Announcements

Sign up for the Azerbaijan Data Launch Webinar

Dear Friends,

MFTransparency started publishing the true costs of microfinance loans in specific countries in October 2009.  Next week, on June 1st 2010 we will host a webinar to launch and discuss our latest data from Azerbaijan. We invite you to participate in this webinar to discuss the Transparent Pricing Initiative in Azerbaijan.

The discussion will address a number of questions, including:

• How do banks and MFIs respond when asked to report their interest and fees publicly in a common APR or EIR format?
• How does the shape of the price curve for Azerbaijan differ from other countries? In the pilot countries Bosnia and Cambodia we have seen the expected relationship that the average price of loans increases as loan sizes get smaller. Does the market in Azerbaijan adhere to this same relationship? What similarities and disparities can be drawn between Azerbaijan and other markets?
• What factors seem to be driving prices in Azerbaijan?
• How much variation is there in price on loans of similar size in the microfinance market of Azerbaijan, and how might transparency change prices over time?
• How can the new pricing data be used to enact meaningful change in the local microfinance market?

We will be using GoToMeeting to host this webinar so that you will be able to follow our graphs of the data and send us your questions about it.  You will need to register with GoToMeeting in advance.  Please click on the following link to register as soon as possible, since places are limited.

Title:    MFTransparency Azerbaijan Data Launch
Date:   Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Time:   7:00 AM – 8:30 AM EST (4:00 PM Baku, 1:00 PM Berlin,  6:00 PM Jakarta and Dhaka, 4:30 PM New Delhi, 2:00 PM Nairobi, 6:00 AM Quito)
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/551565897

We look forward to talking with you next week about the Azerbaijan data launch!