The MFC research reviews the involvement of microfinance institutions in the provision of non-financial services to clients and other constituents. The provision of business development services (BDS) alongside credit has become a salient feature of many European MFIs. Over the years, different models of BDS have emerged, varying both by level of integration with core financial services and the ...

In the recent months, the MFC has conducted studies on the FinTech sector and its role in providing financial services to excluded and underserved groups in Poland and Ukraine. We have successfully identified FinTechs that contribute to financial inclusion and improved financial health, and explored their current and potential future cooperation with traditional finance providers. In Ukraine, our research was ...

Date: 19 December 2018, ended Speaker: Jarosław Dmowski, digital expert Facilitator: Justyna Pytkowska, MFC Download webinar recording To help all interested European microfinance institutions understand better how to position themselves in the digital space, the European Commission is sponsoring a webinar organised under the umbrella of the EaSI Technical Assistance for Microfinance programme and hosted by the Microfinance Centre (MFC). ...

Many households and small businesses in emerging markets have no or very limited access to formal financial services. Even in developed countries, they only have access to a limited menu of cost-effective products from financial institutions for addressing their financial needs. Over two billion unbanked adults in the world, representing 38 percent of all adults globally, lack access to basic ...

European Microfinance Week, organised by the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) in Luxembourg on 14 – 16 November, hosts high level and in-depth discussions by all sectors of the financial inclusion community working worldwide, especially in the south. The unparalleled three day event attracts leading experts, opinion-leaders and policy-makers to its plenaries and workshop sessions tackling front line topics. You’re invited!  As part ...

On the 20th of September, the Selection Committee for the European Microfinance Award 2018 on “Financial Inclusion through Technology” chose the three finalists who will go on to compete for the €100,000 prize: KMF of Kazakhstan, Advans CI of Ivory Coast and  ESAF Small Finance Bank of India. This year, the Award has highlighted the role of technology in advancing financial ...

Microfinance Centre is looking for a short-term consultant for a study on microfinance digitalization in Europe. The objective of the study is to document interesting cases of digitalization in European microfinance in order to spread knowledge and understanding of the solutions that use modern technologies to improve the microfinance institutions’ (MFI) operations. The research will include the review of the ...

On Thursday and Friday last week MFC convened a 2-day meeting for MFC member institutions from Bulgaria, Ireland, Armenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Poland, UK and USA to discuss how scoring methods and digitalization can support transformation to more efficient and more effective microfinance institutions. This was an excellent workshop bringing together a large number of credit ...

  Topic: Uniting Tech and Touch: How Centaur Products Are Better for Consumers and Providers Date: March 6, 2018, ended Presenter: CFI Fellow Alexis Beggs Olsen Host: Grzegorz Galusek, CEO, Microfinance Centre Only for MFC Members.  Become a member! Uniting Tech and Touch: How Centaur Products Are Better for Consumers and Providers – Evidence from Kenya—the newest research emerging from the CFI ...

  Topic: Crowdfunding and Microfinance Date: February 26, 2018, ended Presenter: Oliver Gajda, CEO, European Crowdfunding Network Host: Grzegorz Galusek, CEO, Microfinance Centre Only for CEOs MFC Members. Become a member! For over a decade we have been witnessing the emergence of new forms of financing options for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. New channels and institutions have come to ...