Events 

Over-indebtedness Workshop:  CGAP convened a group of industry experts to look at client over-indebtedness issues. What exactly do we mean by over-indebtedness? What does existing research tell us?

Technology Forum 2008:  The third Technology Forum will be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon July 1 and 2, 2008. The forum brings together financial service providers and technical solutions providers for workshops on using new technology to increase access to financial services.

Gender Workshop:  CGAP is co-hosting a workshop on Finance and Gender with Women's World Banking and the World Bank Group's Gender Action Plan on 2 July. The workshop brings together almost thirty finance practitioners, donors and researchers to discuss how to increase women's access and inclusion.

Announcements 

Code of Ethics to be established in Microfinance:  At the initiative of CGAP, Deutsche Bank and The Boulder Institute, leaders of microfinance institutions, investors, banks and development agencies have developed the Pocantico Declaration, the first step toward a code of conduct for microfinance.

Funder Training Registration:  Microfinance training for funders, Croatia, September 2008. The next CGAP/MFMI training course for funders, "Building Inclusive Financial Systems: How Can Funders Make a Difference?", will be held in Croatia, September 8-12, 2008.

Latest Publications

Banking through Networks of Retail Agents:  This Focus Note looks at banking through networks of retail agents. It addresses the idea that, to achieve universal access, banks will need to adapt their systems to a low-value, high-volume transactional environment and to build more flexible, scalable retail networks of points of service.

Transforming NGO MFIs:  As sustainable microfinance business models mature, many nonprofit microfinance institutions (NGO MFIs) are considering transforming into for-profit institutions. This Occasional Paper provides insight and guidance on the various ownership-related issues that an NGO MFI may face when transforming into a for-profit institution.

Microinsurance: What Can Donors Do?:  Microinsurance is growing increasingly popular among donors as a way to help poor people manage risks and reduce their vulnerability. This Brief addresses how donors can support microinsurance efforts.

Linking Financial Service Providers to Commercial Capital:  This Brief addresses guarantees used by microfinance institutions as funding instruments. It is based on a joint CGAP/USAID study of 96 transactions executed by eight guarantor agencies between 1988 and 2005, with most transactions made after 2000.