staff at BRAC myanmar standing in front of the branch office

Microfinance vs. Informal Finance: A Fair Comparison?

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Field Team Blogs, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

If microfinance is so effective, then why hasn’t the industry put informal moneylenders out of business? This is the question that a recent paper, Microfinance for poverty alleviation: Do transnational initiatives overlook fundamental questions of competition and intermediation? in Transnational Corporations and accompanying blog set out to find the answer …

KOMIDA’s Social Performance Management Journey

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Field Team Blogs, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

KOMIDA: Investing in a Future without Poverty in Indonesia As part of Whole Planet Foundation’s annual due diligence visits to our microfinance partners around the globe, we observe the presence or absence of “responsible finance indicators” which shed light on how our partners are serving the world’s poorest people. Many …

berendina microfinance

Adding Value in Sri Lanka

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Field Team Blogs, Microcredit, Travel

This blog comes to us from Claire Kelly, WPF’s Regional Director for Asia/Pacific. Adding Value: Berendina’s Enterprise Development Services (EDS) Providing access to credit is the fundamental service of all of Whole Planet Foundation’s microfinance partners. But what is the best way to support borrowers as they use their loan …

Sanitation Microfinance in Asia

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Field Team Blogs, Microcredit

Claire is the Asia/Pacific Regional Director for Whole Planet Foundation.  She is responsible for overseeing and expanding a portfolio spanning the region – from Pakistan to Samoa. Whole Planet Foundation’s partner in Indonesia, KOMIDA, analyzed their client information and determined that about 60% of their clients do not have access …

Microfinance Institutions of the Year Make an Impact in their Communities

Katey GorskiAsia and the Pacific, Foundation News, The Middle East and North Africa

In January 2015, we launched the Microfinance Institution (MFI) of the Year Award to acknowledge and appreciate our outstanding partners demonstrating leadership in the microfinance industry both regionally and globally.  The award features organizations that continue to responsibly provide sound financial services while incorporating new, more and/or better products and services for …

Shan Valley Helps Us Fund Microcredit in Myanmar

Olivia HaydenAsia and the Pacific, Foundation News, Supplier Partnerships

Our partner Shan Valley shares the story of tea sourcing in Myanmar, which was recently approved as our 68th country project. Whole Planet Foundation is committed to alleviating poverty in countries where Whole Foods Market sources product. These product connections enable us to fund microcredit in a given country. Learn …