Saundra Schimmelpfennig over at Good Intentions wrote a great article called “Four questions to ask before funding a microfinance project.” The article, which is based on CGAP’s “Good Practice Guidelines for Funders of Microfinanc” and goes into details on four questions that each lender should think about before lending to a microfinance entrepreneur

Question #1: What alternatives to loans are also available?
Question #2: Has the charity done due diligence on the financial service providers?
Question #3: Are there consumer protection measures in place?
Question #4: Does the charity support capacity building of the MFI’s?

Go to Good Intentions to read more about the fours questions you should ask.

ResponsibilitiesMoody’s, one of the world’s most respected and widely utilized sources for credit ratings, research and risk analysis, is developing a scorecard, and ultimately an assessment methodology, for assessing the social performance of microfinance institutions. The social performance assessment considers items such as client protection principles and client service, social impact measurement, and governance issues. As part of this process Moody’s will work with investors and microfinance institutions to assist them in understanding how their institutions assess social performance, work with them to develop their own social performance tools and publish research on how the industry assesses social performance.ResponsibilitiesIn September 2010 at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting, Moody’s committed to develop a Social Performance Assessment of Microfinance Institutions. For 10 weeks the intern will assist in research and interviews to collect information on best practices of microfinance institutions for each of the scorecard categories. The information will be collected through a questionnaire that will be distributed to key experts in the microfinance community. For each of the scorecard factors of Client Relationship, Environmental Impact, Human Resources, Measurement of Social Impact, Social Mission, and Strategy & Leadership, the intern will help collect and collate the responses and work with Moody’s and the participants to interpret the responses and create a rating methodology. Work will include: Assist in the delivery of the questionnaires; Review of survey results and findings; Assist in the interview and data gathering plan; Presentation of data analysis.

QualificationsMBA or PhD candidatesAn understanding of microfinanceExcellent excel and good PowerPoint abilitiesSpanish language capabilities a plus

Equal Employment OpportunityMoody’s Corporation is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in its recruitment practices. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of potential and existing employees, candidates and clients regardless of sex, marital status, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by law.

Click Here to apply

Source: MiGente.com

Kiva City, which launched a couple weeks ago is a new way for Kiva to accelerate the growth of U.S. microfinance by empowering communities. Detroit was selected as the first Kiva City, a partnership between Kiva, Michigan Corps, Knight Foundation and ACCION USA to expand the reach of Kiva lenders to the entrepreneurs in Detroit.

If you missed it, you can view Bill Clinton announcing Kiva City here.

The day after President Clinton announced Kiva City, the Kiva Detroit team held a community celebration in Detroit to launch the initiative. The Microlending Film Project filmed the event, and have shared their footage for those who were unable to attend:

Here’s a little more info about Delphia, one of the first borrowers:
Delphia is launching a street newspaper, Thrive Detroit, to enable dozens of homeless and at-risk Detroiters to become entrepreneurs. Delphia works at a homeless shelter running a program designed to house both the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. One day, her boss came back from a trip to Philadelphia and mentioned a “street newspaper” he had seen there. These newspapers were made for and sold by the homeless and at risk people of Philadelphia. This gave Delphia an idea: could a street newspaper work in Detroit? It would require $1,275 to finance her first newspaper printing. When she heard about Kiva Detroit, she started working with the Michigan Corps team to apply for a loan. Her loan was approved by ACCION USA and posted to Kiva. Now, Thrive Detroit is ready to hit the printing press!

Read the full bio here.

Read online: http://www.globalpartnerships.org/sections/newsinfo/newsinfo_nr_SustainableHarvest.htm

Seattle, Wash., - Global Partnerships, a Seattle-based nonprofit investor, and Sustainable Harvest, a Portland-based specialty coffee importer, announced today that they have collaborated on an innovative loan product to two fair-trade coffee cooperatives in Latin America: Aprocassi, a cooperative of small-scale coffee growers in Cajamarca, Peru; and Café y Desarrollo/REDCAFES, an association of coffee cooperatives in Mexico serving small landholder farmers. The loans, which were made by Global Partnerships and fully secured by coffee sales contracts from Sustainable Harvest, are helping provide much-needed flexible financing to the region’s small-scale coffee growers.

“With the help of Sustainable Harvest’s support and expertise, we have created and executed a loan product that is finely attuned to the needs of Latin American coffee farmers,” said Mark Coffey, Global Partnerships’ Chief Investment Officer. “The collaboration reflects our shared commitment to helping underserved populations in Latin America increase their income and improve their lives.”

