Tag Archives: BlueOrchard

Trouble Brewing in Peru? MiBanco in Dire Straits

I was surprised more fuss wasn’t made of Fitch’s October 2013 downgrade of Grupo ACP – the main shareholder of Peru’s flagship microfinance institution (MFI): MiBanco. “The downgrade [] is driven by ACP’s losses (mainly due to foreign exchange volatility … 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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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

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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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LAPO (Alumni) Break the Silence

I recently received a response to my blog-post “Doomsday”, which discussed a leaked document from Triple Jump and Incofin complaining about some of LAPO’s activities. The comment was from a group claiming to be students of LAPO. It’s as close … Continue reading

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Norway throws the baby out with the bathwater

NORAD, the Norwegian equivalent of DFID or USAID, recently announced that it has all but ceased microfinance activities. The Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI) is the only remaining large microfinance investor, although it is partially funded from the Norwegian public purse … Continue reading

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Fear Strikes the Microfinance Funding Sector

For all the scrutiny, academic research and press coverage that the microfinance has attracted over the years, one niche has been exempt: the investment community. This is now changing. Individuals, NGOs, investors, CSR departments, even governments, have largely had to … Continue reading

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