In the News

In the last 10 years, microfinance entered the world’s consciousness and has become a revolutionary force, changing the way that we view international economic development and the poor’s ability to improve their own lives.  Microfinance offers a business method to achieve development ends.  No serious practitioner has claimed that microfinance is a panacea given the multidimensional nature of poverty...

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European Microfinance Platform
By Team e-MFP
December 2, 2010

Yesterday, at the European Microfinance Week 2010, the future of the microfinance sector was discussed, taking into account the backlash of the Indian Andhra Pradesh crisis. 382 participants, representing 285 organisations (NGOs, banks, investors, researchers, and development institutions) voiced their confidence in the future of microfinance, highlighting that the majority of microfinance institutions continue to practice responsible lending, contributing to financial inclusion and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Miami Herald
By Anne Hastings
June 8, 2010

Plagued by tropical storms, floods and hurricanes that have killed hundreds of thousands of people and left even more destitute, Haiti has a long history with Mother Nature. Then on Jan. 12, she struck the country with yet another blow.

WSBI News & Views
Interview with Robin Ratcliffe
March 2010

Microfinance has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy in the past five years. In many countries, it has become the norm for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to achieve sustained growth rates of 25 percent or more.

Forbes
By Elisabeth Rhyne and Asad Mahmood
February 5, 2010

In reaction to the financial crisis, the U.S. banking industry and its regulators have been forced to seek new consumer protections that will put the industry on stronger ground. In marked contrast, one global subsector of the financial industry is moving proactively to ensure that client protection remains at the core of its business model.

Microfinance Focus
By Matthew Fuchs
November 4, 2009

Microfinance Focus, Nov. 4, 2009: The ongoing Nicaraguan “No Pay” movement, which began Spring 2008 in the north of the country, is an example of an organized protest movement against microfinance institutions.

MicroCapital.org
By Hio Kyeng Lee, Research Associate
October 28, 2009

Recent events in the global financial sector have provided the impetus for the launch of the Smart Campaign, a consumer protection campaign focusing on fair lending within the microfinance industry.

Business News Americas
October 23, 2009

Making microfinance client protection an essential component of fulfilling the industry's double bottom line promise is vital to maintaining the health of the microfinance industry, executives from global organizations concluded at briefings held in Washington.

Microfinance Focus
October 23, 2009

The Smart Campaign convened by the Smart Campaign has reiterated that making client protection an essential component of fulfilling the industry’s double bottom line promise is vital to maintaining the health of the microfinance industry.

Inside Microfinance
October 23, 2009

Microfinance leaders from around the globe conferred this week to promote the Smart Campaign -- a global effort to get out ahead of any problems that might threaten developments in microfinance.