Microfinance Insights Issue VI: Focus on Human Resources Building human capacity to make the microfinance wheel spin faster has been cited as the biggest challenge for MFIs. This volume draws from global perspectives to highlight ways to solve issues such as recruitment practices, staff training and innovative incentive systems. Inside you'll find a provocative commentary on the Forbes Top 50 MFIs List, our HR survey results which include information from 92 MFIs around the world, and international voices from Pakistan to Bolivia and Tanzania to Tunisia. This issue brings a new Managing Editor as well as viewpoints from Morgan Stanley, ICICI Foundation, HDFC, ACCION, Women's World Banking. Read More >> Issue V: Microinsurance With the success of microfinance as a viable finance option for the poor, the issue of protecting them and not merely giving them a leg-up has also started gaining currency. Microinsurance is recognized as a terrain for innovation in this sphere. A strong drive to understand microinsurance stems from the realization that insurance is an essential tool to provide protection against financial losses due to illness, economic activity, environmental and political issues. This issue provides insight into the trajectory and growth potential for microinsurance and reveals how it can mitigate risk for the poor. Read More >> Issue IV: Innovations in Financial Service Delivery Mechanisms Globally, the microfinance sector is standing at a juncture where new and innovative mechanisms, to take financial services delivery to the last mile, are emerging on a regular basis. The fourth issue merely reveals the tip of the “innovations” iceberg as it highlights several big and small examples of innovative delivery mechanisms that have made a difference, challenged established norms and reached out to the millions of poor. Read More >> Issue III: Tapping Capital Markets Microfinance operations around the world are attracting an increasing amount of attention from the capital markets. These investors, banks, and other financial actors play a crucial role in facilitating the growth of the microfinance industry and some very large recent deals, specifically in India, have attracted even more attention. This issue seeks to discuss investors’ perspectives, various valuation methodologies, and recommendations for MFIs and investors.  Download (Coming Soon) An online version of Microfinance Insights is coming soon. Check back here for updates. Issue II: Urban Microfinance The second issue of Microfinance Insights focuses on urban microfinance. The issue spanned the jigsaw that makes up the urban microfinance landscape including various urban environments, investor perspectives, key drivers of growth, and products and services tailored to the realities of urban areas. Many industry leaders, including a representative from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, the CEO of microfinance technology leader FINO, and many other industry leaders contributed to this edition. Read More >> Issue I: Governance With microfinance institutions' increasing asset bases, their balance sheets are attracting greater attention from the lender and investor community. Effective governance structures, accountable management, and robust operational systems and processes could be the key variables that differentiate the more successful institutions in the long run. This first issue showcases perspectives from many industry visionaries including Vijay Mahajan (Chairman, BASIX) and Brijmohan (Former Executive Director, SIDBI), on this important topic. Read More >> Other Publications Inverting the Microfinance Pyramid: The Changing Face of Indian Microfinance  This report analyses the market dynamics of Indian microfinance including demand and supply side factors, key players, and the past performance and future potential of microfinance providers. It is expected to assist investors, entrepreneurs, donors, policy makers, and academics in making informed decisions on their involvement in the Indian microfinance industry. Buy now The Way Forward: Technology in Indian Microfinance is a sector-wide technolgy study conducted by Intellecap on behalf of CARE India.  This study maps the various technological interventions aimed at tackling challenges in microfinance, across both the microfinance horizon and and MFI's life-cycle. The Way Forward analyzes the hindrances faced in effective technology implementation and reports success and failure stories along with the reasons behind them. It presents an analysis on how technology should be used to make MFI operations more scalable, efficient, user friendly, and cost effective, and provides key recommendations that result in leveraging the technology advantage to the fullest. Read More >>