“We are excited to work with Global Partnerships on this new opportunity to support sustainable smallholder coffee cooperatives in Latin America,” said David Griswold, President and Founder of Sustainable Harvest. “Our partnership is facilitating access to credit for coffee farmers in many remote communities, enabling them to increase their household income and build their assets by selling specialty coffee to the global market. Together we can demonstrate it is possible to stimulate economic growth, social impact, and environmental stewardship in rural farming communities.”

Global Partnerships (GP) finalized and disbursed the loans to Aprocassi and Café y Desarrollo/REDCAFES in July 2011, and March 2011, for $465,000 and $498,000, respectively. The loans’ structure includes two innovative components. First, both loans are secured by coffee sales contracts signed between each cooperative and Sustainable Harvest, which means that Sustainable Harvest has agreed that it will purchase a certain amount and standard of coffee from the cooperatives and that it will repay Global Partnerships once the coffee shipment is made. This reduces the risk of default for Global Partnerships and its investors.

Second, the loan terms allow the cooperatives to receive an initial disbursement, pay down the loan as coffee is shipped and then receive additional disbursements from Global Partnerships without going through an additional closing process. This lowers costs for the cooperatives and allows them to provide more flexible terms to its members, such as providing much-needed credit before the coffee harvest cycle, when farmers need to purchase inputs such as seeds and fertilizer as well as pay living expenses.

GP made the two loans from its fourth fund, Social Investment Fund 2010, a $25 million debt fund that loans capital at low cost to a select portfolio of microfinance institutions and cooperatives that have both a sustainable business model and display an exceptional commitment to improving the lives of their borrowers.

The two organizations are strong examples of the type of partners GP seeks. They provide not only low-cost credit to members but also a range of other services that help members increase their income and improve their lives, including access to coffee importers such as Sustainable Harvest; help with fair-trade and organic certification; access to lower-cost inputs such as fertilizer and coffee processing services; guidance on productivity-boosting techniques; and social programs such as health education.

The cooperatives associated with Café y Desarollo/REDCAFES operate in five of the poorest states in Mexico, Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chiapas. One hundred percent of its 1,500 members are fair trade certified, and 80 percent are organic certified. One hundred percent of Aprocassi’s 400 members are fair trade certified, and more than 80 percent are organic certified.

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About Global Partnerships: Global Partnerships (GP) is a Seattle- and Managua-based nonprofit that expands opportunity for people living in poverty by investing in microfinance and other sustainable solutions to poverty. As of March 31, 2011, GP had $40.2 million in capital invested in 28 microfinance partners in seven countries in Latin America. http://www.globalpartnerships.org

About Sustainable Harvest: Sustainable Harvest is a specialty coffee importer that uses the Relationship Coffee model to bring partners together in a sustainable supply chain that serves everyone involved—from the farmer to the final consumer. Its approach builds direct, transparent market linkages for coffee growers while investing in training and management systems to improve their ability to produce high quality coffee. http://sustainableharvest.com/

Job Summary: The Development Operations Officer will be a dynamic, experienced individual who will manage online fundraising tools, act as the organizational-wide administrator for the Development team database, and serve as the budget manager for the Development department. As an active member of the Online and Annual Giving team, this person will also contribute to the overall annual giving strategy and assist with fundraising campaign strategy, execution and evaluation, helping bring in more than $1 million per year. The right candidate will have a rare opportunity to grow an integrated fundraising operation that utilizes technology in an innovative and exciting way.

Reporting and relationships: The Development Operations Officer reports to the Director of Online and Annual Giving and works closely with the VP of External Affairs. This position regularly interacts and presents to the Executive Leadership Team and reports to the board on behalf of the Development team.

Availability: The Development Operations Officer position is full-time, 40 hours per week position. This position is a non-exempt position and eligible for overtime pay beyond 40 hours per week. It is expected that the Development Operations Officer will occasionally be required to work in the evenings and on weekends. Some travel may be required.

