- If about microfinance or inclusive finance, I write about things which I hear, about events I go to, or articles I read. There is a small bias towards mobile payments, alternative delivery channels, and alternative data for credit scoring since I am am very interested in these topics. When I do not blog about interesting topics, I am an impact microfinance investment officer at the European Investment Bank (EIB).
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Category Archives: Allgemein
Breaking news: ProCredit exitED Africa!
I am not sure if all of you remember my blogpost “Is ProCredit exiting Africa” in September 2014. Up to today this was my most-read blog which also stirred up many of my former colleagues and bosses at ProCredit Holding … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
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A US study: Utility and telecom payment data predict loan repayment capacity!
I still remember my times at CGAP when the Technology Team was working with PERC, a research center and advocacy group working on: reducing credit invisibility, ie., “credit invisibles” without credit data are most often rejected by mainstream lenders using … Continue reading
Tanzania, are you ready for Digital Finance PLUS (DF+)?
Everybody wants to be digital finance ready! My last blog on the EIB diagnostic of 7 markets in Africa and their potential readiness to replicate Kenya with its Mpesa story already launched this topic. The same day, CGAP launches its … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged Africa, impact investing, Tanzania
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Can we have another Mpesa? – a study analyzing 7 African markets
This blog has been long overdue. The European Investment Bank (EIB) together with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) launched a study in December 2014 on digital financial Services (DFS) in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged access to finance, Africa, mobile banking
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The European Responsible Investment Fund Survey 2015
In line with my blog on social performance of Microfinance Investment Vehicles: „Practicing what you preach?! Social Performance of 5 social investors“, and the one on the GIIN (Global Impact Investing Network) “Impact Investing Network: an analysis of 300 impact … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged impact investing, Luxembourg, research
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Nigeria: CBN approves 2 models of mobile money services
It took them quite some time, but I guess they have gotten around finally doing it. If this is the right set up we will see, but it is a start. After years of market development, digital finance in Nigeria … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged Africa, banking agents, mobile banking, Nigeria
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Financial inclusion – even though it sometimes feels like a Sisyphus job….
However, I must say I felt happy after reading the recently published Global Findex Database 2014. The document presents the current state of financial inclusion and even though we are still missing 2bn people currently unbanked (of which 1.1bn are … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged access to finance, research
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Combining inclusion and protection?
… so this is a guest post by guest blogger Claudia Huber: I remember Compartamos’ initial public offering (IPO) in early 2007. Microfinance still being considered the panacea to all development problems, Compartamos shares were 13 times oversubscribed and sold … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged Africa, consumer protection, financial education, mobile banking
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So! Microfinance has no impact on poverty reduction?!?
This question has been discussed in many fora and is definitely an important one for donor organisations justifying their funding of microfinance projects and programs. Daniel Rozas, a microfinance consultant based in Brussels, Belgium, wrote a blog in February 2014 “Microfinance … Continue reading
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State of the Industry – Mobile Financial Services for the Unbanked
No time to read it? Let me do it and write out the main messages for you: Most of us know the data: 2.5bn people unbanked and relying on informal financial services which are unsafe, inconvenient, and expensive. However, 1bn … Continue reading
Posted in Allgemein
Tagged mobile banking, research
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