By Claudia Cahalane, Social Enterprise – Dutch microcredit foundation Qredits scoops the European Microfinance Best Practices Award 2010 and its €50,000 prize fund Dutch microcredit foundation Qredits has beaten five finalists from across Europe to win €50,000 and the European Microfinance Best Practices Award 2010. The... 

By Hope Moses-Ashike, Businessday – Following the liquidity crisis that has crippled operations of microfinance banks (MFBs) in the country, operators are looking offshore to beef up their capital. This formed part of the recently released 10-point plan to revitalise the sector by the national executive council of Nigerian National Association... 

Iraq’s rapidly growing microfinance industry reached a major milestone this month when the Al-Tadhamun (TDMN) microfinance organization opened its third branch office in the Northern Province of Ninawa. The opening brings the total number of microfinance branches and satellite offices across Iraq to 100 and underscores the success Iraq’s MFI sector... 

By Sola Alabadan , Daily Independent Online • Fola Daniel, Commissioner for Insurance African insurance companies have been charged to develop micro insurance products to cater to the poor and vulnerable people, who constitute the majority of the population of the continent. This formed part of the resolutions adopted at the 37th annual conference... 

By Thompson Ayodele and Olusegun Sotola, Punch on the web – Across the world, microfinancing has proved to be an effective tool for poverty alleviation and a better approach to development. It is based on the recognition that the war against poverty cannot be won without the poor themselves in the frontline. This is a critical factor of growth,... 

Yemen News Agency (SABA)– The International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD) has allocated USD 1 million to support the Al-Amal Microfinance Bank’s capital, and USD 7 million to boost the bank’s lending capacity and spreading in the rural areas. This came during a meeting gathered on Tuesday the director of the bank Mohamed... 

Third Sector – Can microfinance initiatives really offer a double bottom line, asks Nicola Donnelly of Wheb Asset Management Microfinance has become a buzz word for investors. It has traditionally been about the provision of credit to low-income clients around the world who lack access to banking, but is now also about savings, insurance... 

How We Made It In Africa – Imara Africa Securities believes that operating in the continent’s microfinance industry can be sustainably profitable, if the business is managed correctly. The company sees good potential in Botswana-listed Letshego Holdings. SKS Microfinance Ltd., the Indian microlender backed by Sequoia Capital, plans to raise... 

Elenoa Baselala, Fiji Times Online – M-PAiSA can really assist micro-finance by facilitating disbursement of funds and repayment of loans through the mobile, Vodafone Fiji believes. “Currently, the cost of servicing microfinance loans is is big hurdle to microfinance projects. Through M-PAiSA and working with microfinance agencies, M-PAiSA... 

Punch on the Web – Operators of microfinance banks and similar institutions have been urged to device effective strategies of recovering loans from customers. The Managing Director of GS Microfinance Bank, Mr. Segun Adaju, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday. He said that loan default by customers...