FDC’s work over the years has encouraged a flourishing, but safe environment for microfinance and enterprise, by connecting policy and practice. A conducive and enabling policy environment, and a sound and effective regulatory framework and supervisory system are of critical importance for ensuring a level of outreach that would unleash the true potential of microfinance for significant poverty reduction. FDC’s seminal research conducted in the 1990s includes Best Practice in Banking with the Poor, The Role of Commercial Banks in Microfinance, Getting the Framework Right: Policy and Regulation for Microfinance in Asia, and The Role of Central Banks in Microfinance in Asia and the Pacific. More recently, FDC’s policy advocacy centres on the Asia-Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum, established in 2010 as a policy initiative of the APEC Finance Ministers to identify actions that financial policy makers can take to expand the reach of financial services to the unbanked and underserved.
This paper highlights the similarities of the "MIRAB" model in Sri Lanka - an island nation located in the Indian Ocean - and draws implications for the island nations of the Pacific.
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As part of its work to increase financial inclusion in developing countries, FDC recently assessed various business models for the provision of financial services in Papua New Guinea.
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These topical briefs, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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Often it seems that microfinance 'models' are applied, with very little variation, in situations where the operating context is much different from that in which they were developed. There are man ...
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In 2007, FDC completed three country studies on leveraging remittances with microfinance. With funding from the Australian Research Council, this project was undertaken in collaboration with the A ...
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In 2007, FDC completed three country studies on leveraging remittances with microfinance. With funding from the Australian Research Council, this project was undertaken in collaboration with the A ...
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This paper was an 'early warning' of the consequences of the crisis for microfinance institutions and their clients, as it unfolded. Prepared for the Annual Seminar on New Development Finance at F ...
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These topical briefs, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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John Conroy reports on the 2001 Declaration of APEC Leaders, and the twin challenges for APEC of globalisation and the new economy.
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In 2007, FDC completed three country studies on leveraging remittances with microfinance. With funding from the Australian Research Council, this project was undertaken in collaboration with the A ...
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Convened by the Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP), the Asia Microfinance Forum 2014 was organized by the Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), with the Citi Foundation as lead partner, ...
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These topical briefs, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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This paper examines the circumstances of microfinance in seven ASEAN countries, identifying common challenges to sustainability. These include the need to integrate microfinancing systems successf ...
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The Forum consisted of eight sessions that addressed a range of topics including: (i) credit bureaus and credit information systems, (ii) microinsurance, (iii) cross-border payment systems, (iv) s ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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An outline by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Banking with the Poor to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclusion within this unique ...
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This study was jointly commissioned by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the UNDP Pacific Sub Regional Centre. It examines the status of microcredit across the Pacific region.
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In a manner uncomfortably reminiscent of 'sub-prime' mortgage lending, foreign capital flows generated by 'financialisation' are funding rapid growth of micro-lending. Such investments typically n ...
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In the wake of the crisis that hit the microfinance sector in late 2010 there was increasing scepticism from commentators about the potential of the microfinance industry to achieve poverty reduct ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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The need for greater coordination and collective action amongst stakeholders to address the challenges of achieving financial inclusion is becoming more evident as its potential to deliver signifi ...
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These consultations focussed on the four topics defined in the workshop organised on the 29 January 2004 in Islamabad, presented in the summary.
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Should central banks in developing countries actively assist microfinance? And how far would any such assistance fit with contemporary views of central bank functions? Given the reliance now place ...
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This report provides an assessment of microfinance in the Pacific island countries. It is based partly on an overall review of microfinance in nine countries in the region, namely Cook Islands, Fi ...
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This regional forum was organised by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Banking with the Poor to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclus ...
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The inaugural Mekong Financial Inclusion Forum was the first wave of a major new industry initiative that is exploring the differences, similarities and opportunities for achieving financial inclu ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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One of the world's youngest countries is overcoming immense challenges to build a system of financial inclusion.
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This report was originally prepared for the Asian and Pacific Development Centre Regional Workshop on Microfinance for the Poor in the Asia-Pacific (BANK POOR ‘96), held in Kuala Lumpur from 10-12 ...
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This is an account of recent developments in the major microfinance institution in Malaysia, AIM, which is the oldest and one of the largest Grameen Bank replications in Asia.
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In 2007, FDC completed three country studies on leveraging remittances with microfinance. With funding from the Australian Research Council, this project was undertaken in collaboration with the A ...
Read moreThe paper sets out a framework for considering the issues which have to be addressed before appropriate alternative financial service delivery mechanisms can be established and financial exclusion ...
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This paper by John Conroy was prepared at the invitation of the Thai APEC Study Centre in Bangkok. It reviews the outcomes of the APEC process in 2002 affecting microenterprise development (MED) a ...
