Headlines Archive

MIX Market Announces the 2008 Global 100 Composite: Rankings of Microfinance Institutions

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:47:11 -0600

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) has announced their December 2008 edition of the Global 100 Composite: Rankings of Microfinance Institutions. Based on data published on MIX Market, the MIX Global 100 Composite Ranking highlights institutions that achieve high outreach and low transaction costs while being both profitable and transparent. The ranking surveyed the business results of 971 institutions for FY 2007.

Former WWB President Nancy Barry quoted in Newsday article about Barack Obama's mother, Ann Dunham Soetero

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:13:36 -0600

The Newsday.com article "Obama's mother, Hillary Clinton shared a belief" describes how Obama's mother, Ann Dunham Soetero, worked for WWB in New York City, during 1993 and 1994, convening experts, compiling surveys and drafting papers for a major United Nations conference in Beijing, where sh

Women’s World Banking featured in the children’s book One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:31:27 -0600

Tackling global poverty with microfinance may be a massive, complex task but at its root lies a simple, powerful idea – that access to essential financial services gives the working poor a chance to improve their lives. As a featured resource in the book, Women’s World Banking is proud to highlight author Katie Smith Milway and her publisher, Kids Can Press. Together they’re inspiring younger generations to help others with the recently published One Hen – a vibrant and engaging children’s book that introduces readers to basic microfinance principles while teaching the invaluable lesson of compassion.

Cynthia Nixon Hosts Reception in Honor of WWB Supporters

admin — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:34:38 -0600

On Thursday, November 13, WWB welcomed more than 200 sponsors and supporters to acknowledge their generosity, which has enabled WWB to serve millions of poor women entrepreneurs for nearly three decades. Stage and television star Cynthia Nixon joined the event as a guest of honor.

Microfinance Insights: Microfinance in Africa, Harnessing the Potential of a Continent

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:21:42 -0600

In the last fifteen years, many African economies have begun to experience higher growth rates and increases in per capita income. High commodity prices, large-scale reduction in debt, Asian investment in the continent, and economic expansion of some of the non-oil exporting countries has helped drive this growth. However, there is still an alarming number of people living below the poverty line. Bringing financial services to this part of the population could break the poverty cycle. Sarita Gupta, Vice President, Communication of Women’s World Banking describes the current microfinance landscape on the continent. Read entire article on PDF

Ela Bhatt urges ‘partnership with the poor’ at opening of UN meeting on MDGs

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:30:40 -0500

Ela Bhatt, former WWB Board Chair and founder of WWB network member Self-Employed Women’s Association, addressed the opening session of the United Nations High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals.

Mary Ellen Iskenderian featured as blogger on Social Edge

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:15:22 -0500

WWB president Mary Ellen Iskenderian will be a featured blogger on Skoll Foundation's website Social Edge. Launched in 2003, Social Edge is a "global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources." Ms. Iskenderian's blog is part of a weekly program of discussions led by experts in the field of social entrepreneurship; drawing on the experiences of the WWB network of institutions, her blog will focus on the benefits and challenges of a network approach to solving global problems. Join the discussion: "Network Practices"

WWB GNBI Member Equity Bank named top bank in Africa

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:23:31 -0500

Equity bank has been named the best Micro Finance Bank in Africa. The bank emerged the top microfinance bank of the year, beating three other entries from the continent in the category during the annual African Bankers Awards ceremony held in Washington DC, USA.

WWB Welcomes Ujjivan, New Network Member in India

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:10:42 -0500

We are very happy to welcome Ujjivan as the newest member of the WWB network. Ujjivan is a rapidly growing microfinance organization based in the city of Bangalore, in the Indian state of Karnataka, located in the southwest region of the country.

WWB takes part in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:44:27 -0500

WWB was invited to participate in this year’s Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting as an expert on both innovations and hurdles faced by microfinance providers and as one of the many organizations making Commitments to Action in the area of poverty alleviation.

Newsweek: Mary Ellen Iskenderian quoted in the article "Poverty: Cheap Loans at Insanely High Rates? Give Us More."

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:38:17 -0500

The article, “Poverty: Cheap Loans at Insanely High Rates? Give Us More.” written by Daniel Gross for Newsweek, discusses subprime lending and quotes WWB's president and CEO, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, on MFI interest rates.

Now being discussed at MicroPlace Blog "Achieving the Double Bottom Line" by Mary Ellen Iskenderian

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:20:47 -0500

Women's World Banking president, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, joins MicroPlace Blog with the article "Achieving the Double Bottom Line". Join the discussion now.

