Microinsurance is still in its infancy in Nepal. However, PlaNet Finance's first researches and project show a strong demand for such products. Livestock insurance, micro health insurance and micro life insurance for instance are particularly in demand among the poor population of Nepal. Supporting this trend, regulation is also developing rapidly and the insurance board is defining a strict and detailed framework for financial providers.

In this survey, PlaNet Finance presents an overview of the microinsurance sector in Nepal and shares its first lessons learned from an on-going partner/agent model development project between a Nepalese insurance company and a local microfinance institution. The potential for replication is high but so are the challenges. PlaNet Finance's pioneer work in the field hopes to pave the way for the development of the sector in Nepal.

The full survey is available below:

Planet Rating has released the first volume of "MIMOSA" (Microfinance Index for Market Outreach and Saturation)", a publication supported by the PlaNet Finance Foundation.
This paper presents the first analysis of credit market capacity using the Global Findex dataset, a survey on the use of financial services in 148 countries, published in April 2012.

Knowing where the upper limit for credit lies is critical for microfinance practitioners. The goal is to improve access to financial services in the poorer segments of the world’s population while ensuring that Microfinance Institution clients remain protected from the risks related to over-borrowing.

In a context where the precise estimation of the market potential for microcredit has proven difficult, the Global Findex offers an opportunity to study the overall formal credit market in a country as a first step to understanding the potential for microcredit specifically.

Planet Rating is also releasing the open-source data and calculation that constitute the model. To receive the Excel file, just send an email to rating@planetrating.com or go to www.fondation-planetfinance.org .

Immediately after the catastrophe, we at PlaNet Finance sought ways to assist tsunami-affected populations through emergency help, rehabilitation of the devastated areas and support to the local economy.

Three major initiatives:

1-     Kamaishi initiative: as soon as March 11, PlaNet Finance Japan organized a gigantic solidarity chain to provide the inhabitants of Kamaishi with 15 tons of winter clothes and blankets given by French companies. The donations were distributed to the tsunami victims on April 8, 2011.

2-     France O-Kaeshi : through this initiative led by PlaNet Finance Japan, a cooperative of 500 oyster producers from the region of Sanriku (North-east of Japan) was provided with the necessary equipment to restart their activity as soon as July 15, 2011. At the end of 2011, their production had reached 70% of its full potential on a normal year.

3-     Sanriku Tomodachi Fund for Economic Recovery: this $5 Million fund, established in November 2011 to reinforce the financial access of MSMEs affected by the tsunami in the region of Kessennuma, enabled the creation of 250 local businesses employing over 1,200 people, thus giving more than 3,000 people the means to live autonomously. Funded by top humanitarian organizations (Mercy Corps, Gates Foundation) and American (Boeing, NVidia) as well as Japanese corporations (Uniqlo, Mitsubishi), this fund was replicated in Minami Soma in 2012 and Rikuchu Tomodachi in 2013. It was one of the first non-governmental assistance programs to be provided to local businesses after the tsunami.

PlaNet Finance also contributed to several smaller actions:

• Re-equipment of the Kessennuma rugby school, with the support of Nike France, SDV Japan and the French-Japanese High school of Tokyo.
• Invitation of a U15 rugby team from Tohoku to the Capitals Tournament in Paris, with the support of the Fédération Française de Rugby.
• Reconstruction of a local temple and organization of the first post-tsunami annual festival in the city of Momonoura (Oshika peninsula).
• Exhibition « Rebirth of the Tohoku » organized by the city of Paris in March 2012.

For more information, please contact PlaNet Finance Japan :

Email: recovery@planetfinance.or.jp

Website: http://www.planetfinance.or.jp/english/index.php

Microfinance as a development tool for women

Today, 2.9 billion people live with less than 2$ a day and need financial services (savings, loans, insurances, etc.) and financial education in order to undertake a productive activity and overcome poverty. Among the 190 million microentrepreneurs in the world, 74% are women who fight every day to live in dignity and meet their family’s needs. Overall, 60% of microentreprises are managed by women. Women represent half of the world’s population, carry out two third of the working hours fulfilled in the world and produce half of the world’s food supply. Their role is essential especially regarding nutrition and food security.

Still, women:

• account for 60% of the world’s poor,
• earn 10% of the world’s revenue,
• own less than 1% of the world’s goods,
• make up 2/3 of the 1.2 billion people living with less than 1$ a day.

However, when women reach economic autonomy through a profitable activity, an immediate improvement in the health, nutrition and education level of their entire family can be observed, especially for children.

According to research conducted by the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the World Bank, gender inequalities in developing societies slows down the economic growth and development of  developing societies. It is therefore imperative to help women in their fight against poverty and to enhance gender equality which is an essential part of every sustainable development strategy. Gender equality is one of the 8 Millennium Development Goals established by the UN, and microfinance has proven to be one of the key components, amongst many others, in ensuring that this goal be attained. In most developing countries, women are often cloistered at home, excluded from political, economic and social power, and rarely have access to knowledge.  By allowing the poorest to access financial services, microfinance enables nearly 60 million people to overcome poverty by giving them the possibility to create their own revenue generating activity. Thus, many microfinance programs target women.

