to GP but is open to the public. There is no cost to attend.
Space is limited! Register online to reserve your spot, or call 206.652.8748.
Hitting the Microfinance Links – May 6th
May 6th, 2010Hitting the Microfinance Links – April 25th
April 25th, 2010It’s been awhile, but here are a few links that may be of interest to microfinance advocates:
