Online lending is a new model of microfinance funding in which retail loans or investments are made over the Internet by average people around the world.

With two web based organizations, Kiva.org and the recent launched MicroPlace (October 2007), the phenomenon of online microlending is growing reaching hundreds of people that sign up each day to provide loans to microentrepreneurs around the world.

Both Kiva and MicroPlace, the two major players in online social lending to more...

Last February, Social Edge-an online program of the Skoll Foundation-launched the feature series "Unitus Microfinance Case Studies" in support of their mission to inspire and support social entrepreneurship around the world. Social Edge's Executive Director Victor D'Allant, who goes by "Global X" on the blog, began constructing the series when he attended the Unitus Leadership Summit last October. 

Unitus presents a series of case studies explaining how leadi more...

This highlight presents a paper prepared by Getaneh Gobezie [Amhara Credit & Saving Institution], a dgMicrofinance topic Guide, for the next Annual Conference of the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institution (AEMFI).

''Market failures in rural finance, and related issues of adverse selection, moral hazard, more...

Although men, as well as women, face difficulties in establishing an additional enterprise, women have barriers to overcome. Among them are negative socio-cultural attitudes, legal barriers, practical external barriers, lack of education and personal difficulties.

In spite of this, for women and especially for poor women, microentreprise ownership has emerged as a strategy for economical survival. One of the most essential factors contributing to more...

Almost 12,000 microfinance institutions (MFI) exist worldwide today, launched by private capital sources aiming to profit from investment making micro-loans to small businesses in developing countries.  With microfinance funding from private investors tripling to more than $2 billion in 2006, a closer look at MFIs is instructive.  Some of these institutions can be fly-by-night.  With interest rates to borrowers often up to 85 %,  micro-loans from these MFIs can someti more...

Almost 12,000 microfinance institutions (MFI) exist worldwide today, launched by private capital sources aiming to profit from investment making micro-loans to small businesses in developing countries.  With microfinance funding from private investors tripling to more than $2 billion in 2006, a closer look at MFIs is instructive.  Some of these institutions can be fly-by-night.  With interest rates to borrowers often up to 85 %,  micro-loans from these MFIs can someti more...