Terrafina Microfinance NEWS

Vacancy 2 program advisors Mali and Burkina Faso

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Terrafina Microfinance is looking for 2 program advisors for its team West Africa, to be stationed in Mali and Burkina Faso. The program advisors play an important role in the Capacity Building programs for the Terrafina Microfinance partners in the West Africa region.

Applications can be sent to talentsplusmali@gmail.com before March 1, 2012.

Download the full text of the job announcement with the requirements.

New staff Rwanda

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Two new Program Advisors (Patrick Birasa and Therence Barabwiriza) have recently joined our East Africa team. They will be based in Rwanda to serve our program in the Great Lakes region.

We consider it vital to position ourselves closer to our partners in the region to serve our purpose of promoting access to finance in rural areas best. With the appointment of these two Program Advisors we take a next step in our decentralization process and literally position ourselves closer to our partners.

As of 2009 Microfinance Advisor Frank Bakx was already stationed in Rwanda. He greatly contributed to our capacity building activities with MFI partners. From January 2012 onwards, Frank Bakx carries out assignments on a part-time basis for the Terrafina Microfinance program, as a consultant of Rabobank Foundation.

Transparent pricing in Ethiopia

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

MFTransparency recently launched pricing data of microloans offered by microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Ethiopia. Six of the eight Ethiopian MFI partners of Terrafina Microfinance have participated. In total 16 MFIs, out of the 30 MFIs in the country, submitted their data. This includes the government affiliated MFIs, who serve 75% of the sector.

The data shows that the participating Terrafina partners are operating in line with the industry’s averages. All partners have products with below average interest rates, but some also have more expensive loans. The general observation is that the prices of loans that the Terrafina partners designed for agri-business are lower than the prices of urban loans.

MFTransparency is promoting transparent pricing in the Microfinance Industry. Terrafina supports this initiative and was one of the sponsors for Ethiopia. In 2011 data of Rwandan MFIs was already launched and currently MFTransparency is collecting data of MFIs in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali.

AMIR about SPM project

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Rwandan microfinance network AMIR just launched its first microfinance newsletter. Part of the newsletter is about Terrafina Microfinance’s support regarding social performance management (SPM).

We started this SPM project with AMIR in 2010 as a first identification of possibilities with SPM in Rwanda. We would like to work on both network level and microfinance institution level on SPM, and encourage collaboration with other parties experienced in SPM, such as MFC.

Download AMIR’s newsletter to read more about the SPM project. The article on SPM starts on page 7, but there is more interesting news to read.

Partner Harbu in Zoom microfinance

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

SOS Faim spent an interesting issue of Zoom microfinance on describing a soybean value chain in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. An extensive part of the issue focuses on the role of our partner Harbu MFI, which is highly involved in financing the soybean value chain. Harbu does this through offering loans for farm inputs, working capital loans, and lease arrangements.

Terrafina Microfinance has supported Harbu MFI in this from the beginning with advice and financial means. In 2010 Harbu’s initiative was rewarded by winning the European Microfinance Award, which that year focused on value chain finance.

You can download the issue of Zoom microfinance on Harbu’s role in the soybean value chain in English and French from SOS Faim’s website.

Reader on value chain finance available now

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Together with the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) Terrafina Microfinance published a digital interactive reader on value chain finance. This reader is the product of collaboration between various members of the Rural Finance & Innovation Action Group of the e-MFP in 2009 and 2010. It explores current practices of donors and financiers in the field of value chain finance on the basis of publications, as well as unpublished materials made available by the e-MFP members and their partner organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The reader aims to address how ‘northern' actors can best support value chain finance interventions.

Interested? You can order the reader by sending an email to info@terrafina.nl.

Ethiopia: African MF Week

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Terrafina Microfinance's Technical Advisor Harm Haverkort, fieldpost Adis Abeba, participated at the African Microfinance Week.

The conference created an interesting platform with various actors in the African MF sector. The subject was related to ‘inclusive finance'. Various speakers presented many experiences and especially the Ethiopian MF was highlighted many times. The cooperatives, the government and non government owned MFIs used the opportunity to promote their organizations.

Terrafina Microfinance is proud of her partners Busa Gonofaa and Wasasa whom were acknowledged by UNCDF, the National Bank of Ethiopia and others as "one of the best performing MFIs in the sector".

Furthermore, AEMFI President, Dr. Wolday recognized Terrafina Microfinance as ‘'one of the most important and solid supporters of MF sector in Ethiopia."

CSR support Jobwave

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Jobwave Careerservices owner Margo Scholtes was triggered by the photography of Terrafina's MFI partners and clients by Raymond Rutting, featuring at a major exposition at the Geldmuseum and on the Terrafina website.

She is dedicated to entrepreneurship through microfinance and decided to support Terrafina Microfinance anually with a percentage of Jobwave's gross income. To support the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) vision of Jobwave she made a short movie for the homepage of her website.

Mali Mission Update

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Mali mission update

Lead Program officer Nadia Ouriemchi, Fund manager Cor Wattel and Monitoring Officer Fransien Wolters returned from a mission to Mali. Below a short update on their findings:

Joint Planning 2012

2010 was used for mapping posibilities of joined Terrafina / ICCO / Oikocredit interventions in West Africa. The joint planning exercise that took place this September proved to be very positive and produced concrete ideas of collaboration. For 2012 we hope to realize the following activities in Mali;

A partnership with 14 MFI's of which 7 receiving capacity building support.
10 MFI's refinanced by Oikocredit with ICCO guarantee and Rabobank Foundation involved in 5 co-lending opportunities with Oikocredit.
3 MFI's involved in a SPM process with Terrafina support.

2 VCF linking projects (Cveca On with Malo Traders - Rice) and Bio carburant production with CVECA networks). At least linking one value chain to (local) financing.

CEVECA transformation process

Both field advisor Bart de Bruyne and Nadia Ouriemchi invested a lot of time in the CVECA transformation process in Mali. It is really gaining a critical mass now, a huge difference with 2 years ago. Bart organized a workshop on 15th September to inform the main donors and stakeholders about the level of implementation of the process.

CVECA Kita-Bafoulabe: situated in Kita, a cotton and peanut area, 2 hours drive north-west of Bamako. A visit to two village caisses, and a good conversation with the Board illustrate that they have developed quite solidly, thanks to their own good work, Terrafina Microfinance support and a first Oikocredit loan. They are now facing new challenges: to restructure to comply with the new microfinance law, and to increase their business volumes.

Support for SPM strategy implementation

Terrafina Microfinance is participating in the African SPM working Group. The Terrafina field Advisor Bart de Bruyne will participate in the MAIN conference. He will also support APIM to prepare a presentation on achievements regarding SPM at the AFMIN conference.

Microfinance Transparency

At the launch of the Transparent Pricing Trajectory for the Ethiopian microfinance sector, Terrafina Microfinance and MicroNed were mentioned as important supporters. This trajectory aims to stimulate the Ethiopian MFIs to present more transparent pricing of their products. This gives the client the possibility to select the MFI that suits their needs in the optimal way.

Seeking 2 Progamme Advisors

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Terrafina Microfinance is seeking 2 programme advisors for its team Eastern Africa, to be stationed in Kigali, Rwanda. The programme advisors will monitor and support microfinance programmes in Rwanda and Burundi, and work closely together with a colleague in Ethiopia.

Applications to terrafinajobs@nftconsult.com before 23 September 17:00 hrs.

Download the full text of the job announcement with the requirements.