101 East: India - Microfinance, banking on debt

Microfinance has long been seen as a way to lift the destitute out of poverty. But recently it has been hit by headlines about scores of Indian borrowers driven to suicide. Critics say the industry has grown too fast, with loose regulation creating multiple loans to overextended borrowers and allowing some unscrupulous players to thrive. A crackdown has now frozen microlending in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India’s most important microfinance market, with the central bank stepping in to try and stop microfinance institutions from going bankrupt. Yet supporters for microfinance argue that extending credit to the poor, mostly women, has fostered small businesses, helped promote gender equality, lifted incomes, and improved access to food and education for some of the world’s most desperate citizens. This week on 101 East we ask, what is the future of microcredit in India? Can it improve people’s lives, or is it driving the poor into new cycles of unending debt? This 101 East episode can be seen from Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 2230;Friday: 0930; Saturday: 0330; Sunday: 1630.

Micro-loans in Africa

Join us as we visit Jamii Bora, a lending institution helping the poor of Nairobi, Kenya. See what people can accomplish if given opportunity! www.thegreenchildren.org

Muhammad Yunus: Banker to the Poor (preview)

A preview of Muhammad Yunus: Banker to the Poor - one of a series of 16 DVDs created by Ashoka’s Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship. Dr. Yunus, recently awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, describes his three-decade-long effort to extend micro-credit (small loans for self-employment). Grameen Bank, his creation, now makes small loans to seven million families in Bangladesh, and has helped almost half of them work their way out of poverty. This is the story of his life-long struggle and accomplishments, told in his own words. Produced by Rooy Media LLC for Ashoka. To purchase the films, visit dvd.ashoka.org.

Muhammad Yunus: Building Social Business Ventures (preview)

Preview of Muhammad Yunus: Building Social Business Ventures - one of 16 DVDs created by Ashoka’s Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship. Dr. Yunus, recently awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, shares his strategies for building businesses dedicated to the social good. He describes the founding and structure of Grameen Bank, Grameen Phone and other companies he has created on behalf of the poor. Produced by Rooy Media LLC for Ashoka. To purchase the films, visit dvd.ashoka.org.

Microfinance as a Platform

Alex Counts, President of the Grameen Foundation talks to iinnovate about how microfinance is a platform - not just financial information but also leveraging the relationship with the poor. For more information check out www.iinnovatecast.com.

Microfinance companies planning to take IPO route

Microfinance institutions that lend money to the poor are now tapping the equity market through initial public offerings or ipos for their funding needs.SKS Microfinance is the first to hit the market and hopes to raise over Rs 1000 crore from the market

Prof. Muhammad Yunus himself - Nobel Peace Laureate and Founder of Grameen Bank

(www.abndigital.com) Muhammad Yunus earned the nickname “banker to the poor” by giving tiny cash loans — to the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh back in the 1970’s. It was a simple idea that grew into an international movement so vibrant that Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize for Peace. Now, that movement has certainly extended to the African continent and - the growing importance of Kenya as a microfinance hub takes centre stage this week with Nairobi hosting the second Africa-Middle East Micro Credit Summit. The Summit being aimed at finding solutions to provide financial services to the unbanked, and building financial self sufficiency. Joining us now for some detail is Prof. Muhammad Yunus himself - Nobel Peace Laureate and Founder of Grameen Bank.

Ripple Effect Microfinance Fund

rippleeffect (The Fund) is a proposed private equity investment fund being sponsored by Lonestep Partners. The Fund will act as a financial partner and intermediary to Microfinance Institutes (mfis) and small SME Banks. These institutions are engaged in providing inclusive financial services by delivering micro loans and other basic services to the poor and under-privileged, often classified as the un-bankable. The long-term goal of the Fund and the mfis it will serve with is to mitigate poverty in the emerging countries of Europe, CIS, MENASA and ASEAN regions. The Fund aims to achieve a double bottom line impact, including suitable risk-adjusted financial returns, as well as sustained social impact returns.

Muhammad Yunus: Doing Well by Doing Good

Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, presents a new, US-based micro-credit program aimed at helping the poor and immigrants launch their own businesses. Series: “Helen Edison Lecture Series” [11/2007] [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 13543]

Muhammad Yunus: Banker to the Poor

A preview of Muhammad Yunus: Banker to the Poor - one of a series of 16 dvds created by Ashoka’s Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship. Dr. Yunus, a recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, describes his three-decade-long effort to extend micro-credit (small loans for self-employment). Yunus created Grameen Bank which now makes these small loans to over seven million families in Bangladesh, and has helped almost half of them work their way out of poverty. To purchase the films, visit dvd.ashoka.org.

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