2012: International Year of Cooperatives

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. It is intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development.

Franky Depickere, Managing Director of Cera and Chairman of the International Raiffeisen Union, explains the importance of the cooperatives in our society. 

More info (in French)

Investments and subsidies: Matching the funding needs of Microfinance?

Over the past two years, microfinance has to some extent been a victim of its own success. Is this the result of inappropriate or too much funding? Is there a link between too much funding and the bad microfinance practices that have emerged recently, like for example in India? Is there an imbalance between the amount of investments and donor funding within the sector that exacerbates the problem? And how can investments and donor funding play a better role in strengthening the sector?

These key questions were tackled during the fifth Microfinance Lunch Break organised by ADA, BRS, Cera, KBC, Assuralia and Febelfin in Brussels on Friday, October 7th 2011.

More info

KBC Computers in Cameroon

BRS, KBC and Close the Gap developed a strong collaboration in developing countries. In 2010 another 500 KBC-computers were shipped off to microfinance projects in the South. We followed their trace all the way to Cameroon. Here you can watch their travel report.

Consultancy tailor-made

Last February a camera team followed three BRS consultants during their mission through Cameroon. The following report gives you a very clear view on the importance of consultancy for the people in the developing countries.

www.microfact.org

ADA and BRS promote their range of training courses and policy instruments on their mutual website www.microfact.org