Dear Colleague,

The November issue of CGAP's e-newsletter PORTFOLIO is now available on-line at: http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.11.107573/

PORTFOLIO provides an inside view of new trends in microfinance - and keeps you up to date on the latest from CGAP.

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In This Issue: Making informed choices and taking effective action

> Protecting Microfinance Consumers

> SmartAid for Microfinance: Innovative Index Promotes Accountability and Change

> Helping MFIs Make Better Technology Choices: CGAP releases new IS software reviews

> Data Download: Microfinance Funding Continues to Grow

> CGAP Announcements

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Protecting Microfinance Consumers

Consumer protection is on everyone's mind these days. Around the world, the financial crisis threw the issue into bold relief for financial institutions of all kinds. With client protection already on the agenda for quite some time, microfinance has been ahead of the curve. Today, more than 450 organizations - retail microfinance providers, networks, associations, support organizations, and close to 90 investors and donors - have embraced the new Smart Campaign's Client Protection Principles, and are ready to put them into practice.

CGAP has just released "Implementing the Client Protection Principles: A Technical Guide for Investors" to help investors, for one, take action on their good intentions.

Learn more at:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.12022/

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SmartAid for Microfinance:
Innovative Index Promotes Accountability and Change

CGAP's SmartAid for Microfinance Index is the first index that measures and rates how funders work in microfinance. This year, eleven brave microfinance funders threw open their doors and agreed to find out if they are indeed properly equipped to provide funding and technical assistance for microfinance. The results show there is still room for improvement. While no funder was "inadequate" in its support of microfinance, none received the highest rating of "very good" either.

The good news is, all participating funders are embracing change and transparency in an effort to become more effective in supporting microfinance. And that's the most important place to start.

To read more, please visit:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.12229/

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Helping MFIs Make Better Technology Choices:
CGAP releases new IS software reviews

Thinking of getting new information systems (IS) software for your microfinance institution (MFI), but don't know where to start? With more than a hundred programs to choose from, selecting a software solution can be a daunting task. But thanks to CGAP's new software reviews, it just got easier. CGAP has added 15 new product evaluations to its collection, with ten more coming down the pipe in January 2010.

The IS Program, a joint initiative of CGAP and the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme, evaluates products to help MFIs make sense of the many options out there - its Software Listings profile more than 85 products available for purchase.

To learn more, please visit:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.11696/

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Data Download: Microfinance Funding Continues to Grow

24% = The amount funding for microfinance increased in 2008

For more facts and figures, please visit:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.12221/

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CGAP Announcements

> Citi-FT Financial Education Summit 2009

> Nomination of CGAP CEO Elizabeth Littlefield to become President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation

For more announcements, please visit:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/home/

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About CGAP

Housed at the World Bank, CGAP is a global resource center for microfinance standards, operational tools, training and advisory services. Its 33 members - including bilateral, multilateral and private donors - are committed to building more inclusive financial systems for the poor.
Learn more about us at: http://www.cgap.org

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Your Privacy
Read our privacy policy at:
http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/cgapPrivacyPolicy

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Pass It Along

Please forward PORTFOLIO to your friends and colleagues. If you received this message from a friend, sign up for your own subscription by emailing:
portfolioeditor@...

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Questions? Feedback?

Please email the editor (portfolioeditor@...). We would love to hear from you.

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© 2009 CGAP: Consultative Group to Assist the Poor. All rights reserved.

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