(Picture from World Concern)

Story from the Financial Express:

The United Kingdom (UK) will extend Tk 5.0 billion (Tk 500 crore) in aid to help Bangladesh scale up its microlending programmes, recognising the exponential growth and expansion of the sector.

The British government, the country's largest bilateral donor, will provide the money, meant for the ultra-poor, to the Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank.

The aid will be available under a multi-donor supported PROSPER programme and the central bank will disburse funding for the eligible microfinance institutions and commercial banks.

In other microlending news ...

*National coordinator of the Nigerian Poverty Eradication Programme says better microfinance programs needed for community banks.

*From CounterCurrents: Can Microfinance 'Halve' Poverty By 2015?

*Someone sent along this link to the Virtual Microfinance Market ... something I hadn't seen and will have to go back and take a closer look at.

*Some commentary on Muhammed Yunus at Do It Yourself Social Responsible Investing.