Microfinance:

• contributes to a change of attitude toward women regarding their role in the community and allows young generations to adopt a positive view of women’s role in society,
• facilitates women’s access to information networks and markets by providing them an experience outside of the family’s framework and therefore giving them the possibility to play other roles, be they political or economic,
• has a  strong impact on women's confidence and self-esteem.

By encouraging women towards decision making, open-mindedness and solidarity, microfinance strongly participates to the evolution of women’s status within family and society.

As part of the "Europe is for Women" initiative organized by the Italian office of the European Parliament on March 20th, PlaNet Finance Italy is organizing a conference entitled "Women and Business: a winning combination in Italy and the world?”. This conference will provide an update on the instruments for the development of women entrepreneurship.

The PlaNet Finance Foundation supports women microentrepreneurship

Presided by Jacques Attali, the PlaNet Finance Foundation is committed to poverty alleviation through the development of microfinance and has made women micorentrepreneurship one of its major axes.

In 2012, the PlaNet Finance Foundation supported over 7 000 women amongst which:

• 600 handicraft women from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil gained access to financial education,
• 1 500 Madagascan mothers developed their own economic activity and benefited from access to childcare centers,
• 167 Beninese women infected with HIV/AIDS were able to start a company project and therefore to be integrated in society,
• 5 000 Ghanaian Shea butter women producer raised their revenue by more than 30%.

Since its creation in 2010 the PlaNet Finance Foundation has helped over 25 000 microentrepreneurs in 14 countries.  Today, 500 Million potential microentrepreneurs are still waiting to be supported.

Women microentrepreneurship will also be of honor at third edition of the Foundation’s Annual Gala Diner under the auspices of the Cannes Film Festival on May 16th.

The Foundation’s Ambassadors

Several female personalities have this year agreed to join us by supporting the cause of women microentrepreneurship, amongst which:  Anggun, Carole Bouquet, Mercedes Erra, Maud Fontenoy, Anne Lauvergeon, Véronique Morali, Bettina Rheims, Sonia Rolland, Shan Sa, Marjane Satrapi, Marie-Laure Sauty de Chalon and Hapsatou Sy.

“Women invent the world. They carry its weight on their shoulders and share its wealth when given the means to do so. It is our responsibility to ensure that they have the strength to share their stories of courage.” Carole Bouquet  

 “A culture based on the fact that one half of society is superior to the other only due to its gender, can be nor fair nor modern. “, Marjane Satrapi

“I find it very important that men and women be equal in a society. The first step in reaching such equality is for women to become financially independent. PlaNet Finance offers pragmatic support to the concrete and innovative initiatives of women from around the world. I like this very facilitative field approach. All women share a duty of  self-confidence and tenacity”, Véronique Morali 

“When you’ve spent centuries fighting for equality, your outlook on the world is no longer the same as a man’s. It is time for us women to help mold a more fairer and smoother society.”, Anggun 

Contacts

For additional information, pictures, or interviews of the PlaNet Finance President and/or its Ambassadors, please contact Tania Palmier – 01 49 21 26 15 - tpalmier@planetfinance.org

We also invite you to visit our web page: www.fondation-planetfinance.org

In January 2012, the Anglophone Swiss magazine The Global Journal was the first to ever create a ranking of the top 100 NGOs of the world across all sectors (education, peacebuilding, technology, development, human rights, humanitarian, environment, health, children and youth, shelter, law and justice). To do so, the magazine uses three criteria: innovation, impact and sustain ability.

This year, PlaNet Finance is proud to announce its presence in the Top 100 NGOs 2013 ranking. Coming in 80th place, the NGO was acknowledged for its strong international network as well as for the diversity of its actions which “supports microfinance efforts by federating financial intermediaries and providing them with operational services”.

New to the ranking, PlaNet Finance appears as second of only two French NGOs (the second one being Handicap International).

On November 16th, Eliane Augareils led a panel on Financial Transparency, introducing the guide of best practices that was developed at the end of a multi-country project in Western Africa.

The speakers of this panel included: Mamadou Lamine Gueye, from Caurie Microfinance, a leading MFI in Senegal​; Anne Bastin, from LuxDev, coordinator of a regional project enhancing internal control in UEMOA countries; Philippe Serres, microfinance expert at AFD; and Blaine Stephens, COO of the MIX Market.

Later that day, David Levaï led a panel for UMM (University Meets Microfinance) on the ways in which microfinance can contribute to fight energy poverty.

The speakers of this panel included Marion Allet, PHD student from CERMI/PF, Sebastian Groh, from Microenergy International and Francesca Randazzo from ADA.

for further information please visit the following links:

- ​Coordinating funders action: http://www.uncdf.org/en/node/1609

- Financial Services for the Youth: http://www.uncdf.org/en/node/1610