Finding a Role for Public Donors in the Privatized World of Microfinance

While direct investment (grants and loans) from the more traditional players such as public donors, foundations, and Non Government Organizations (NGOs) still exceeds that of the newly formed investment funds, it is widely recognized that the expansion of the financial sector frontiers to meet the global demand for financial services will have to be fueled by private commercial capital. Public funding from bilateral and multilateral sources is simply too limited in volume and too restricted in the ways it can be disbursed. [continue]

   Microfinance in Brazil: Unibanco's Experience

Brazil appears to possess the perfect conditions for microfinance to thrive for many reasons: it has the highest concentration of income in South America; 60 million Brazilians (or 33% of the total population) live on less than US$1 dollar per day; only 54 million people have checking or savings accounts; and the country has a well developed financial market in terms of retail banking. However, the microcredit sector in Brazil has not reached a relevant level of growth. [continue]

   Microinsurance and Risk Mitigation for MFI clients

"Microinsurance" is the protection of low-income people against specific perils in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved. [continue]

   Eradicating Poverty through Profit - Making Business Work for the Poor
An International Conference on the Private-sector Approaches to Development

The World Resources Institute Conference on Eradicating Poverty through Profit, which was held in San Francisco from 12-14 December 2005, convened business leaders from multinational companies in finance, technology, consumer products, agriculture, energy, and natural resources; entrepreneurs and executives with hands-on experience of proven, profitable, and innovative approaches; and senior policy makers who can play a key role in fostering conditions for beneficial business presence at the base of the economic pyramid. [continue]

   Fazle Hasan Abed receives UNDP Human Development Award

"Microfinance can make the difference between hope and despair for billions of people living in dehumanizing poverty," says Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Advisor to the International Year of Microcredit, and winner of the 2004 Mahbub ul Haq Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Development. [continue]