The MasterCard Foundation has announced the launch of its Scholars Program by awarding grants totaling $600,000 to six leading microfinance training institutes. The foundation says its program will fund 200 scholarships for staff working in microfinance in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to participate in management and professional development courses.   » Continue Reading

A new report from the global microfinance body CGAP predicts that, with the right market conditions, mobile banking could reach large numbers of poor people who are outside the formal financial system.   » Continue Reading

Krissah Williams reports for the Washington Post on microlending and microfinance - to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the USA - focusing primarily on the work of the Enterprise Development Group.