An Untimely Obituary
I should start with the good news. David Roodman is not dead. The bad news is that he’s left the Centre for Global Development and moved to Bill Gates’ team. I’m not 100% sure what he’s going to do there, … Continue reading
Author Archives: Hugh Sinclair
The European Microfinance Swindle
Despite the endless awards granted within the microfinance sector, there is not yet one for the silliest publication of the year. Were such a prestigious honour exist, I would propose the recent “Overview of the Microcredit Sector in the European … Continue reading
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MIBs: Microfinance Investment Barbarians
Private capital to microfinance is mostly channelled through gatekeepers (microfinance investment vehicles – MIVs). Some public capital also flows through these vehicles. On the micro scale the P2Ps (Kiva, MyC4 etc) act as more trivial gatekeepers for those wishing to … Continue reading
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Tagged Bateman, BlueOrchard, Deutsche Bank, DWM, GFUSA, Kiva, Mambu, MyC4, Oxfam Novib, Triple Jump
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Microfinance, Gender and an Interesting Potential Confrontation
There’s a fascinating, if not slightly obscure conference coming up in Boston shortly. Ominously referred to as “Extreme Inclusion”, it is hosted by the Fletcher School, Tufts University. What intrigues me about this conference is two of the women speaking … Continue reading
Income Smoothening – a possible solution to a genuine problem
The poor lack the array of options we take for granted in wealthy nations, and are more vulnerable to shocks. Their incomes and expenses may be more volatile. Insurance services are limited, and a comparatively minor medical emergency, or such … Continue reading
El Norte or Bust! Book Review
This review was originally published on Microfinance Focus, and subsequently on microDINERO. David Stoll’s new book, “El Norte or Bust!” is a magnificent read. Rarely have I learned so much, in such a wide range of topics, from such an … Continue reading
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Coming Out of the Closet – a Review of the State of the Campaign Report 2013
Readers of this blog will have noticed that I have veiled respect for Larry Reed. He’s the head of the MicroCredit Summit Campaign, a spin organisation that one would expect to dwarf even Grameen Foundation USA in terms of mindless … Continue reading
Giulio Terzi on Microfinance: The Mind Boggles
Just read this utter nonsense emerging from the European Union: Microfinance is one of the instruments for “addressing inertia and social fragility, which is essential in safeguarding the quality of democracies” in order to prevent “material distress from encouraging populist … Continue reading
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Promotion, Dismissal, Nationalization and Defection: Microfinance January 2013
Rather than pick a single theme, I thought I’d write a summary of the first month of 2013 in the embattled sector. Princess Maxima of Holland got a promotion from ambassador of microfinance to Queen of the Netherlands. Let’s hope … Continue reading
Posted in recent developments
Tagged ACCION, ASN Bank, BlueOrchard, Compartamos, Heinemann, Kiva, KRO-Reporter, Muhammad Yunus, SMART, Zidisha
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End of Year Microfinance Sector Wrap-up
Another few million clients, new banks emerging daily, relentless spin without much evidence of poverty reduction: I thought I’d provide a light-hearted summary of what’s happened this year in the embattled microfinance sector. The best news is that the microfinance … Continue reading
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Tagged ACCION, ASN Bank, BlueOrchard, Calvert, Citi, Compartamos, Cordaid, cycling, Deutsche Bank, DWM, GFUSA, Habitat, Heinemann, IFC, Kiva, KRO-Reporter, LAPO, Muhammad Yunus, MyC4, Oikocredit, OPIC, Opportunity, Otero, Oxfam Novib, Ramesh, responsAbility, SKS, SMART, Standard Chartered, Triple Jump, Tujijenge
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