Backstopping Mandate Finance

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Collection of links

The following short descriptions are mostly taken from www.enterweb.org and/or from the respective websites. If not mentioned differently, the websites are in English language.

 

top of page Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
http://www.cgap.org

CGAP is a multi donor effort to address poverty through the support and promotion of microfinance programs. This website is part of CGAP's effort to disseminate lessons learned on best practice in the field of microfinance. Contains high quality documents on best practices and training material for microfinance practitioners.

top of page Saving Information Resource Centre of CGAP
http://microfinancegateway.org/resource_centers/savings/

The newly launched Saving Information Resource Centre offers an opportunity to learn and share information on deposit mobilization among poor and excluded communities. SIRC is designed as a one-stop shop for information on savings services for poor communities. A "Search by Topic" tool allows accessing the vast amount of existing information on savings via a list of selected keywords. Real-life stories of people working in financial institutions and trying to improve their savings services are collected in "change makers". A "virtual study tour" takes you around the globe to visit different countries and financial institutions. More questions about mobilizing deposits from poor clients? Read answers from industry leaders in the regular "ask the experts" column. Other services include frequently asked questions, a glossary, information on CGAP's savings initiative, and links to the websites of organizations that specialize in savings.

top of page The Microfinance Gateway
http://www.microfinancegateway.org

The Gateway is managed by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and hosted by ELDIS, a leading developer of online development information gateways, based at the Institute of Development Studies in Sussex, U.K. Its objective is to be a one-stop microfinance information hub, providing a forum for practitioners, NGOs, donors, and others to learn about microfinance topics and to share their knowledge. Clear and outstanding site, very well designed with an emphasis on interactivity and user friendliness. The site includes three parts: "Industry Services" which links to several resource centres, "Highlights" which provides either new approaches or viewpoints and "The Library"which includes more than 2,000 reviewed documents.

top of page Portail Microfinance
www.lamicrofinance.org

The "Portail Microfinance" is a new website co-managed by ADA and GRET with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg and the financial and technical support of CGAP. Just as the Microfinance Gateway in English the microfinance portal in French is one-stop microfinance information portal. The site is an excellent source for a variety of thematic documents, a toolbox for microfinance practitioners, news, announcements of conferences and workshops of the microfinance sector etc. The content is specifically adapted to the needs, the interests and the experiences of the francophone actors of the microfinance sector.
Language: French

top of page The MicroFinance Network
http://www.mfnetwork.org

The MicroFinance Network, a global association of leading microfinance institutions, announces the launch of its new website. The Site includes information on the latest developments, original research, new products, and financial information for leading microfinance institutions from around the world. Further the site provides updates on all of the members of the MicroFinance Network (MFN), as well as links to MFN's publications, including past issues of the MFN newsletter and brochure.

top of page Mix Market
http://www.mixmarket.org

A global microfinance marketplace with information on over 100 microfinance Institutions, 35 microfinance-oriented funds, and key partners such as networks, raters/external evaluators, advisory firms and governmental and regulatory agencies. It promotes more credible and efficient market infrastructure as well as investment and information flows, by linking MFIs worldwide with investors and donors. You can search for MFIs by various criteria, learn about their activities, review their outreach and impact data and financial information, and download documents such as audited financial statements

top of page The MicroBanking Bulletin
http://www.mixmbb.org

The MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB) has become the premier benchmarking source for the microfinance industry. Its benchmarks are widely used by investors, donors and other service providers to facilitate greater standardization and a better understanding of the development of the microfinance sector. Originally an output of the MicroBanking Standards Project, the MBB is now one of the principal products offered by the MIX (Microfinance Information eXchange). The MBB collects financial and portfolio data provided voluntarily by microfinance institutions (MFIs), organizes the data by peer groups and disseminates the results. Through its benchmarking services the MBB helps the MIX achieve its mission: "to help build microfinance market infrastructure".

top of page MicroSave-Africa
http://www.microsave.org

MicroSave-Africa is a project financed by CGAP/DID/UNDP that promotes the development of savings and other more client-responsive financial services among microfinance institutions in East Africa. The site provides a different perspective on microfinance with a focus on savings rather than on credit. The field-level research entails extensive interviews with poor people (including microfinance clients) to better understand their financial behaviour and risk profile; while the action research involves helping MFIs to better listen to clients and design appropriate financial products based on better market information.

top of page ADA CEREM-LUX
http://www.microfinance.lu

ADA is a non-profit organisation based in Luxembourg, dedicated to the sustainable advancement of the poor. Since 1994, ADA has been working with microfinance institutions by offering them a unique combination of financial support and customised technical services. MFIs working with ADA also benefit from a valuable network of public and private support organisations, alternative financial institutions, microfinance rating agencies and international development agencies. CEREM forms part of ADA's two-pronged approach that combines financial support and technical services to improve the performance and growth of MFIs. Their monthly news brief provides a lot of interesting and up-to-date information on microfinance.
Languages: English and French.

