Despite technological advancements and high levels of consumer awareness, financial fraud is common these days because fraudsters are highly adaptive and creative. The risk of financial loss at the hands of scammers, hackers and swindlers is evenly spread across the developed and developing world. The difference, perhaps, lies in the level of sophistication of these attacks, where the loose legal, regulatory and technical frameworks of third world countries make it … Read More >>

myKRO.org has now around for over 7 years since we launched it in 2008. Jerry and I are both still still incredibly passionate about advancing the microfinance industry into the mainstream, but simply haven’t been able to dedicate the time to this blog over the past few years that we used to. Life has gotten the best of us. Jerry has a family now, and my start-up Horizon (and Oh Hey … Read More >>

Fehmeen blogs at Top Money Hacks. Microfinance spread across the global economy like a gentle yet noticeable wave a few years ago and led to empowerment of the lower class in more ways than one could imagine. Since microcredit is a financial tool, one would imagine the benefit delivered would be limited to monetary gain, but the social nature of this tool has created value in numerous ways. A few studies … Read More >>

An estimated 1.28 million clients around the world use Sharia-compliant microfinance services, a four-fold increase since 2006, according to a Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) study released Wednesday April 3rd.  Nearly a third of all institutions reported the launch of their Islamic microfinance operations in the last five years, and the number of providers offering these products has doubled since 2006.  Ninety-two percent of Sharia-compliant loans are concentrated … Read More >>

When we typically think of microfinance, we think of it in the context of alleviating poverty in the developing world.  But microfinance is also hard at work here in the U.S!  Four member organizations of the Accion U.S. Network conducted the U.S. Microfinance: Small Loans, Big Results study in partnership with California microlender Opportunity Fund.  Nearly 500 businesses participated in the study, painting a vivid picture of local microloan outcomes … Read More >>

In OECD countries, employment is primarily generated by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).  However, in the least developed countries, the SME sector is practically non-existent.  There are a lot of very small companies and a few very large companies, but nobody in the middle.  The “Missing Middle”, as this phenomenon is named, prevents many developing countries from having a true middle class, which largely drives an economy.  How do … Read More >>

If you’re a regular reader, you may know that I’ve battled with finding an efficient way to connect with other microfinance advocates all over the globe during the course of my extensive travels the last few years. Regular readers likely also know I’ve been working on a startup for the last year (Oh Hey World). Those of you who know me probably won’t be surprised to know that there is a … Read More >>

Check out this awesome video from OneSeed Expeditions Patagonia trip 2013 down in Chile: Patagonia 2013 from The Dauphinee Group Inc on Vimeo. Here’s a list of some of their upcoming adventures: Atacama Under the Stars – April/October 2013 Langtang Journey – April/October 2013 Chile Trek and Sip – March/October/November 2013

The number of people around the world who have access to microcredit financing has fallen for the first time in 13 years, reflecting turmoil in the sector and fall out from the global financial crisis.  The total number of people with access to microloans and other financial services fell by 10 million in 2011 compared to 2010.  The sector had ballooned since the 1990s, reaching hundreds of millions of people and … Read More >>

Throughout the developing world, it is crucially important to empower women when trying to lift a country out of poverty.  By not allowing women to work, you are eliminating half of the work force for the country.  Evidence has surfaced recently that microfinance in some countries may not be as successful at reaching female clients as previously thought.  When it comes to Pakistan, only fifty-nine percent of microfinance clients are … Read More >>