Women’s World Banking Welcomes Three New Members to the Friends of WWB/USA Board

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:42:54 -0500

Women’s World Banking is honored to welcome three new members to the Friends of WWB/USA Board of Directors: Nicole Gresham Perry, Dede Pickering, and Casey Shilts. These extraordinary women have dedicated themselves to supporting WWB in all of its endeavors.

Impacting Lives: Helping Poor Farmers Succeed

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:08:36 -0500

WWB has entered the American Express Members Project to win up to $1.5 million, but we need your help! Please visit our project page, Impacting Lives: Helping Poor Farmers Succeed and with just a few clicks help WWB win this contest in three easy ways. You do not need to have an American Express credit card to participate.

WWB and the Nike Foundation Team Up to Design Savings Programs for Adolescent Girls

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:04:16 -0500

In its thirty years of working with women entrepreneurs, WWB has proven that having access to safe, flexible and confidential savings products has significant empowerment potential. WWB believes that the effect will be the same for a group not traditionally involved in the financial sector: young women between the ages of 7 and 24.

WWB Hosts Third Annual Women in Leadership Workshop for Women Microfinance Professionals From Around the World

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500

From July 7th to July 11th, WWB will hold its third annual Women in Leadership workshop in New York City. The five-day workshop, delivered in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management, seeks to develop the next generation of women leaders in microfinance

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands attends WWB - IDB conference in Argentina

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:29:23 -0500

On April 22, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Women's World Banking and the Inter-American Development Bank's Multilateral Investment Fund co-hosted a conference on private bank entry into microfinance, to promote the expansion of financial services for the region's poor and low-income entrepreneurs.

WWB Network Video: Leaders and Clients in Focus

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This new video provides a glimpse of the clients and microfinance providers that make up the Women's World Banking network.

Microfinance Insights Features an Interview with WWB’s CEO, Mary Ellen Iskenderian

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:30:36 -0500

Microfinance Insights featured an interview with WWB’s CEO, Mary Ellen Iskenderian. The article, titled “Sector Targets a Majority of Women, Employs a Minority,” questioned the lack of upper management positions held by women in microfinance: “Women make up less than half of all microfinance staff members, and fill even fewer of the senior management roles.

Time Magazine Online Features WWB's Report on Transformation

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -0500

Time Magazine featured WWB's working paper, "Stemming the Tide of Mission Drift: Microfinance and the Double Bottom Line," on the World section of its online magazine. The Time article, titled "Microfinance: Women Being Cheated?" asks the question that initially motivated WWB to begin collecting data on microfinance institutions as they transform to regulated financial institutions

Recent Developments at Association PADME, a WWB Network Member

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -0500

New York, NY – Women’s World Banking is deeply concerned about the situation facing Association PADME following the Benin government’s decision in March to request the resignation of PADME’s board and management team due to questions about the organization’s financial operations.

WWB and Morgan Stanley Host WWB’s Sixth Annual Microfinance and the Capital Markets Conference

admin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -0500

On February 21st and 22nd, WWB and Morgan Stanley joined together to host WWB's sixth annual Microfinance and the Capital Markets Conference. The two-day conference, which took place at Morgan Stanley's Westchester Campus in Purchase, New York, brought together nearly 300 microfinance institution (MFI) managers, Morgan Stanley employees and socially responsible investors to discuss capital markets transactions and financing strategies. The conference also examined MFI valuation methodologies, and featured an MFI case study competition.

WWB Commemorates International Women's Day 2008 at the United Nations

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:00:00 -0600

March 6, 2008—WWB was honored to present at the United Nations as part of a high level panel commemorating the observance of International Women's Day 2008. This year's theme was "Investing in Women and Girls," and the discussion among experts from academia, non-profits, governments and business was on scaling up investments in women and girls and progress toward gender equity.

WWB Welcomes New Network Member Spandana

admin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:00:00 -0600

WWB is delighted to announce that Spandana of India has joined the Women's World Banking network. Based in Hyderabad - with 350 branches throughout the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra and Orissa - Spandana is the largest microfinance institution in India in terms of active borrowers, and the second largest in portfolio size.

The World's Top Microfinance Institutions According to Forbes Magazine

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:00:00 -0600

WWB is proud to note that ten of its network members have been named to Forbes' first-ever list of the world's top 50 MFIs. The list, chosen from a field of 641 reporting microfinance providers, was prepared by the Microfinance Information Exchange under the direction of Forbes magazine.