top of page IDEAS Latin America
http://www.ideasnet.org

The Institute for Development, Evaluation, Assistance and Solutions (IDEAS) provides technical services and training in four main areas: 1. Market research into what entrepreneurs need and want in terms of products and services. 2. Impact evaluation, client satisfaction assessment, and monitoring for microfinance institutions. 3. Institutional evaluation of microfinance and micro enterprise development institutions. 4. Channelling socially responsible capital for microfinance institutions and fair trade. The institute provides training, technical assistance, and information services to staff, boards, donors, and other non-profit institutions. It publishes a periodical bulletin on impact evaluation and market research for microfinance in Latin America, MicroEval, which can be obtained for free at microeval@ideasnet.org.
Languages: Spanish and English.

top of page The Virtual Library on Microcredit
http://www.gdrc.org/icm/

Defined as being a repository of information on alternative, non conventional financial systems and the informal credit markets, the Virtual Library on Microcredit is recommended with regards to microcredit and microenterprises. A well designed and organized web site with lots of documents, case studies, news and an extensive list of off-line newsletters and bulletins on microfinance and related issues.

top of page Ohio State University Rural Finance Program
http://aede.ag.ohio-state.edu/programs/ruralfinance/

The Rural Finance Program at The Ohio State University is a recognized world leader in the analysis of rural financial markets and other finance and development questions, particularly those concerning the design and implementation of financial reform and restructuring programs, the establishment of prudential regulation and supervision frameworks, and the provision of financial services to difficult clienteles (small farmers, rural and urban microenterprises, the poor, women) in developing countries. Their research results are downloadable.

top of page Rural Finance Learning Center
http://www.ruralfinance.org

The Rural Finance Learning Center aims to assist organisations to build their capacity to improve rural financial services. The Rural Finance website is providing access to rich materials for capacity building in the field of rural finance. Online study lessons introduce into various topics of microfinance (besides English some modules are translated into French and Spanish), training guides, workshop resumes and training opportunities give an overview on ongoing learning events in the sector. A Resources Section represents a large database of materials relevant to rural finance. The database includes all kinds of documents - books, papers, case studies, guidelines, training manuals, briefs, etc. Further features of the site are a news section and a discussion room for microfinance topics.

top of page Imp-Act Action Research Program
http://www.imp-act.org

Imp-Act is a global action-research programme designed to improve the quality of microfinance services and their impact on poverty by developing impact assessment systems. It promotes credible and useful impact assessment, building on the priorities and agendas of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their clients. It helps MFIs to develop their own learning systems, both to inform internal decision-making and to satisfy the requirements of external stakeholders. Imp-Act works with 29 MFIs in 20 countries world-wide. It brings together academics from three UK universities, policy-makers, international NGOs and donors. The website contains many online documents.

top of page Finance and development research programme
http://www.devinit.org/findev/

This research program funded by DFID, aims at identifying effective financial sector policies to promote poverty-reducing economic growth in low-income countries. Focus studies within different themes help to clarify the key issues to be explored in country based research. The links between the financial sector, growth and poverty reduction is explored:

The Institute for Development Policy and Management of the University of Manchester and other famous UK Universities participate in that research program. Most of the research results are downloadable.

top of page CERISE
http://www.cerise-microfinance.org/

The CERISE network is an initiative of four French organisations (CIDR, CIRAD, IRAM, GRET). CERISE is a knowledge platform for capitalisation of experiences, studies, exchange, information and publications in the microfinance sector.
Language: French

top of page Epargne sans Frontière
http://www.esf.asso.fr/epargne/

Epargne sans Frontière is one of the oldest and best known francophone NGOs with respect to analytical thinking and information dissemination on decentralized financial systems. From the beginning in 1985, the founders of the NGO have kept asking two important questions: 1. Do the financial flows from industrialized countries really contribute to the development of poor countries? 2. Does the "clean" saving in industrialized countries really play a key role in the development process of poor countries? In order to try and answer these questions, Epargne sans Frontière has established a network of experts and decided to become a disseminator of information, awareness and ideas.
Language: French

top of page ILO Social Finance Programme
http://www.ilo.org/socialfinance

In keeping with the launch of the International Year of Microcredit, the ILO's Social Finance Programme is raising awareness through its new website centered around three major themes:
1) Reducing vulnerability (e.g. microinsurance)
2) Creating jobs (e.g. leasing and guarantee funds)
3) Making financial policies more employment-sensitive (e.g. financial sector liberalization and the impact on the poor).
You will find updated information on action research, policy support and technical cooperation projects in various countries. Innovative microfinance applications are found in all sections, underlined by case studies, training programmes and other publications.

top of page Newsletter: Microfinance Matters of UNCDF
http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance/newsletter/

UNCDF (United Nations Capital Development Fund) issues a bimonthly newsletter "Microfinance Matters" that contains features, such as: updates on the year of microfinance, news, upcoming events and workshops, a platform for exchange on microfinance etc.
UNCDF contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Least Developed Countries through a variety of innovative approaches in both local development and microfinance. In microfinance, UNCDF emphasises on conducive regulatory and legislative framework conditions for building inclusive financial sectors that create sustainable access for poor people to financial services. UNCDF is providing funding, offering technical & policy guidance to government partners and UNDP, and disseminating experiences and lessons learnt to stakeholders through training and information services.