Microcredit matters
Financial services for low-income clients is a hot topic in this, the International Year of Microcredit, and there is no shortage of information either for those wanting to set up microcredit schemes, or for those hoping to find out how to benefit from one. The Microfinance Gateway is a comprehensive on-line source, with information on research, publications, specialised resource centres, a searchable library of electronic documents, discussion groups and even job listings. You can contribute to this full and active website by adding your own input, including upcoming events for the e-calendar. Your next stop should be the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), a consortium of 28 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to microfinance. CGAP provides technical advice, training, research and development for microfinance institutions (MFIs), as well as funding for innovations. Among services offered on its website are an on-line help desk, guidelines for best practices in running an MFI and the Micro Banking e-Bulletin. A newcomer to the field is the EU/ACP Microfinance Framework Programme, launched in January 2005 with the aim of developing more and better financial services for the poor in ACP countries. A special focus of this programme is to improve outreach in rural areas. Meanwhile, the newly launched Internet-based Rural Finance Learning Centre (RFLC) offers access to online information and training materials on rural finance. Managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this Internet portal aims to improve the flow of information between practitioners, and is especially directed at those working with rural communities. The Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN) is an international non profit-making network for organisations involved in microfinance in Africa . Based in Ethiopia, it currently has about 40 members, spanning both English and French-speaking countries and offers technical support, information and contacts for Africa s growing number of MFIs. In the Solomon Islands, the Online Business Information Service (OBIS) is an Internet-based information referral service that enables small entrepreneurs to access a wide range of business information, including sources of microfinance. Clients can send in their requests via email, fax or in person, and for a small fee (about US$3 2.5) a follow-up service tracks down contacts to help people launch or expand small businesses. For further information: CGAP 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 USA Fax: +202 522 3744 Email: cgap@worldbank.org Website: www.cgap.org EU/ACP Microfinance Framework Programme Ms Antonique Koning Programme Coordinator EU/ACP Microfinance Framework Programme Rue Montoyer 10 1000 Brussels Belgium Email: akoning@euacpmicrofinanceprogramme.org Website: www.euacpmicrofinance.org MAIN Microfinance African Institutions Network (MAIN) PO Box 278 Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251 1 654138 Email: main@mfiain.org Microfinance on the Development Gateway Website: www.microfinancegateway.org OBIS Moira Nowak Ministry of Commerce offices in Honiara Solomon Islands Fax: +677 22808 Email: moira@commerce.gov.sb Website: www.commerce.gov.sb/Online_Business _Information_Service.htm RFLC Website: www.ruralfinance.org/index.jsp
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| Format: | News Item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
2005
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/47909 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99623 |
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