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October 15, 2006

ACCION International

SITE: ACCION International
URL: http://www.accion.org
DESCRIPTION: Excellent resource for looking at microfinance. This organization (see below) has many resources on their site including free and modestly priced publications, speeches and articles; annual reports, and a great deal of other information.

From their site: ACCION International is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need – microenterprise loans, business training, and other financial services – to work their way out of poverty.

"The mission of ACCION International is to give people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty. By providing "micro" loans and business training to poor women and men who start their own businesses, ACCION's partner lending organizations help people work their own way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride. With capital, people can grow their own businesses. They can earn enough to afford basics like running water, better food and schooling for their children.

This entry was posted in the following categories: Free Internet Resources , Microcredit & Microfinance , NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) , Organizations

Posted by cseeman at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)

MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB)

SITE: MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB)
URL: http://www.mixmbb.org/en/index.html
DESCRIPTION: Great resource on Microfinance and Microcredit. This resource is open access, so it can be viewed by anyone. Resource from the MIX Market.

From their site: "The MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB) is the premier benchmarking source for the microfinance industry. Its benchmarks are widely used by investors, donors and other service providers to facilitate greater standardization and a better understanding of the development of the microfinance sector. Originally an output of the MicroBanking Standards Project, the MBB is one of the principal products offered by the MIX (Microfinance Information eXchange).
The MIX is a not-for-profit private organization that supports the growth of a healthy microfinance sector through increasing standardization and facilitating information exchange. The MIX is supported by CGAP, Citigroup Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, Open Society Institute, Rockdale Foundation and others."

This entry was posted in the following categories: Microcredit & Microfinance

Posted by cseeman at 09:27 PM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2006

National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA)

SITE: National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA)
URL: http://www.ncna.org/
DESCRIPTION: Excellent resource with a fair amount of freely available content (including reports, lists of nonprofits and nonprofit resources.

From their site: "The National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) is the network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving over 22,000 members in 45 states and the District of Columbia. NCNA links local organizations to a national audience through state associations and helps small and midsize nonprofits: manage and lead more effectively; collaborate and exchange solutions; engage in critical policy issues affecting the sector; and achieve greater impact in their communities."

This entry was posted in the following categories: Free Internet Resources , Organizations

Posted by cseeman at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)

Grameen Bank

SITE: Grameen Bank
URL: http://www.grameen-info.org/
DESCRIPTION: Along with its founder, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Garmeen Bank was the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

The site has a great deal of information on Microcredit (providing loans without collateral to poor and unemployed people) and breaking the cycle of poverty in developing nations. Included are articles, documents, statistics and reports on the bank and its activities in Bangladesh.

About the Bank (from their site): Grameen Bank (GB) has reversed conventional banking practice by removing the need for collateral and created a banking system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity. GB provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. At GB, credit is a cost effective weapon to fight poverty and it serves as a catalyst in the over all development of socio-economic conditions of the poor who have been kept outside the banking orbit on the ground that they are poor and hence not bankable. Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of "Grameen Bank" and its Managing Director, reasoned that if financial resources can be made available to the poor people on terms and conditions that are appropriate and reasonable, "these millions of small people with their millions of small pursuits can add up to create the biggest development wonder."

This entry was posted in the following categories: Free Internet Resources , Microcredit & Microfinance , NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) , Organizations

Posted by cseeman at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

NPR Series: Africa's Lagging Development

National Public Radio (NPR) does a great job of hosting all their stories. Many of their series are exceptional and showcase issues going on in the world that pertain to development and organizations seeking to improve life in less well off countries.

This 2006 series from NPR entitled Africa's Lagging Development includes stories that explore some of the fundamental issues that prevent development from gaining ground in Africa. These include poverty, war, famine, food issues and other problems that are explored by many nonprofits working in Africa.

You can also see this series titled: Africa: Portraits of Poverty

This entry was posted in the following categories: Free Internet Resources

Posted by cseeman at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2006

International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF)

SITE: International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF)
URL: http://www.iblf.org/
DESCRIPTION: From their site - The IBLF's purpose is to promote " responsible business leadership and partnerships for sustainable international development."

"In a globalised economy, social issues are business issues. And in today’s world, poverty, inequality and environmental degradation cannot be tackled without the full participation of business."

"It is in this context that the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) works with business, governments, international agencies and other stakeholders to create new partnerships that help both business and communities to flourish."

"IBLF is independent of national and commercial interests. It has a track record of anticipating social and reputational issues, and of challenging perceptions within companies, campaigning organisations and development agencies."

The site has many valuable elements that are worth looking at:

--Current Programs and Activities that they are involved with including the Tourism Partnership.

--Resources, including publications, case studies, EBulletin (newsletter) & fact sheets.

If you are at the Ross School of Business and would like to request the purchase of one of these publications, visit this link to suggest it.

This entry was posted in the following categories: Free Internet Resources , NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) , Organizations

Posted by cseeman at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)