Microfinance Insights

I revently came across a great magazine covering all aspects of microfinance news & debate, published bi-monthly in Mumbai. It's the baby of Intellecap, an Indian start-up offering advisory services to the microfinance industry.

The June/July issue addresses the tricky, topical question of mainstreaming microfinance - so far, so ordinary in the microfinance world. Where Insights goes further is its choice of genuinely ambitious, provocative ideas to highlight. So while the mainstream media frets about Compartamos investors making money from the poor (see above), Microfinance Insights is exploring how to open up cash flows through securitization, debating foregin exchange risk and asking what the subprime crisis means for the microfinance boom.

Ideas like these which explore new channels for money to support financial inclusion need debating, not pushing aside.

For more, including highlights of past issues, go to http://www.microfinanceinsights.com, where you can also subscribe. The August/September issue will cover the huge opportuinty awaiting microfinance in Africa...