Press Room

Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) has just released its initial set of Country Briefings (Beta), now available on MIX Market! Drawing on the breadth of MIX’s most current MFI data as well as comprehensive research and our sector expertise, these briefings provide a concise snapshot of the microfinance market, supply and demand, funding structure, and MFI performance for each country. The briefings will be updated regularly as new data become available and a series of new Country Briefings will be released in the coming months.

The inaugural group of Country Briefings on MIX Market covers five markets: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kenya, Morocco (also available in French), and Peru (also available in Spanish). Noteworthy highlights of each up-to-date analysis include:

For the first time in the Bosnian sector’s existence, the majority of MFIs were unprofitable in 2009 and early 2010, a phenomenon caused mainly by the dramatic increase in loan loss provision expense as both portfolio at risk and write-off ratios neared 9% in the first quarter of 2010. Read more about microfinance in Bosnia and Herzegovina…

Among the most notable trends in Cambodia’s MFI performance in 2009 was the rise in non-performing loans throughout the industry. A dramatic increase in portfolio at risk sparked fears that credit standards have weakened as the sector as grown, resulting in over-indebtedness. Read more about microfinance in Cambodia…

By January 2010, Safaricom’s mobile banking service M-PESA had 9 million customers in Kenya, accounting for approximately 40% of the country’s adult population. In May 2010, Safaricom and Equity Bank announced a partnership to allow M-PESA customers to open a new Equity Bank M-KESHO mobile-accessible savings account. Read more about microfinance in Kenya…

Since 2008, after recognizing the scale of Morocco’s microfinance crisis, MFIs have slowed the growth of their lending activities in order to clean up their portfolios and strengthen their management tools and procedures to support a renewed, sustainable growth. Total sector outreach declined by more than 25% in 2009. Read more about microfinance in Morocco…

Peruvian microfinance maintained its health during the economic downturn. In 2009, microenterprise lending grew by 12.8% in loans and 32.2% in portfolio, alongside consumption, household and larger commercial loans. The market still boasts a high return on assets (4%) while portfolio at risk over 30 days is around 3%. Read more about microfinance in Peru…