[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-150628-en":3,"doc-seo-150628-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":92},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},150628,549768064622,"Lucas Vance","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8",8,"Research & Report","MICROFINANCE Policy Monitor - Regional Outlook","MICROFINANCE Policy Monitor presents timely insights into policy issues shaping microfinance across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The issue focuses on expanding inclusive financial systems, including 10 years of promoting policy change, agent-assisted branchless banking, and results from Central Asia benchmarking work. It also examines the regulatory framework for Romania’s microfinance sector and demand for microcredit among low-income households in Poland, supported by participation in UN efforts on inclusive financial sectors.","MICROFINANCE   \nPolicy Monitor  \nPublished by Microfinance Centre for Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States Publication sponsored by the Open Society Institute  \nIN THIS ISSUE:  \nIf you would like to send any information on legal initiatives in your country, please contact:  \n[Agnieszka Talma](Agnieszka Talma: agnieszkat@mfc.org.pl)[: agnieszkat@mfc.org.pl](Agnieszka Talma: agnieszkat@mfc.org.pl)  \nMFC’s Policy Monitor does not provide, nor does it attempt to provide, legal advice. The authors of the articles included in this publication present their own opinions, which might differ from the opinions of MFC. While MFC may comment on certain statements by the authors, MFC does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or for the legal statements made therein.  \nREGIONAL OUTLOOK  \n2  \nMFC’s Microfinance Policy Work  \nExpanding Inclusive Financial Systems:  \n10 Years of Promoting Policy Change  \nGrzegorz Galusek  \n2 CENTRAL ASIA  \nMIX and CAC Central Asia Benchmarking Study  \nOlga Tom ilova Scott Gaul  \nCOUNTRY HIGHLIGHT  \nDemand for Microcredit among  \n4 POLAND Low-Income Households in Poland Michał Matul  \n6 ROMANIA  \nThe Importance of the Regulatory Framework for Development of the Microfinance Sector:  \nThe Romanian Experience  \nMaria Doiciu  \nBRIEFS FROM THE WORLD  \n9  \nUN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors  \nGrzegorz Galusek  \n10  \nBranchless Banking through Retail Agents: Risks and Regulation  \nLee Byrd  \nCEE / NIS NEWS AND VIEWS  \n12 KAZAKHSTAN  \nEnhancing Microfinance Legislation: The Experience of the Association of Microfinance Organizations of Kazakhstan  \nSaltanat Igenbekova  \n2  \n\n|  | \u003Cbr>REGIONAL OUTLOOK |  |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n|  | \u003Cbr>MFC’s Microfinance Policy Work. Expanding Inclusive Financial Systems:\u003Cbr>10 Years of Promoting Policy Change\u003Cbr>Microfinance actors operate in an ever-changing policy environment and have to act and react accordingly. Since its inception, the Policy Monitor has provided timely insights into a wide range of policy issues affecting microfinance in the Central and Eastern European and Central Asian regions. This issue of the Policy Monitor provides a good example of the publication’s ability to draw on the vast knowledge and experience of practitioners, researchers and policymakers to present important and relevant discussions of microfinance policy. The issue includes articles on agent-assisted branchless banking, the results of a benchmarking study conducted in Central Asia by the MIX and the Central Asia Microfinance Center, the legal framework for microfinance in Romania and the findings of a demand study conducted by MFC in Poland. The last article highlights MFC’s participation in the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors that contributes to and positively influences the microfinance policy decision-making process.\u003Cbr>The MFC Network\u003Cbr>MFC is a network organisation, and growing membership has strengthened its ability to impact microfinance policy. The last 10 years have seen a considerable focus within the microfinance industry on financial performance. Although financial performance is essential to ensure the continued provision of microfinance services, MFC is currently using its position within the industry to advocate for a proper balance of costs\u003Cbr>and benefits and promote social performance management. This is an especially important issue at a time when a growing number of investors are attempting to assess the social impact of MFIs. National and international microfinance policy may soon reflect this interest in social performance management. MFC’s efforts in this area demonstrate its value as a network organisation that can influence microfinance policy now and in the future.\u003Cbr>New Look for the Policy Monitor\u003Cbr>Upon the 10th anniversary of MFC, we are pleased to announce a new direction for the Policy Monitor. Thanks to a huge response to our readership survey, the Policy Monitor will be r","cbCailAiVrQY9GI7","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailAiVrQY9GI7","pdf",262478,1,12,"English","en",105,"# Regional Outlook\n## MFC’s Microfinance Policy Work\n## Expanding Inclusive Financial Systems: 10 Years of Promoting Policy Change\n# Central Asia\n## MIX and CAC Central Asia Benchmarking Study\n# Country Highlight\n## Demand for Microcredit among Low-Income Households in Poland\n## The Importance of the Regulatory Framework for Development of the Microfinance Sector: The Romanian Experience\n# Briefs from the World\n## UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors\n## Branchless Banking through Retail Agents: Risks and Regulation\n# CEE / NIS News and Views\n## Kazakhstan: Enhancing Microfinance Legislation","[{\"question\":\"What topics does this issue of the Policy Monitor cover?\",\"answer\":\"It covers inclusive financial systems and policy change, agent-assisted branchless banking, Central Asia benchmarking, microfinance regulation in Romania, and microcredit demand in Poland.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the Policy Monitor position microfinance policy work?\",\"answer\":\"It emphasizes timely insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers operating in an evolving policy environment across the region.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is social performance management highlighted?\",\"answer\":\"The publication stresses balancing costs and benefits while addressing investor interest in assessing the social impact of microfinance institutions.\"}]","MICROFINANCE Policy Monitor - 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