Issue April 24, 2008
Dear Reader, Microcredit has been growing at double-digit rates over the last few years, but lately there have been concerns that it creates new burdens on the poor. Is microcredit really a blessing or a debt trap? Read our top story and decide for yourself. Microinsurance is another expanding financial tool, designed to help the poor manage risk. We take a look at the latest Allianz microinsurance project in Egypt. In our expert interview, MicroInsurance Centre CEO Michael J. McCord explains why it will take more than just NGOs and microfinance institutions to reach the world's billion potential microinsurance clients. And Michael Anthony, who coordinates Allianz microinsurance projects worldwide, discusses Allianz's vision of insurance for the poor. Enjoy reading our newsletter and don't miss the launch of our new section on Safety & Security next month. Your Allianz Knowledge Team PS: If you like our newsletter and the idea of sharing knowledge, why not share it with others?	Most Recent Media Picture Gallery 10 Groundbreaking Microfinance Providers> more Partner of the Month MicroInsurance Centre: "Massification is going to happen with commercial insurers"> more Allianz Expert Michael Anthony on Microinsurance: "Microinsurance can help people avoid falling into the poverty trap" > more
Top Story Microcredit: A Debt Trap for the Poor?With the expansion of microfinance, critics fear that loans for poor people without financial education could become a debt trap. We examine the case of India, where extraordinarily high suicide rates among women have prompted experts to ask whether microcredit is partly to blame. > more News Sea Level Rise UnderestimatedSea levels will rise 0.8 to 1.5 meters by 2100, three times higher than previously estimated, according to a new study by the British Proudman Oceanogaphic Laboratory. So far, scientists seem to have underestimated the impact of melting ice shelves and polar caps. News to Use A Good Deed Is Just a Mouse Click AwayA few years ago, if you wanted to help someone in a developing country, you had to give your money to a huge organization hoping they would do what's best. As with so many other things, the Internet has changed that. Our Take Action gallery introduces a few websites where you can lend to poor people on the other side of the world, and even earn interest. > more Editor's Choice Making Insurance Work in Egypt Microinsurance has been growing steadily in Asia, but has been slow to develop in Africa. Allianz and its French subsidiary AGF have teamed up with PlaNet Finance to provide microinsurance to poor people in Africa. One project is already underway in Egypt. > more Calendar May 7 | Carbon Expo 2008 The Carbon Expo, organized by the World Bank and others, acts as the international platform for companies operating on the global CO2 market. Experts will introduce the latest developments in emissions trading. The three-day event will take place in Cologne, Germany. > more May 15 | International Day of Families The UN dedicated May 15 as the annual the International Day of Families because families are important to all of us. As family patterns change globally, fostering equality and a sharing of domestic responsibilities remains important. In this spirit, the theme for this year's day is "Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges." > more
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