New report on “Global Savings, Assets and Financial Inclusion: Lessons, Challenges and Directions,” released at an event co-hosted by the Citi Foundation and based in large part on the Global Symposium held in Singapore, June 27-29, 2008.

'Since 2003, the Government of Sierra Leone is cooperating with KfW, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Cordaid in a 5-year programme on 'Developing a Sustainable Pro-Poor Financial Sector in Sierra Leone'. The programme is implemented by the Microfinance Investment and Technical Assistance Facility (MITAF). Its overarching objective is to increase sustainable access to financial services for poor and low-income people in Sier more...

Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the body responsible for facilitating ICT growth and development in Nigeria has completed its assignment on the nation's ICT for development (ICT4D) strategy/plan.

Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the body responsible for facilitating ICT growth

for development in Nigeria has completed its assignment on the nation's ICT for development (ICT4D) strategy/plan.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) - its private-sector development program in Iraq, known as Izdihar ('prosperity' in Arabic), has helped provide more than $150 million in micro-loans since the start of U.S. government microfinance assistance to Iraq in 2003. The loans, which typically range from $500 to $3,000, are primarily used by Iraqis to start or expand small businesses. The program maintains a repayment rate of nearly 99 percent.

Whether you're a small MFI with just a few dozen clients, or a big organization, your responses will help build a picture and create greater awareness of what's going on around information technology for the microfinance industry. The survey is available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

As many as 300,000 Mongolians will be reached by a new mobile phone banking service to be launched by XacBank. The global microfinance body CGAP is supporting XacBank with technical assistance and funding.

CGAP invites photographers of all levels of expertise to enter the CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest.

This year's theme—innovators and entrepreneurs—speaks to the creativity of our industry. We know from past results that you'll be inventive in capturing the diversity, dynamism, and impact of microfinance around the world.

Chuck Waterfield, a professor at Columbia University and Muhammad Yunus have launched MicroFinance Transparency, a new self-monitoring organization, at this week's Asia-Pacific Regional Microcredit Summit 2008. MicroFinance Transparency’s goal is to prevent companies from taking advantage of poor people with high interest rates and misleading credit offers.

BANGALORE: Inflation is not necessarily a bad word. So it seems for the micro-credit industry if its growth trajectory and first quarter credit offtake are benchmarks. A cluster of large and mature micro-finance entities, many of whom are NBFCs with private equity funding, appear set for over 100% growths this fiscal as inflationary trends have triggered higher working capital needs for micro loanees.