- What is the Microfinance Gateway?
- Is Microfinance Gateway information available in other languages?
- How much traffic does the Microfinance Gateway receive?
- Who is the target audience of the Microfnance Gateway's services?
- What is the relationship between the Microfinance Gateway and CGAP?
- What are the main features and services offered on the site?
- How frequently is the website updated?
- Can I receive email updates?
- How is the Microfinance Gateway different from the MIX?
- How can I contribute / submit information / get involved with the Microfinance Gateway?
- What technology platform does the Microfinance Gateway use?
- How do I search the Microfinance Gateway?
- How many people work for the Gateway?
- Does the Gateway provide funding for microenterprise projects?
- Can Gateway staff provide research assistance on a particular subject?
- How can I contact Gateway staff?
1. What is the Microfinance Gateway?
The Microfinance Gateway (the Gateway) is the most comprehensive online resource for the global microfinance community. It includes research and publications, discussion groups, featured articles, organization and consultant profiles, and the latest news, events, and job opportunities in microfinance. The mission of the site is to advance knowledge and encourage innovation within the microfinance industry.
The Gateway features over 7,000 online documents, over 1000 listings of microfinance focused organizations and over 400 consultant profiles. It allows users to contribute publications, op-ed or thought pieces, news, conference and workshop announcements, and employment vacancies. We rely on the feedback and contributions of our users to remain relevant.
Since our launch in June 2000, visits to the Gateway have grown in tandem with the services we offer, with total monthly site visits on the English site averaging 50,000 unique users from over 175 countries.
2. Is the Microfinance Gateway information available in other languages?
The Microfinance Gateway currently has three regional language sites -- English, French and Arabic. In the future there will be a Spanish site. The sites have similar features, however vary significantly in their content. The content of the language site is targeted to the respective regions to meet the needs of the French- and Arabic-speaking audiences.
http://www.microfinancegateway.org
http://www.lamicrofinance.org
http://www.arabic.microfinancegateway.org
3. How much traffic does the Gateway receive?
The number of unique Microfinance Gateway users averages about 50,000 visitors per month from over 175 countries. The Gateway today ranks as one of the top microfinance sites on Google.
4. Who is the target audience of the Gateway's services?
Designed to serve the needs of a growing and changing industry, the Gateway functions as an information exchange platform for a broad range of industry participants including microfinance institutions (MFIs), donors, networks, consultants, service providers, academics and policy makers.
5. What is the relationship between the Microfinance Gateway and CGAP?
The Microfinance Gateway is a knowledge dissemination forum for, of, and by the microfinance industry as a whole. CGAP (The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a consortium of 33 donors who support microfinance, based in Washington, D.C., funds the Gateway. The Gateway strives to include many diverse voices and experiences--including yours!
6. What are the main features and services offered by the Microfinance Gateway?
Current sections of the website include:
- Home Page
- The News section gathers headlines and announcements of new microfinance-related articles, projects, investments, books, technologies, and services;
- The Highlights provide short presentations on topics of interest, such as microfinance in China and Islamic banking, together with summaries of newly published articles, books, and recent public seminars.
- The Library provides over 7,000 online documents on all aspects of microfinance, together with reviews and summaries of articles, books and operational tools;
- The Resource Centers collect in one place the latest publications, case studies, research, and knowledge on important topics in microfinance. Current Resource Centers include: Microfinance Regulation and Supervision, Technology, Savings, Donor Information, Microinsurance, Impact Assessment, Audit, Client Targeting, Rating Fund, the Mix Market, and Product Costing;
- Discussion Groups provide a forum for e-mail exchanges on specific topics (including information systems and audits), as well as archives and links to some of the leading e-discussion groups in microfinance and related fields;
- The Events listings show upcoming conferences and training workshops around the world;
- The database of over 1,000 Organizations is searchable by region, country, and type;
- The Consultants database lists profiles and CVs/resumes of more than 400 specialists;
- New microfinance-related Jobs are listed every day from institutions ranging from MFIs to banks to relief and development agencies.
7. How frequently is the Gateway updated?
Daily. We aim to provide the most current and dynamic microfinance news and information. Each month the Microfinance Gateway adds approximately:
- 50 new documents to the library;
- 50 news items;
- 80 new jobs listings;
- 15 new events;
- 8 new consultant CVs; and
- 2 featured articles (highlights)
8. Can I receive email updates?
Yes! Sign up here to receive the monthly Library Updates Bulletin, a weekly Jobs Marketplace Bulletin, and/or updates to the entire website.
9. How is the Gateway different from the Microfinance Information eXchange (MIX)?
The Microfinance Gateway serves as an information platform for the industry as a whole, serving a diverse array of actors and including different perspectives and viewpoints on a broad range of microfinance-related topics. The Microfinance Information eXchange, known as the MIX, works primarily to provide reliable, comparable, and publicly available information on the financial strength and performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs).
10. How can I contribute / submit information / get involved with the Gateway?
Several ways!
- Ask a general question to: webmaster@microfinancegateway.org
- Contribute news
- Contribute highlights
- Suggest documents for the library
- Send us your CV
- Send a job announcement
- Send an event announcement
- Suggest website improvements
11. What technology platform does the Microfinance Gateway use?
The Gateway currently uses an open source content management system called Syntax, and is powered by a MySQL database.
12. How do I search the website?
You have three search options:
- Search Entire Gateway: Found in the upper right hand corner of every page, this search pulls documents and information that match the keyword(s) you enter from all sections of the Gateway.
- Simple Library Search: This option searches the library for documents that match the keyword(s) you enter.
- Advanced Library Search: You can specify a number of criteria by which to search by, for example by author, title, topic, region, date or publication type.
13. How many people work for the Gateway?
One full-time manager and one assistant work on the Microfinance Gateway in Washington DC, and four content managers work from a partner firm in India. The Arabic site is run by a two person team from the Cairo-based Sanabel network, and the French site is run by staff from two European NGOs, ADA and GRET.
14. Does the Gateway provide funding for microenterprise projects?
No. The Gateway is dedicated to providing and disseminating microfinance-related information and resources.
15. Can Gateway staff provide research assistance on a particular subject?
We stand ready to help you with your research needs! However, given our limited resources, we provide this on a limited basis. Please try using the advanced search feature on the site to locate information before contacting us.
16. How can I contact Gateway staff?
The Microfinance Gateway
CGAP/ World Bank
900 19th Street NW
Suite 300
Washington D.C. 20006
USA
Tel: +1 202 473 9594
Fax: +1 202 522 3744
Email: webmaster@microfinancegateway.org