News Archive - Page 129 of 366

Recent Developments, <br /> Key Innovations, and <br /> Insightful Reports

Recent Developments,
Key Innovations, and
Insightful Reports

Your One Stop Platform for Regular Sector Updates

Sector news

Study shows microfinance has empowered women

According to a study by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on the impact of microcredit given out by the MFI Bandhan, women benefited the most. The benefits were quantified by an increase in the say of the women in children-related decisions like educational expenses, girl-education and more. Read more […]

February 1, 2013

Cambodia: Bank accounts, even for the rich are rare

Fewer than one in 20 Cambodians has a formal bank account, despite advances in an expanding financial sector market, according to a paper by the World Bank. According to this paper, lack of financial inclusion is a barrier to Cambodia’s economic progress. Read more here.

February 1, 2013

Myanmar eyes private sector development and microfinance

A newly opened Myanmar has recognized as national priorities the setting up of microfinance institutions and other private organanizations under the leadership of its President, Thein Sein. This will be done under the organizational guidance of the First Myanmar Development Cooperation Forum. Read more here.

February 1, 2013

Yunus urges MFIs to incubate social entrepreneurs

According to Mohammad Yunus, while Nepal may have expanded its offering in terms of microfinance access to the underserved, it must further progress. This can only be done when MFIs not only give out loans, but also facilitate the borrowers by helping them set up their own successful micro-enterprises. Read […]

February 1, 2013

Thailand: The biggest microlender of them all

According to the Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, announced an intricate network of village banks, which operate locally and have an outstanding number of active borrowers. This scheme has helped enhance rural credit and enhanced financial inclusion, but also has its drawbacks. Read more here.

February 1, 2013

India: Microfinance institutions drift from traditional Grameen lending model

Most microfinance institutions in India are changing their repayment structures, in the face of stringent regulatory norms and lack of bank funding. Instead of collecting repayments weekly, institutions like Trident and Equitas are piloting monthly repayment schemes. This is aimed at reducing operational costs. Read more here.

February 1, 2013

Credit reporting for microfinance – how Pakistan achieved it

The State Bank of Pakistan has facilitated the adoption of microfinance, by becoming an early adopter of microfinance credit reporting systems. In 2003, this system was even made electronic. This post portrays some of the lessons to be learned from this concerted effort of all arms of the Pakistani financial […]

February 1, 2013

Tanzania: NHC sells 182 low cost housing units in 2 days

The National Housing Corporation of Tanzania is facing record levels of demand for low cost housing units, with customers paying immediate down-payments for housing units in Dar es Salaam. A record number of 182 houses were sold in a matter of two days. Read more here.

February 1, 2013

India: Government raises financial aid for rural housing

The Central Government has approved the increase in amount of aid disbursed to the poor for rural housing units acquisition from INR 45,000 (US$ 840) to INR 70,000 (US$ 1305) in plains and INR 75,000 (US$ 1399) in hilly and difficult regions. Read more here, and the funding details here.