Microfinance Gateway Voices

The Maya Declaration: A New Blueprint for Financial Inclusion

Lauren Braniff — 5/17/12 8:47 AM

What do 80+ institutions from developing and emerging countries, representing over 75 percent of the world’s unbanked population, have in common? They have all endorsed the Maya Declaration. Read on to learn about this new initiative to promote national financial inclusion commitments.

Global Findex: 5 Insights from the New Financial Inclusion Database

Christina Lee — 5/1/12 10:05 AM

What percentage of women in South Asia have a formal account compared to those in Latin America? The World Bank's Global Financial Inclusion Indicators (Global Findex) database provides answers to this and many more questions. Leora Klapper of the World Bank guides us through 5 key insights from the new data.

Microfinance Training Round-Up

Lauren Braniff — 4/17/12 6:26 AM

The Gateway team gathered information on several upcoming training programs and scholarships. Deadlines are approaching so apply now.

Making Your Employees Your Strongest Link

Christina Lee — 3/30/12 2:07 PM

Capable, committed employees are critical to an MFI. Perhaps now more than ever, MFIs need to pay special attention to their single most important resource: their people. What steps can MFIs take to maximize the value of their employees?

Does Microfinance Work?

Christina Lee — 3/19/12 11:02 AM

This week's Microfinance Voices article compiles the response to David Roodman's book, Due Diligence, and examines the essential question of whether microfinance works.

Product Development for Microfinance Part 4: The AppLab's sustainable product development process

Christina Lee — 2/24/12 1:10 PM

So far this month, we've covered models for sourcing client insights, tips for conducting market research, and an innovative model for delivering financial services. This week, Sean Krepp of Grameen Foundation’s AppLab in Uganda spoke to the Gateway about the AppLab's process for translating the results of market research into successful products.

Product Development for Microfinance Part 3: Innovation in India

Christina Lee — 2/16/12 2:53 PM

How can you provide reliable, flexible, convenient, and continuous service to clients in rural areas? This was the question IFMR sought to answer when the first KGFS branch launched in 2008. 100 branches later, they're thriving. Learn more about the KGFS model in our interview with IFMR Trust's Dave Wallack.

Product Development for Microfinance Part 2: Guiding principles of market research

Christina Lee — 2/6/12 4:02 PM

Over the next few weeks, the Gateway is featuring articles to help sharpen your approaches to market research and product development. This week, Jan Chipchase of frog and Graham Wright of MicroSave share their research principles for developing a better understanding of client demand.

Product Development for Microfinance Part 1: Three models for sourcing client insights

Christina Lee — 2/3/12 2:37 PM

Over the next few weeks, the Gateway is featuring articles to help sharpen your approaches to market research and product development. What do financial services and laundry detergent have in common? Next to nothing, but the process of understanding what people want out of detergent or financial services may not be all that different.

Don’t Panic…Prepare! 4 Steps to Disaster Preparedness and What to do when Disaster Strikes

Christina Lee — 1/31/12 2:24 PM

The Microfinance Gateway announces the launch of a new Hot Topic on Disaster Management. This new resource center will inform microfinance institutions about precautionary actions to help mitigate the effects of natural disasters and conflict, as well as the role of MFIs during and after disasters.