// Aveek Datta, Livemint The collapse of the microfinance industry in Andhra Pradesh has made traditional money lenders in India’s fifth largest state active even as borrowers are either selling personal assets to improve cash flow or halting business expansion, an industry report released on Wednesday said. The report by MicroSave—a microfinance... 

// By  Obinna Chima, This Day Live As part of efforts to enhance the operations of microfinance banks (MFBs), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Tuesday suggested mergers and acquisitions (M &As) option for operators in the sub-sector. The corporation also advised operators to diligently work towards the implementation of... 

// From PRNewswire via COMTEX Initiative Will Use Mobile Services to Help Colombian Farmers Improve Productivity and Quality of Life; MasterCard Employees to Volunteer as Part of Broader Global Initiative MasterCard Worldwide and Grameen Foundation announced today a joint effort to launch mobile services that will provide agricultural and financial... 

From Business News Pakistan Karachi: It is a recognized fact that without servicing the insurance requirements of low-income people, the risks to economic development are not safeguarded. This has also been proved by the recent floods in Pakistan where in the absence of proper insurance coverage, the economic losses suffered by the masses had a... 

AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria Limited is an established Microfinance Bank with its Head office situated at Ikeja, Lagos. It is a member of an International network of microfinance banks providing world class banking services to micro, small and medium enterprises and private individuals in Africa and Asia and rapidly spreading... 

// From MyJoy Online At the outskirts of this town, 45 kilometres south of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Aselefech Desalegn fights the flames she uses for baking enjera, Ethiopia’s staple flatbread. Like millions of poor Ethiopian women, she is also constantly battling to feed her children. In recent years her livelihood has depended... 

// By Hope Moses-Ashike, Businessday Online Micro Finance Bank’s in Nigeria are searching for their soul to remain relevant as major service providers in the country’s financial services sector. Valentine Whensu, president, National Association of Microfinance Banks (Lagos Island Chapter) in this interview with Hope Moses-Ashike Abared his... 

From Nigerian Tribune THE Nigerian financial sector suffered a massive confidence drop, after the global financial meltdown, and several other financial institutions were found to have been engaged in unethical financial practices, as well as high-risk investments, that unduly exposed depositors’ and shareholders’ funds. The consequence of a hitherto... 

Data from several studies suggests that among the many livelihood threats faced by low income households and enterprises are those arising from illness and death. FSD, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) are collaborating to support development of micro health and life insurance market ¡n Kenya. We are... 

By Obinna Chima, This Day Live The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared 82 finance houses out of a total of 104 licensed in the country unhealthy and deficient of the required capital. In fact, the apex bank revealed that while 20 of the unhealthy finance houses were technically insolvent, 33 others were either inactive or had ceased to operate. Finance...