Jamii Bora Trust Staff Member Profiled in MF Insights Gabriel Kadidi, currently the Senior Information Officer at Jamii Bora Trust(a Unitus partner since 2004), was recently featured in the Jan-Feb 2009 publication of MF Insights. Kadidi shared insights from his radio show “Step 2 Step Moments with Kadidi” on 99.9 Pamoja FM, which airs in Kibera, the… Read more >
Updates
Samhita CEO Recognized for Achievement
March 1, 2009 – Update
Praseeda Kunam, CEO of Samhita Microfinance (a Unitus MFI partner since 2007), was recently honored with an Indian Women Achievers Award for her role in providing economic and health services to disadvantaged women. Organized by FICCI Ladies Organization (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), the event recognized women from a variety of fields… Read more >
The Financial Crisis & Microfinance: MBK Ventura
March 1, 2009 – Update
Founded in 2002, Unitus partner MBK Ventura is a microfinance institution (MFI) offering loans to low-income households in West Java, Indonesia. Recently named by MIX Market as the top-performing MFI globally, MBK Ventura is the only MFI in Indonesia focusing on the poorest 25 percent of Indonesians. Since partnering with Unitus in December 2006, the number of… Read more >
Empowering the “Ultra Poor”
March 1, 2009 – Update
We speak often about microfinance being a proven method for alleviating poverty. And it’s true. Microfinance is an incredible tool for helping the poor work their way to a life of sustainability, opportunity, and ultimately, economic self-empowerment. But it doesn’t work for all. For those living at the very bottom of the economic pyramid—those we… Read more >
Unitus on Huffington Post
January 28, 2009 – Media Exposure
Unitus Featured on Huffington Post as “Leading Pioneer of the Latest Phase in Microfinance” From the post, By the People, for the People: Microfinance Offers the “Transformative Vision” Davos is Seeking, by Alex Raskin: “When the World Economic Summit convened today in Davos — an Alpine resort nestled in the cozy and romantic confines of Switzerland’s… Read more >
Unitus Catches Up with Ingrid Munro
January 1, 2009 – Update
Near the end of 2008, Unitus had the unique opportunity to sit down with one of the most promising leaders in microfinance today, Ingrid Munro, founder and director of Unitus partner Jamii Bora Trust. The interview was published in the November/December 2008 issue of Microfinance Insights, the industry’s leading trade publication. In an intimate conversation,… Read more >
New Unitus Board Chair: Joseph Grenny
January 1, 2009 – Update
The Unitus board of directors and staff are pleased to announce that Joseph Grenny has accepted the role as board chair. Joseph is a co-founder of Unitus and has been on the board since the organization’s inception, offering a rich history and deep knowledge of our work. He brings strong professional expertise in a number… Read more >
Unitus Partner MBK Ventura Ranked Top-Performing MFI by MIX
January 1, 2009 – Update
In December, MIX (Microfinance Information Exchange, Inc.) released the 2008 MIX Global 100 Composite, its annual report ranking the top 100 MFIs throughout the developing world. The report analyzes and ranks MFI performance based on 2007 data. Four Unitus partners were recognized: MBK Ventura was named the top-performing MFI for the year, while SKS, AMK, and Grameen Koota ranked… Read more >
Boeing Partners with Unitus
January 1, 2009 – Update
Unitus is excited to announce a new and powerful partnership with The Boeing Company, the world’s leading aerospace company. Boeing’s generous support will help Unitus expand its work throughout East Africa in 2009, increasing access to microfinance for thousands of people across the region. The first of its kind for Boeing, the grant will allow… Read more >
2008: The Year in Review
January 1, 2009 – Update
Thanks to the generosity and insight of our supporters, 2008 was a year in which great challenges were met with even greater achievements. It is amazing to us all here at Unitus to see how the enthusiasm, caring, and commitment of so many remarkable individuals—from passionate donors at home to visionary social entrepreneurs abroad—can come… Read more >
Expanding Microfinance: East Africa
January 1, 2009 – Update
New Partnerships and Regional Office Underway When the founders of Unitus met with Muhammad Yunus nearly eight years ago to learn about the Grameen Bank and microcredit, they were inspired to grow this tool for large-scale poverty alleviation as quickly as possible. Much has changed since that time, including the reach of Unitus partners. In… Read more >
Announcing Whole Planet Foundation Partnership
December 8, 2008 – Press Release
Whole Planet Foundation™ and Unitus Join Forces to Accelerate Growth of Microfinance in Kenya Three-year Partnership Aims to Reduce Global Poverty by Increasing Access to Microfinance in Communities Where Whole Foods Market® Sources Products Seattle, WA and Austin, TX (December 4, 2008) — Unitus, Inc., an international nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing global poverty by… Read more >