Financial Inclusion Banks — AGFUND Banks

National Microfinance Bank has launched in late 2006 in Jordan. Nowadays, NMB is among the top 4 microfinance institutions in Jordan, even though NMB is relatively a new institution compared to others. In addition, NMB is among the few Microfinance entities in the Arab World that offer insurance to the poor.
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Al-Amal Microfinance Bank in Yemen. It controls about 35% of the total market share in Yemen and it has accomplished the highest growth rate for the years 2009 and 2010 among the other MFIs operating in Yemen. It also won the “creativity Prize for the year 2010” in the Arab World. The prize is granted by Grameen Jameel and the Microfinance Network of Arab countries (Sanabel). It has been chosen, as well, as the second international institution for supporting the youth in “Make the Cent” conference that was held in Washington, at the end of 2010. Moreover, Al Amal Microfinance Bank has been chosen as the best institution in the world in creating Islamic products. This was during the “Islamic challenge contest” in 2010 where the bank won the first prize among 130 banks and institutions from more than 43 countries.
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Ebdaa Microfinance Bank in Bahrain, it has achieved a great accomplishment in changing the culture of some private sector institutions to direct their funds, that were previously dedicated to social responsibilities, towards Microfinance banks. The bank was able to attract some institutions and create credit portfolios in order to support some projects of limited-income clients such as the portfolio of the telecommunication company “Batelco” which contributed in supporting 15 Bahraini families. Ebdaa Microfinance Bank has provided loans to farmers and fishermen through launching financing portfolios in collaboration with the Labor Fund “Tamkeen”. Using the Islamic approach of financing, the bank launched the portfolio of Princess Sabika Bent Ibrahim Al-Khalifa for supporting women trade activity. It is actually expected that 300 women would benefit from this portfolio especially via the collaboration with the Labor Fund “Tamkeen” and the Supreme Council for Women.
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The fourth Bank of AGFUND has been launched in Syria in March 2011, Ibdaa Microfinance Bank. However, despite the Syrian political crisis the bank’s activities resumed, using the contingency plan, and hence the bank is working on opening new other branches in Swaida, Damascus, and Tartous.
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The Bank for Innovation and Partnership in Sierra Leone (BIP-SL) witnessed a powerful start for the introducing Microfinance in the West African region as well as applying AGFUND’s Model. In the initial phase, AGFUND’s bank in Sierra Leone has clearly reflected its adoption for the concept of cooperation between the poor “Supports of the poor to the poor”. This bank has been founded depending on the expertise of AGFUND’s banks, particularly Al-Amal Bank in, which provided logistic support to BIP-SL.

Ibdaa Microfinance Company in Lebanon, it started its activities in July 2012. What is most significant about this company is the team spent 3 months only to launch its activities. Ibdaa Lebanon has been growing so fast to the extent that its capital was raised during the first year of operation. Ibdaa Lebanon targets mainly the productive ladies and micro-businesses owners of youth. It is worth mentioning that Ibdaa Lebanon apply best practices of Microfinance with respect to transparency and the provision of the products and services that best suits the beneficiaries on a non-discriminatory basis.
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Ibdaa Microfinance Company in Palestine that was officially registered in September 2013. It is expected that Ibdaa Palestine would add a significant value to the Microfinance industry in Palestine due to the company’s visions and strategies in contributing to the Palestinian economy. Ibdaa Palestine stresses on applying best practices that will integrate the beneficiaries (women in particular) in the productive process and hence pulling their families out of the poverty cycle.
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Finally, Ibdaa Microfinance Bank in Mauritania was established in 2014 to meet the high demand in the market for Microfinance and contribute to developmental effort in Mauritania.