This book examines partnerships between commercial banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs). It demonstrates that when set up properly, these partnerships have the potential to develop and enhance the financial inclusion agenda, and further support sustainable development. MFIs provide access to finance predominantly for those who are poor but economically active, and therefore their expansion is imperative for inclusive economic development. However, MFIs are faced with enormous challenges. The book discusses how partnering with a commercial bank can meet these challenges and the process of interaction contributing to the enhancement of institutional robustness of MFIs. Through two distinct case studies, in Cambodia and Australia, the book discusses the motivations, objectives, and operational dynamics of a partnership, as well as the challenges, success factors, and potential benefits, from the increase in outreach and sustainability, to the transference of knowledge and potential for capacity building. Similarly, the partnering banks benefit in line with the intended objectives – commercial or social besides help embedding social consciousness and improving staff engagement. Concluding with elucidating the characteristics of a partnership model that can succeed across different global contexts, the book will interest a range of researchers and students across development economics, banking, finance, and sustainable development.

Microfinance has experienced dynamic development. Today, microfinance providers reach close to 100 million clients worldwide and are growing fast. New partnerships expand the impact of microfinance even further. Three types of partnerships are examined in this book, each consisting of a thematic pillar. Pillar I focuses on equity investments in microfinance, especially the possibilities for engaging private investors through structured microfinance investment funds. Rating agencies are involved in providing more transparency in this emerging fund industry. Pillar II focuses on collaboration among microfinance providers, governments, private investors and technology companies which help microfinance institutions to integrate new technologies into their business models, reducing cost and increasing outreach to clients. Pillar III covers micropensions, microinsurance and the role of securitisation for the future of microfinance.

"This book explores the concept of a global industry through case studies, emerging research, and interdisciplinary perspectives applicable to a variety of fields in banking and finance"--Provided by publisher.

The New Microfinance Handbook provides a detailed overview of client financial service needs, the various providers and financial products and services that meet those needs, and the supporting functions that allow the financial market system to provide better, more appropriate financial services to the poor sustainably.

Blended finance in the agricultural sector deserves its own debate. This is why the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) together with the EC Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) organised the first international conference on Blending for Agriculture (“Blending4Ag”) in November 2016 in Brussels. The conference brought together an impressive group of financiers, high-level agricultural experts, policy-makers and practitioners to share lessons and best practices in designing and implementing blending. This conference focused on how public finance for smallholder agriculture can achieve the greatest possible leverage in terms of private investments in developing countries.

The report describes key features of ADB's operations in India and how these have evolved to support the Government of India's focus on high, inclusive and sustainable growth. As of December 2012, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had approved 168 sovereign loans amounting to $27.2 billion and 344 technical assistance projects amounting to $258 million on a cumulative basis for India. Today, ADB operations cover over 20 states in India. While infrastructure projects in the energy, transport, and urban sectors comprise over 75% of ADB's operations in the country, ADB is also engaged in promoting water resources management, agribusiness infrastructure development, financial inclusion, skills development, and regional cooperation and integration. The report provides a compendium of ongoing projects and case studies across ADB's sectors of operations in India. It also highlights the innovative elements of projects and showcases the impact of development assistance on people's lives and livelihoods.

This report presents an overview of existing environmental credit lines in the EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), which are mostly supported by International Finance Institutions and donors and disbursed by local commercial banks.

Following the recent global financial crisis there is a growing interest in alternative finance – and microfinance in particular – as new instruments for providing financial services in a socially responsible way or as an alternative to traditional banking. Nonetheless, correspondingly there is also a lack of clarity about how to regulate alternative financial methods particularly in light of the financial crisis’ lessons on regulatory failure and shadow banking’s risks. This book considers microfinance from a legal and regulatory perspective. Microfinance is the provision of a wide range of financial services, particularly credit but also remittances, savings, to low-income people or financially excluded people. It combines a business structure with social inspiration, often resorts to technological innovations to lower costs (Fintech: e.g. crowdfunding and mobile banking) and merges with traditional local experiences (e.g. financial cooperatives and Islamic finance), this further complicating the regulatory picture. The book describes some of the unique dimensions of microfinance and the difficulties that this can cause for regulators, through a comparative analysis of selected European Union (EU) countries’ regimes. The focus is in fact on the EU legal framework, with some references to certain developing world experiences where relevant. The book assesses the impact and validity of current financial regulation principles and rules, in light of the most recent developments and trends in financial regulation in the wake of the financial crisis and compares microfinance with traditional banking. The book puts forward policy recommendations for regulators and policy makers to help address the challenges and opportunities offered by microfinance.

How can financial services, such as credit, deposit accounts, financial transfers, and insurance be provided to people in need? This challenging and complex issue has been a topic of interest for the international aid community for decades. Drawing on renowned experts in microfinance and financial inclusion, this Research Agenda sheds much-needed light on this multifaceted challenge and points the way ahead for future research.