By Crystal C. Yan Last week, I attended the Microfinance USA 2010 Conference as one of more than 200 student conference attendees. I sat in on “Student-Led Microfinance Clubs”, a panel of individuals working to empower students to be a part of the microfinance movement. The panel was comprised of university faculty, university students, and [...]
In today’s world, Brazil is commonly viewed as the shining star of South America – both in terms of political and economic stability. President Lula has proven to be a reasonable man, a well-fed middle class is beginning to poke through a society previously marked by strong class differences, and the sun continues to shine. [...]
Getting a paid job in microfinance can sometimes seem like the Holy Grail of nonprofit work. The fact of the matter is that the top-notch, innovative, entrepreneurial economic development strategy draws a slew of top-notch, innovative, entrepreneurial job candidates. Whether you’re a soon-to-be recent grad or looking to transition into the field, here’s how to [...]
Aside from money and time, the things that people donate are often, well, unwanted. Used running shoes, clunker cars, and out-of-style clothing aren’t something that people actually miss once they’re gone. But now, thanks to a brand-new Facebook app, microfinance enthusiasts can donate something that’s near and dear to them—their profile pictures. The app was [...]
When I first found out about this year’s Microfinance USA conference from my friends over at California-based microlender Opportunity Fund, I wanted to go for one reason and one reason only: the conference’s focus on the U.S. side of the industry. Those who know me from my Main Street Microfinance posts know that I’ve got [...]
As the media contact for ACCION USA, I have the pleasure of speaking with journalists and other curious individuals about microfinance almost daily. With the recession shutting more small businesses than ever out of the bank financing sector, the topic has never been hotter. Everyone wants to know how microfinance institutions (MFIs) are faring during [...]
Without fear of calling myself out as a newbie, I’ll admit that this is my first post on Social Earth. However, it’s not my first on microfinance, a topic that I’ve covered in-depth for Main Street Microfinance, ACCION USA’s blog. You should know a couple of things about me to give context to the (hopefully [...]
Jordan might still be coasting on it’s rebirth of economic prosperity brought on by its liberal economic policies – it is now classified as a “lower middle income” country by the World Bank – and it remains a nation that is determined not to leave anyone behind. In a report issued by Sanabel, the Microfinance [...]
Back in August, while I was visiting that Mexican village that is so close to my heart, I spent some time with one of the kids I met when I first went to that place. Adiel was one of the “lucky kids” of the village. His family, due to his sister marrying well, was able [...]
The social entrepreneurship crew generally likes to poo poo traditional development. And why not? It is an easy target given the widely held belief that aid doesn’t work and evidence showing the wholesale ineffectiveness of many development projects. We are increasingly convinced that aid donors – institutional and individual – have dumped incalculable sums down [...]
On my way home from New York City on Saturday evening, I picked up the business section of the New York Times and began reading a column- the headline of which peaked my interest. “You, Too, Can Be a Microlender” by Ron Lieber. I’ve spent a fair amount of time studying the microfinance “niche” as [...]
The threat of poor entrepreneurs taking on too much loan debt is a growing reality, and a genuine threat to the rapidly expanding microfinance sector. At Oikocredit’s annual staff and board meetings, regional managers who operate in almost 70 different countries, raised concerns over the rate of over-indebtedness in some countries. Those working in the [...]
Australia will make AUS$60 million (US$55.5 million) available over four years to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for cooperation in a wide range of areas of special mutual interest. These include climate change, disaster risk reduction and emergency management; regional integration including trade facilitation; education, including in the fields of science and technology, provision of scholarships [...]
