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UNITED NATIONS CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND Microfinance |
Issue 1 / January - February 2004 |
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Links New publications and web sites for your information: Drew Tulchin of Social Enterprise Associates put out a working paper in October funded by the Ford Foundation for the MicroCapital Institute exploring the link to and value of Social Return and the "Double Bottom Line" for Microfinance Institutions. While the financial benefits of MFI investment are quantifiable, the social benefits are not as easily measured. The paper develops an analytical framework to identify the social benefits of this type of investment by adapting the methods used in other industries to the microfinance context. Why provide detailed measurement of the social impact? The author states that meaningful and accurate reporting on the double bottom line will attract increased capital flows into microfinance. The full text is available at: http://www.socialenterprise.net/pdfs/mf_double_btm_line.pdf The Andromeda Fund is a venture capital firm that aims to contribute to sustainable development through social investment with high financial return targets. Governed by an overarching mission to alleviate poverty and contribute to sustainable development, the fund partners with entrepreneurs from the developed and the developing world. Investments in its portfolio include ACCION Investments for Microfinance, Ebiza, and responsAbility Social Investment Services AG. www.andromeda-fund.com The web site for USAID's Developing Poverty Assessment Tools project can now be viewed at http://www.povertytools.org. The site contains information on the project including links to relevant web sites and literature on poverty assessment, and information on field tests including the field-testing methodology. The site also contains a link to submit tools and indicators to be included in the field tests. Microcapital is a non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco that aims to educate financial professionals about the field of microfinance. It offers a full line of research materials and presentations for investors and financial managers that include industry analyses and case studies; microcapital also sponsors local forums that feature influential individuals from the investment and microfinance communities. www.microcapital.org |
