Harnessing Student Potential In Microfinance

April 2009 Blog Posts (5)

CBS News video on Microfinance

Watch CBS Videos… Continue

Added by Chris Becker on April 26, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Less not More Aid to Africa?

Regardless of the feasibility of her suggestions, Dambisa Moyo, a former World Bank Consultant and author of “Dead Aid” is at least bucking the system somewhat and proposing a new direction for Africa. In her book Ms. Moyo reveals some pretty shocking statistics:

- More than 300 million people are still mired in poverty after decades of international aid.

- In 1960 GDP for Africa as a whole was equal to that of East Asia - by 2005 East Asia’s GDP was five times… Continue

Added by Peter Frerichs on April 23, 2009 at 7:09pm — No Comments

Can a Corruptible Medium Fight Corruption?

As a researcher for NGOs in the developing world, I come across a great many innovative service delivery models to reach and engage the extreme poor. At its face, utilizing Africa’s two most powerful technologies (radio and cell-phone) is not a pioneering technological achievement. But in Burundi a World Bank project is having great success tapping into the country’s massive young population by disseminating third-party studies surrounding corruption and poor governance via a call-in radio… Continue

Added by Peter Frerichs on April 23, 2009 at 7:07pm — No Comments

The Crisis and Countries in Deep, Deep Trouble … any additions??

Mexico

• Tourism has taken a serious downturn due to drug violence.

• Predicted 3.3% contraction in growth this year.

• U.S. crisis wreaking havoc on remittance flows back home.

Pakistan

• Almost went bankrupt during the past 6 months.

• Devastating security problem making it one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

Ukraine

• Looking at a 12% growth contraction this year.

• Ukraine currency… Continue

Added by Peter Frerichs on April 23, 2009 at 7:05pm — No Comments

California Microfinance 2009

The Opportunity Fund, Kiva, and Silicon Valley Community Fund are sponsoring the first annual Microfinance California event to be held at Stanford University on May 28th, 2009.

The conference is centered around creating domestic microfinance to… Continue

Added by Chris Becker on April 23, 2009 at 10:29am — No Comments