Essential Job Functions

• In collaboration with the VP of External Affairs, create the budget strategy for the department and manage on a monthly basis
• Provide financial data and lead a monthly meeting with the Executive Leadership Team to explain the results
• Provide regular reports for the Grameen Foundation Board of Directors and its Development committee, and other volunteer committees as needed
• Manage online giving systems and analysis
• Work with Director of Online and Annual Giving to drive online outreach and donor experience strategies and implementation
• Respond to inquiries from major and smaller donors regarding their gift records and the mechanics of wire transfers and stock donations
• Build and oversee list creation and distribution of email solicitations
• Manage online gift processing procedures and oversee development assistant or associate in weekly processing
• Coordinate, develop, and implement research efforts for online fundraising; leverage all existing tools and identify new ones for evaluating online marketing and web presence
• Serve as liaison with inside and outside IT providers and remote sites
• Serve as the administrator of the Development team database (Donor2/Salesforce)
• Design processes and procedures to facilitate fundraising data management
• Provide technical assistance and training to the Development team
• Create reports for the Development team and organization as needed
• Maintain the integrity of the database via maintenance, data-cleaning and security procedures
• Collaborate on annual giving strategy, execution and evaluation
• Contribute to fundraising campaign design and planning
• Assist with donor solicitations, including direct mail and online fundraising efforts
• Work in conjunction with Director of Online Giving to plan and execute corporate giving campaigns
• Monitor, analyze and interpret all donations on an ongoing basis, leveraging this information to enhance the donor experience and donor retention
• Serve as development liaison to one or more Grameen Foundation programs, including creating an annual fundraising plan
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission
• Well-honed computer skills, with expertise in Excel and database management (Salesforce experience a plus)
• Strong analytical skills and exceptional attention to detail, with solid deductive reasoning ability
• Experience in online marketing and outreach; nonprofit experience ideal
• Comfortable and productive in a flexible, team-based environment; ability to work with people remotely
• Ability to learn/adapt quickly and meet tight deadlines
• Self-motivation with a strong sense of ownership in areas of responsibility
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of microfinance, poverty alleviation and/or mobile phone technology for fighting poverty a plus

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred; equivalent experience may be substituted for degree
• A minimum of 3 or more years’ related work experience required, experience in a nonprofit setting preferred
• Microsoft Office Suite, with strong Excel, Word, and PowerPoint experience required; familiarity working with Salesforce and Convio strongly desired

Physical and Environmental Conditions
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences or commercial vehicles (e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals).

Work Environment and Working Conditions for Travelers to Developing Countries
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards that are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. The employee may be required to travel overseas and domestically. When traveling overseas in a developing country, the employee may be exposed to physical hazards (illnesses, noise, extreme temperatures, wet or humid climates, etc.), road hazards (unfinished/dirt roads, potholes, traffic-related accidents), and atmospheric conditions (odors, dust, fumes, smog, etc.).

Additional Comments
The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Interested candidates please click here.

 

Source: SeaMO

Opportunity International’s Insight Trips provide a unique opportunity to see firsthand how microfinance work impacts clients, their families and their communities. Insight Trip participants meet Opportunity clients, attend Trust Group meetings, exchange knowledge with local loan officers, and share insights with Opportunity staff and their fellow travelers.

Here are a couple upcoming trips that they are offering:

Ghana, Educational Finance
October 21 – October 28
Experience firsthand how Opportunity International and The IDP Foundation’s innovative approach to educational finance is helping to break the cycle of poverty for the next generation. Read more

India
October 21 – October 28
Immerse yourself in the life experiences of our clients, loan officers and staff in Chennai. Take part in Trust Group meetings to hear clients’ inspirational stories. See personal and economic development in action. Read more

Malawi
October 28 – November 05
Visit the capital city of Lilongwe and as you explore the world of our clients, loan officers and staff, discover the transformational impact of savings, loans, insurance and training on families and communities. Read more

Here’s an interesting video where Rupert Scofield and Sumant Bhatia discuss how Microfinance is great overall, but there are some bad seeds that have ruined its image:

Source: The Telegraph

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Established in 1979, OBDC is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Small Business Administration (SBA) microlending intermediary providing loans to small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, OBDC’s mission is to grow strong communities by providing financing and assistance to small businesses that provide employment, services, and community benefit in Alameda, Solano, San Francisco, and Contra Costa Counties. Through its diverse portfolio of loan products, OBDC provides microloans and small business loans to entrepreneurs who are not able to access traditional bank capital because they are new in business, have imperfect credit histories, have limited collateral, or need technical assistance before, during, and after the loan application process. In FY 2011, OBDC provided $4.15 million in loans to 85 small businesses in our service area, the majority of which were located in low-to-moderate income census tracts. 53% of borrowers were non-white, 54% were female, and 50% were low-to-moderate income. Using the funding provided by OBDC, these businesses planned to create and retain 536 jobs.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Impact Evaluation Intern will play a critical role in assisting the Strategy & Operations Department with OBDC’s first-ever submission of impact data to the CDFI Fund, a division of the United States Treasury. As part of this project, you will have the opportunity to learn about the demographic and financial characteristics of small business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate or undergraduate student with strong analysis skills who wants to learn how Community Development Financial Institutions work by participating in a key initiative of a rapidly growing organization.

