Global microscope on the microfinance business environment 2012

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About the Economist
Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the business
information arm of The Economist Group, publisher
of The Economist. Through a global network of
more than 350 analysts and contributors, we
continuously assess and forecast political,
economic and business conditions in more than
200 countries. As the world’s leading provider of
country intelligence, we help executives,
governments and institutions by providing timely,
reliable and impartial analysis of economic and
development strategies. For more information,
visit www.eiu.com.
About the Multilateral
Investment Fund
The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member
of the Inter-American Development Bank Group,
supports economic growth and poverty reduction
in Latin America and the Caribbean through
encouraging increased private investment and
advancing private sector development. It works
with the private sector to develop, fi nance, and
execute innovative business models that benefi t
entrepreneurs and poor and low-income
households; partners with a wide variety of
institutions from the private, public and non-profi t
sectors; evaluates results; and shares lessons
learned. The MIF is a laboratory for testing
pioneering, market-based approaches to
development, and an agent of change that seeks to
broaden the reach and deepen the impact of its
most successful interventions. For more
information, visit www.fomin.org.
© The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2012
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>microscope</strong> on the microfi nance business environment 2012
About CAF
CAF—development bank of Latin America—has the
mission of stimulating sustainable development
and regional integration by fi nancing projects in
the public and private sectors, and providing
technical co-operation and other specialised
services. Founded in 1970 and currently with 18
member countries from Latin America, the
Caribbean, and Europe, along with 14 private
banks, CAF is one of the main sources of
multilateral fi nancing and an important generator
of knowledge for the region. For more information,
visit www.caf.com.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the
largest global development institution focused
exclusively on the private sector. We help
developing countries achieve sustainable growth
by fi nancing investment, mobilising capital in
international fi nancial markets, and providing
advisory services to businesses and governments.
In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high
of more than US$20bn, leveraging the power of the
private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and
tackle the world’s most pressing development
challenges. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org.