WWB and Goldman Sachs Host Global Capital Markets Event in New York City, Jan. 16-17

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Over 200 attendees took part in WWB's capital markets learning event, co-hosted by the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute, which took place January 16-17 in New York City.

WWB Honors Ela Bhatt at Annual Celebration

admin — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Women’s World Banking honored Ela Bhatt, one of the original co-founders and chairperson from 1988 to 1998 at the second Annual Celebration held last month at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The theme for the evening, which drew 300 guests worldwide, was the celebration of women’s leadership.

Banco da Familia Awarded Mix Market Certificate for Transparency

admin — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

We are delighted to announce that Banco da Familia, WWB’s network member in Brazil, has been awarded the Mix Market Certificate for Transparency for 2006. Under the leadership of founding President Isabel Baggio and Vice President Marcio Oliveira, Banco da Familia has served primarily poor women entrepreneurs in Brazil since 1999, and currently has over 6000 clients, 62% of whom are women. With the award of the 2006 Certificate of Transparency, Mix Market gives an objective confirmation of the quality of the Banco da Familia’s operations. This will bring Banco da Familia more recognition and visibility in the microfinance sector, and allow the organization to find more diverse sources of funding.

Ela Bhatt Chosen as One of “The Elders”—Historic Group of World Leaders and Visionary Thinkers

admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Ela Bhatt—one of the visionary leaders of microfinance and a founding member of Women’s World Banking as well as of SEWA, India—has been chosen as one of “The Elders,” an historic group of world leaders and visionary thinkers convened by Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu. Other founding members include Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Li Zhaoxing, Mary Robinson and Muhammad Yunus.

SEWA Bank: Proudly Owned by the Poorest Working Women

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:35:30 -0500

On July 23, 2007, Manjulaben Vaghela, a waste paper picker by trade, was elected President of the Board of SEWA Bank in Ahmedabad, India. A client of SEWA Bank for 31 years, Manjulaben is the first working-class woman to chair the SEWA Bank board.

BBC News Article—Small Loans to Women Make Big Changes

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

By Clare Davidson
Business reporter, BBC News

It all started when Joyce Wafukho, then in her early 30s, spotted a gap in the market in her village in Kenya. "There was no hardware store," explains Mary Ellen Iskenderian, who first visited Ms Wafukho after becoming head of the non-profit organisation Women's World Banking in September 2006. "After borrowing from family members and scraping some savings together, she started selling nails and screws from a kiosk." She also sold tomatoes, "not your standard DIY stock," laughs Ms Iskenderian.

Feature Article on Mary Ellen Iskenderian and Microfinance Appears in BeE Woman Magazine

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Microfinance is a word that gets tossed around at dinner parties, everywhere from New York to Nairobi. It also happens to be the first thing Mary Ellen Iskenderian thinks about when she wakes up each morning.

Women’s World Banking Welcomes Enda Inter-Arabe—New Network Member from Tunisia

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The power of microfinance to provide better economic opportunities for low-income entrepreneurs is emerging in the Arab world. Tunisia is the third Arab country, after Jordan and Morocco, to be represented in the WWB network. In all, WWB’s three Arab network members serve more than 480,000 low-income clients in the region, most of them women.

Workshop for Microfinance Executives Gives Women’s Leadership a Boost—Globally

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In countries such as Bangladesh, Jordan, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Colombia, the idea of women taking leadership roles is often new, and the obstacles women executives face can be formidable.

WWB President Mary Ellen Iskenderian in the Dallas Morning News

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

In the opinion section of the Dallas Morning News, WWB President Mary Ellen Iskenderian’s letter to the editor appeared on November 2 in response to the editorial "Microloans Are Making a Dent in Poverty," by Fazlur Rahman. Mr.

WWB and Morgan Stanley Host Microfinance and the Capital Markets

admin — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

New York, February 20-22, 2008

This three-day event will feature perspectives from investment bank professionals, microfinance institutions (MFIs) and microfinance investors on key strategic issues and funding strategies. Topics to be covered include:

* Optimal Capital Structure and Financing Strategies
* MFI Equity Valuations
* Selecting the Ideal Equity Investors

Banks Come Together to Reach the Unbanked: WWB and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Host Meeting of the Global Network for Banking Innovation (GNBI)