Duties will include:
1. Data Importation: We are in the process of transitioning to a new loan servicing software system, and in order to accurately report to the CDFI Fund, we need to ensure that all data is properly transferred to the new system. The intern will be instrumental in assisting the Strategy & Operations Associate with the data importation process.

2. Data Cleaning: The intern will be responsible for reviewing records in the old loan servicing system to ensure that all data has been correctly imported into the new loan servicing system. The intern will also reconcile each borrower’s record in the new loan servicing system with each borrower’s record in our customer relationship management system (Salesforce). The intern will note any discrepancies and review them with the Strategy & Operations Associate and will then be responsible for making modifications to borrower records as directed by the Associate.

3. Report Compilation: The intern will assist in compiling the final report for submission to the CDFI Fund (by 12/31/11), following detailed, written instructions that will be provided at the beginning of the internship.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate or undergraduate student with demonstrated research and analysis skills.
• Software proficiency including Microsoft Word, Excel, and database systems.
• Adept at learning to use new software; very comfortable with technology.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Excellent time management ability.
• Self-starter who can work with minimal supervision and be comfortable in an evolving nonprofit environment.
• Ability to work with diverse groups, including community-based organizations, public agencies and financial institutions.
• Comfortable meeting deadlines in a fast-paced setting.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in any of the following is a plus: economic development, community development, small and/or micro business development.
• Experience using Salesforce (an online CRM system) is a plus.

OBDC SUPPORT: The intern will work closely with the Strategy & Operations Associate to execute this project. OBDC will endeavor to provide the intern with outside opportunities as they arise to learn more about the organization and the field, including networking and meeting with peer institutions.

DURATION AND TIMING: This position will be structured as an unpaid internship beginning in August or September 2011 (depending upon the selected candidate’s availability). The internship will end in December 2011. We welcome applicants interested in receiving school credit for their work.

LOCATION AND HOURS: 10-15 hours per week; the days and times are flexible. While we prefer for candidates to complete their work at the OBDC offices in downtown Oakland, telecommuting may be an option.

Source: Zunia

• Analysis – Can microcredit fuel jobs in crisis-hit Europe? | Reuters
• Feed the Hunger Foundation – Food for Thought Microcredit Loan Program
• The New MFI Bill: Challenges before RBI
• How to Figure Out if the Standard Microcredit Model Relies on Growth
• Southern Charm: Interview with Heiner Skaliks of Strategic Latin America
• Dutch Microfinance Investor Oikocredit Names Sharlene Brown National Director of US Arm
• SKS Microfinance surges 10%, stock hits upper limit on bourses

Category: Outreach & New Inititatives
Description:
The Director of Donor Experience is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of creative programs and events that inspire our target donor constituencies to increase their involvement and financial contributions to Opportunity International. Donor programs that fall under the Director of Donor Experience include YAO (Young Ambassadors for Opportunity), WON (Women’s Opportunity Network and BOG (Board of Governors Program)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct all BOG, YAO and WON program activities.
• Manage YAO team and direct strategy for segmented markets.
• Work closely with WON members; ensure integrated program and campaign strategy.
• Assure that all donor programs and activities are supporting efforts to raise funds for our global programs.
• Manage all aspects of volunteer strategy for donor constituencies.
• Manage marketing and online/offline communication plans for YAO, WON and BOG.
• Speak on behalf of Opportunity International at industry events.
• Manage financial analysis and tracking of all donor program budgets.
• Leverage industry best practices in all aspects of program management.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree
• Min 5-7 years of sales or marketing experience
• Management experience
• Effective verbal and written communicator; strong interpersonal skills
• Positive attitude and excellent communication skills
• Self-initiating, problem solver, independent; able to adjust and redirect attention
• Creative and innovative thinker
• Ability to plan and manage small and large group events
• Good listener, facilitator, and motivator of passionate volunteers
• Savvy internet skills, experience in promoting involvement in online and offline events
• Ability to work independently, think creatively, take initiative, and plan strategically
• Highly organized
• Analytical – attention to detail
• Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising strategies
• Proficient use of Microsoft Word, Access, Powerpoint, Excel and desktop publishing programs
• Interest in microfinance, international development and poverty alleviation
• Requires an understanding of, and a commitment to advancing the mission and core values of Opportunity International and, the ability to incorporate them into the job setting and articulate them to donors

Source: Bloomberg Business Week