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Improving Poor People’s Access To Financial Services

Default admin account — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:42:11 +1100

A new strategy launched today will help poor people improve their way of life through increased access to crucial financial services, increasingly being seen as important to reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

PFIP: Mobile Money Gets Coverage in Vanuatu

Default admin account — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:27:32 +1100

Over 30 representatives from a broad range of organizations recently met in Port Vila to learn more about mobile money solutions and share ideas on how it could be set up in Vanuatu. This information exchange was organized by the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) in Partnership with the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu. The meeting was attended by the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr. Odo Tedi, as well as representatives from commercial banks, Microfinance institutions, telecos, civil society organizations, government officials and donor agencies all of whom can play a role on setting up mobile money solutions.

ANZ Launches Financial Literacy Program in the Pacific

Default admin account — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:23:55 +1100

ANZ today launched a new financial literacy program in Fiji, for Pacific staff and their communities to improve their financial skills, knowledge and confidence.

Poor Decision Lead To Debt: ANZ Bank Manager

Default admin account — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:29:17 +1100

People in Fiji have a hard time identifying what their needs and wants are, and that is why so many people end up borrowing from loan sharks and never get out a cycle of debt, says ANZ Corporate Responsibility manager Vosawale Tamani.

MFPN Members attended a Microfinance and Clean Energy Workshop

Default admin account — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:15:39 +1100

In the first week of December 2009, MFPN member microfinance institutions from Fiji (Fiji Council of Social Services Microfinance and National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprise Development), Samoa (South Pacific Business Development and Women in Business Development) and Vanuatu (Vanwods Microfiance, Inc.) attended the “Pacific Renewable Energy and Microfinance” workshop in Suva, Fiji.

Marcella Willis' Report on the Microfinance Investments In Asia Conference (26th - 27th January 2010)

Default admin account — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:49:21 +1100

Marcella Willis is the UNCDF Chief Technical Advisor for the Inclusive Finance for the Under-served Economy (INFUSE) programme in Timor-Leste. She recently attended the Microfinance Investments in Asia conference held in Singapore from 26th - 27th January 2010. She agreed to share her thoughts and experience with her microfinance colleagues in the Asia Pacific region.

PFIP Newsflash: Mobile Phone Banking To Take Off In Samoa

Default admin account — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:26:47 +1100

On January 22, 2010, commercial banks, microfinance institutions, telecoms, civil society organizations, government officials and donor agencies gathered in Apia, Samoa, in to learn more about what mobile banking can offer to the island nation. The information exchange was co-sponsored by the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) and the Pacific Financial Inclusion programme (PFIP) and was hosted at CBS. 53 representatives with interest in the topic attended a presentation on mobile money and remittances by Tillman Bruett, the PFIP Project Advisor, and then stayed for a discussion on how best to progress in Samoa.

FDC Information Release: January 2010

Default admin account — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:27:25 +1100

The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) has recently been contracted to undertake the second phase of UNIFEM Pacific Partnerships to Improve Markets project in Fiji, which will run from January to May 2010. This project seeks to improve the social, economic and physical conditions of women market vendors and to encourage local governments and other bodies tasked with managing markets to adopt a gender responsive approach to marketplace planning, operations and governance.

FDC Briefing Note No. 9

Default admin account — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:07:54 +1100

As part of its work to increase financial inclusion in developing countries, FDC recently assessed various business models for the provision of financial services in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Westpac To Launch Rural Banking This Year

Default admin account — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:36:29 +1100

Westpac is expected to launch its own rural mobile banking program before the end of the year. It also expects to provide more services and products for the microfinance sector.

PNG Bank takes over Fiji's Colonial Bank

Default admin account — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:05:20 +1100

In one of the biggest bank takeover in Fiji, Bank of South Pacific (BSP) has now formalised its acquisition of Colonial Bank from Commonwealth Bank.

Grameen Trust Signs Mou With UNHCR to Provide Microcredit to Refugees

Default admin account — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:56:30 +1100

Grameen Trust has signed an agreement with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide microcredit to refugees displaced by war and natural disaster, the UNHCR announced on Thursday

MFPN Member News - SPBD Clients Success Stories

Default admin account — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:34:58 +1100

Visilia is a mother of 3 boys age 18, 9 and 7. Her husband is unemployed. Prior to joining SPBD her family depended only on a twice a week food delivery business earning less than 50 Pa?anga per week. She joined SPBD in October 2009. Her first SPBD loan is 1,000 Pa?anga which she used to put up a small roadside restaurant in her village in Kolomotu?a in the capital Nuku?alofa.

MFPN Member News - PNG Microfinance Ltd

Default admin account — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:27:42 +1100

Mark Mulungu from Tari in the Southern Highlands is married with 3 children and is a successful business customer with PNG Microfinance Ltd since the inception of its Koki branch in 2005. He lives and conducts his business at Gabutu in Port Moresby.

MFPN Member News: VANWODS MFI

Default admin account — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:29:32 +1100

â€œVANWODS is facilitating Lighting Vanuatu not only in terms of visual lighting but strategically in terms of education and social transformation,â€ Margaret Bohn, VANWODS Board of Trustees Chair, stated at a low key ceremony in the container park at Star Wharf on 15th December 2009 where, along with Winne from the Vanuatu Renewable Energy and Power Association (VANREPA), she cut the ribbon to open the container load of Lights for VANWODS Mamas and the Public.

Fiji Development Bank - Agri Financing For Better Livelihoods

Default admin account — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:22:19 +1100

Through the Agri-Finance Scheme at FDB, Myhand was given another $8,000 which helped him purchase a tractor. The Scheme is available to farmers like Myhand to meet costs associate with developing their farms such as purchase of farming equipment and implements as well as planting material. Clients can borrow up to $10,000 under the Scheme for these purposes.

International Labor Organization: Microinsurance Innovation Round 4 Call for Proposals

Default admin account — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:44:57 +1100

The ILO Facility is pleased to announce the availability of the fourth round of innovation grants. This call has a special emphasis on health microinsurance, but also welcomes applications for projects focusing on high-impact products and innovative distribution channels.

National Microfinance Workshop (Fiji)

Default admin account — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:58:24 +1100

On the 4-5th November 2009, the Reserve Bank of Fiji in collaboration with Pacitic Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) held a National Micro Finance Workshop â€œMedium Term Strategy for Financial Inclusion in Fiji.

Microfinance Pasifika Network Participates in Fiji Council of Social Services Forum

Default admin account — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:56:36 +1100

On Thursday 29th October, Microfinance Pasifika Network (MFPN) was invited by Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) Forum to participate in and to deliver a presentation on an overview of the network. FCOSS, a MFPN Member is a civil society organisation that works to address many social development issues in Fiji and also provides microfinance services in the Suva, Nasinu and Lami towns.

MFPN MEMBERS ATTENDED MICROFINANCE AND CLEAN ENERGY WORKSHOP

Default admin account — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:02:15 +1100

In the first week of December 2009, MFPN member microfinance institutions from Fiji (Fiji Council of Social Services Microfinance and National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprise Development), Samoa (South Pacific Business Development and Women in Business) and Vanuatu (Vanwods) attended the â€œPacific Renewable Energy and Microfinanceâ€ workshop in Suva, Fiji.