http://www.fig-igf.orgToutes les nouvelles du FIGenFondation RAFADWed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:55Fondation RAFAD60 http://www.fig-igf.org/img_interface/logo_fig.png http://www.fig-igf.org/ 237 53 http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews60--04-03-2010-Microfinance-sustainability-by-FNDIAYE.html Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:47:54 GMT Called “Microfinance in West Africa, what viability?” the title sets clearly the stake of this thought down: How to make microfinance accessible to everyone?

For the author, the analysis of the viability of microfinance must be improved to make it more accessible, and the aim of this book is to contribute to this through the detailed study of two Microfinance Institutions in West African Monetary Union, ACEP (Alliance pour l’Epargne et le Crédit) in Senegal, and PADME (Association pour la Promotion et l’Appui au Développement de Micro-Entreprises), in Benin.

He presents the major concepts of microfinance, inclusive finance and sustainability
and their links with economic theory.

He broadens the concept of financial services accessible to everyone - Indeed poor people need credit, but they also need savings and insurance!

This thought is based on data collected over a ten year field survey. The text is well-documented, with maps, definitions and tables of indicators in appendix, this makes of this recent book an essential reading to get a good understanding on the situation of MFI and microfinance in Africa.

It is useful to anyone aiming at better understanding issues of sustainability of inclusive financial sectors.

Fode Ndiaye, PhD, agronomist, graduate of Harvard Kennedy School (USA), has gained a great experience in the field of the financing of the development, particularly in microfinance.

He is the regional manager for Western and Central Africa of the Equipment Fund of United Nations - Inclusive Finance. He is a member of RAFAD Foundation.

The book can be ordered on the web site of the publishing L’Harmattan (EAN 9782296099623) :
www.editions-harmattan.fr - Microfinance in West Africa, what viability?
- Book Preview on google books]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews59--16-02-2010-Mohammad-YUNUS-meets-3000-young-people.html Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:43:55 GMT
The inventor of microcredit is working on promoting solidarity, on reconciling business and social, through the microcredit. The current crisis (food, social, climatic, financial…) is symptomatic of the economic system failure, a system which is obsessed by profit and based on selfishness. The whole system needs to be reconsidered.

Human and social dimension have to be integrated in economy to build a system based on altruism.

This fundamental change can’t come from politics; their speech for a moral capitalism is often « vain wishes ». The injection of enormous sum of money can’t resolve problems. Only citizens can initiate the change and impose it.

The aim is to help the poorest by opening access to financial services, to business and ultimately create sustainable jobs. Social and business are reconcilable. Governments must invest in social business and renounce social aid as the only mean of action, because it creates dependence and prevents real change.

« They must be given a chance to change their lives, to forge ahead. Enterprises must be created to change their lives. » Microcredit is not the perfect solution to come out of poverty, interest rates are sometimes excessive, but it offers a possibility to take a « better way ». « Microcredit is here to help people to come out of poverty, not to permit rich people to make money at the expense of the poor ».

The success of microcredit, born in Southern countries, is extending to the whole world, as in the USA where a program has been started in New York, in France, in Germany, in Bahrain…The majority of the loan beneficiaries are women and their activities are diverse.

« It is part of the responsibility of a society to give everyone access to financial services. Politics must encourage this and society must drive politics this way ».

The Nobel Prize of peace 2006 ends his pleading in favor of the microcredit with an appeal to the youth in order to build a world where responsibility and solidarity go hand in hand.

Currently, microcredit accounts for 12 billion USD worldwide. The Grameen Bank was founded by Mohammad Yunus in 1976 in Bangladesh: 1, 5 billion USD loan portfolio, 30,000 employees and volunteers and 2,600 branches.

FIG contributes to developing microcredit in rural areas of the poorest countries, mobilizing local resources through bank guarantee.
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[French] Télécharger l'article du journal Libération du Jeudi 4 février 2010 ( ~3.31 meg )]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews56--05-11-2009-FIG-organizes-a-workshop-in-Chile.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:06:44 GMT
It consists in a series of training workshops for managers of small and micro-businesses and cooperatives, with the following objectives:

• Enhance skills of the managers of small and micro-businesses and cooperatives in financial management and negotiation with banks
• Develop skills to manage a mutual guarantee fund

The ultimate goal is to create 3 sectorial funds

A seminar was organized together with the ministry of Economy of Chile, the Regional Office of Magellan and the University in Punta Arenas.

