Microfinance
For more information on micro-finance see these websites:
- UN Microfinance - Microcredit has been changing people's lives and revitalizing communities since the beginning of trade. Currently microentrepreneurs use loans as small as $100 to grow thriving business and, in turn, provide their families, leading to strong and flourishing local economies. The year of Microcredit 2005 calls for building inclusive financial sectors and strengthening the powerful, but often untapped, entrepreneurial spirit existing in communities around the world.
- MicroFinance Gateway - The Microfinance Gateway is the most comprehensive online resource for the microfinance industry. It includes research and publications, specialized resource centers, organization and consultant profiles, and the latest news, events, and job opportunities in microfinance.
- UN Consultative Group to Assist the Poor - More than a billion poor people lack access to the basic financial services essential for them to manage their precarious lives. CGAP is a consortium of 33 public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor in developing countries.
- Microfinance Information Exchange - or Mix market - is the leading business information provider dedicated to strengthening the microfinance sector. The organization’s core focus is to provide objective data and analysis on microfinance providers. In doing so, MIX promotes financial transparency in the industry and helps build the information infrastructure in developing countries.
- Microfinance Transparency - is a global initiative for fair and transparent pricing in the Microfinance industry. Our desire is to be the venue for the Microfinance industry to publicly demonstrate its commitment to pricing transparency, integrity and poverty alleviation. Our vision is a Microfinance industry operating with healthy free market conditions where consumers and other stakeholders can make informed decisions. Five Talents is pleased to endorse the MF Transparency initiative.