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This workshop obtained useful comments, updated facts and information that improved the Country Profile, to validated issues included in its and raised other relevant issues of note.
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These topical briefs, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
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The current global financial crisis has led to a significant decrease in international capital available to the microfinance sector.
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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The objective of the Getting the Framework Right 2010 report is to provide an updated report of progress on microfinance policy and regulation in Asia, building upon the initial 1998 study and cov ...
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This assessment was completed as a Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network) activity to provide an overview of the microfinance sectors in which the BWTP Network operates.
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FDC assessed various business models for the provision of financial services in Papua New Guinea and identified considerations crucial in implementing the right business model to meet the needs fo ...
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This paper summarises outcomes from an FDC and World Vision International workshop entitled "Integrating Microenterprise Development and HIV/AIDS in Asia". The workshop brought together 40 microfi ...
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As the Covid-19 crisis continues to unfold, there is a consensus among governments and experts on the need to accelerate the use of technology for financial services as a significant part of the r ...
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This paper considers the meaning and significance of financial inclusion, its value as an organizing principle for action to eliminate poverty, and the need for a systemic approach to the subject. ...
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If microfinance practitioners expect financial services to have an impact on incomes then there is sufficient evidence that what the industry is doing now is not working (enough). Yet the industry ...
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These topical bulletins, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
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Event program
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This paper investigates current literature on mobile financial services, and evaluates their effectiveness in providing financial services to unbanked populations. Accessibility of mobile phones c ...
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An outline by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Microfinance Pasifika Network to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclusion within this ...
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In 2007, FDC completed three country studies on leveraging remittances with microfinance. With funding from the Australian Research Council, this project was undertaken in collaboration with the A ...
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This regional forum was organised by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Banking with the Poor to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclus ...
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This paper focuses on the experiences of the Fiji Rural Banking service which was launched in October 2004.
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The 2014 Forum provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the current trends, recent achievements, ongoing challenges and opportunities within the region relative to financial inclusion an ...
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This report provides a summary of the proposed actions developed for APEC's policymakers and regulators through this dialogue. A more detailed report will be published later in the year and shared ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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FDC's 2005 Forum program guide.
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Following a 2004 workshop organised by the Foundation for Development Cooperation a project framework for the Remittances, Microfinance and Technology project was jointly developed by FDC and IFAD.
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A case study of a microfinance institution that is preparing to expand to serve more micro-entrepreneurs through microfinance and alleviate poverty.
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The BWTP Network organised an associated session during the Microcredit Summit regional meeting, held in Dhaka Bangladesh. The session called "Regional Cooperation in Microfinance :
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If microfinance practitioners expect financial services to have an impact on incomes –– and a survey of BWTP members suggests this is the case –– then there is sufficient evidence that what the in ...
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Microfinance is an essential element in development responses to disaster situations, providing people with financial services needed to rebuild their lives and improve their living conditions.
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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A study of best practice in banking with the poor, drawing on experience in eight Asian countries. It discusses the best practices, policies and institutional arrangements for banking with the poo ...
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Despite the achievements made for financial inclusion globally, many challenges remain. These challenges include a broad range of issues such as the lack of formal financial services, gender inequ ...
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An outline by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Banking with the Poor to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclusion within this unique ...
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In August 2004, in partnership with the Indonesian Movement for Microfinance Development (Gema PKM), the Banking with the Poor Network Secretariat conducted a series of individual consultations wi ...
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In September 2005, Citigroup Foundation sought the assistance of FDC to design and conduct a regional program of research, curriculum development, and train-the-trainer workshops to increase the c ...
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These topical briefs, produced almost two decades ago illustrate the issues confronting microfinance providers and their responses at that time.
Read more
These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
Read more
This assessment was completed as a Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network) activity to provide an overview of the microfinance sectors in which the BWTP Network operates. It extends beyond th ...
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These early BWTP Newsletters are produced for several audiences for partners in the eight participating Asian countries, to record their work and to keep them informed about the progress of their ...
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This regional forum was organised by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Microfinance Pasifika Network to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financia ...
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An overview of the challenges and opportunities for one of Asia's fastest growing sectors from the Cambodia Microfinance Association.
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This regional forum was organised by the Foundation for Development Cooperation and Banking with the Poor to explore the differences, similarities, and opportunities for achieving financial inclus ...
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Focuses on the transaction costs incurred in microfinance programs of two Philippine NGOs and their ultimate borrowers, and analyses the productivity improvements necessary to assure longer term s ...
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This study defines a framework for support of microfinance which avoids financially repressive measures and is consistent with contemporary views of the central bank's role. It considers how centr ...
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Remittances sent by migrant workers to their country of origin which are expected to grow rapidly particularly among Asia-Pacific economies have great potential for promoting financial inclusion.
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