The following Magellan associations took part :

• Truckers Association
• Artisanal and Industrial Association
• Retailers Association
• Taxi Owners Cooperative
• Fishermen Cooperative

A total of 44 professionals in business and cooperatives and 20 students from University of Magellan attended the seminar.

Given this success, Jessica Pinilla, FIG’s representative in Chile is now planning a second workshop with Public Transportation organizations in the north of Chile. ]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews55--29-10-2009-FIG-attends-Global-Ethics-Forum-.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:44:19 GMT
Here after a few thinking picked from speakers:

About the crisis
• Divorcing economics from the moral and spiritual dimensions of life contributed to financial crisis
• Marketing should not aim at creating false demand
• Let’s be careful with the external image and let’s check the substance first: Enron, Parmalat were regarded as top corporate Citizens in their city.
• What matters is to organize a Profitable Partnership, working With People, medium and long term.
• The firm is no longer the centre but acts besides and as one of many stakeholders in the global world. Behavior needs to move from Transactional to Relational and erases too much “financiarization” which developed in the last two decades.

About Social responsibility
• We are the “friends of the Earth” when we:
• Promote social wellbeing, protect environment and create economic return thru innovative solutions, with fully priced risks and capital.
• Are authentic, honest, trustworthy, look after employees, get involved in local communities, contribute to society, accept responsibility, do not exploit vulnerable employees
• Are ecology oriented, environment responsible, care about consumers and offer worthwhile products and services

About solutions
• Fair trade and Partnership on a decentralized model
• Internet and cell phone innovations
• Donors visiting projects and providing information and ideas
• China is changing and might lead the change : From Corruption and Pollution to Harmony

How can we contribute at RAFAD and FIG, in Geneva, in our regional offices and with our local consultants?
• By creating and monitoring Regional Guarantee Funds
• By assessing financial institutions and cooperatives’ management organization and social and financial performance
• By training and supporting those institutions and cooperatives through our local consultants’ network

Next Global Ethics Forum is scheduled for July 1 & 2, 2010 in Geneva.
Let’s see then what we have accomplished! More info at www.globalethicsforum.org.]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews52--16-06-2009-FIG-meets-KMusyoka-Kenya-VicePresident.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:58:05 GMT
VP Minister presented last situation in Kenya, handed over his white book KENYA VISION 2030 and highlighted the importance of peace, security and employment for the development of his country.

As a result of the world financial crisis and the drop in tourism, in spite of its many assets, the country suffers job losses and poverty levels are up.
To help and recover, the Government has put in place a stimulus package for the local economy and a ten year tax heaven and free zone program to attract foreign investors.

VP Minister said that he was willing to develop relations with Switzerland, for the great stability of the country and the high reliability of its products and services.

The Swiss entrepreneurs had the opportunity to present their products and services in front of a dozen of high Kenyan dignitaries.

The FIG explained how we can help and stimulate small businesses and cooperatives in Kenya by being able to generate local funding- otherwise not available – to micro-entrepreneurs and SACCOs.
FIG has developed through bank guarantee, a proven effective leverage tool to create long term employment, source of stability and peace, within small communities and cooperatives.

Mr. Ben. R.N. Mbai, our FIG representative in Nairobi and for Eastern Africa, will pursue ongoing contacts initiated in Geneva.
]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews46--05-03-2008-FIG-RAFAD-Workshop-in-Nicaragua.html Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:35:02 GMT
* What is the social impact of microfinance ?
* What is the role for FIG guarantees?

For more information, according to your location, interested organizations can contact, preferably before March 10:
America : jennyreyes[at]fig-igf.org
Africa and Europe : a.vergeylen[at]fig-igf.org]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews38--19-02-2007-Trainingprogram-FGC--GFCD-.html Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:15:40 GMT
The program promotes durable and trust-based relationships between MFI's and banks through the instruction of succesful negotiation skills and other strategies. The first workshop lead by FIG's consultant is scheduled to be held in Cotonou (Benin), the 16 to 18 of April 2007. Please contact us for more information. ]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews36--20-11-2006-FIG-praised-in-microfinance-book.html Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:12:06 GMT ]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews34--14-11-2006-INAFI-India-s-Chief-Executive-visits-FIG.html Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:55:38 GMT
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]]> http://www.fig-igf.org/en-rnews33--14-11-2006-More-IAF-support-for-FIGAL.html Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:55:37 GMT www.iaf.gov.

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