Message-ID: <000101bda7bd$5f5e1220$95349ac3@av.form-net.com> Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 23:34:02 -0300 From: Arnaud Ventura <mailto:aventura@PLANETBANK.ORG> Subject: PlaNetBank announcement (5/06/98) To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
--------------------------- Sorry for Cross-posting --------------------------- -------------------------- PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE --------------------------NEWS : The PlaNet Bank opened its site at http://www.planetbank.org
We are still looking for more people to animate our networks and help us in the following domains :
- Training in Microfinance - Rating/Evaluation of micro-credit institutions - Credit definition and procedures - Information Technology - Communication.
For those of you who don't know about the PlaNet Bank initiative, the following presentation gives an introduction to the project :
THE PLANETBANK www.planetbank.org
Dear Sir or Madam:
We would like to announce the PlaNetBank initiative, the network-based organisation to fight poverty, using the Internet as its supporting medium.
This project initiated by Dr. Jacques Attali(1) has led to the formation of a team coordinated by Arnaud Ventura. In the last months it received top-level international support and we now want to extend our networks of partners as well as our team.
You will find below the Abstract Presentation of The PlaNetBank initiative. Please have a look and contact us soon to join. Anybody, any organization can join us, just let us know.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
ARNAUD VENTURA mailto:aventura@planetbank.org
In the last decades, poverty has become one of the greatest challenges of this end of century. Micro Finance Institution (MFI) and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) have been trying to address this challenge implementing microcredit programmes and small projects. At the same time Internet has evolved to become the largest network on earth transforming the planet in a Global Village.
The PlaNet Bank is a new International Financial Institution that aims at promoting fair development by supporting microcredit and micro-projects' implementation. The PlaNet Bank will develop its products and services not only to support directly microfinance institution (MFI) and small initiatives but also to bridge the gap between the traditional financial sector and the microfinance one.
The PlaNet Bank operations will be driven by a new concept: the network-based institution. It will operate on Internet, providing its services and products over the network. It will also use Internet as a work platform, involving several teams of experts that through net-working will participate to the development of the bank.
The PlaNet Bank functioning objectives will be efficiency, rapidity of reaction and transparency. As a virtual bank, the PlaNet Bank will be ruled by a set of rigorous procedures that will allow it to be most efficient. Operating on the Internet with the latest technologies available, rapidity of reaction and transparency are inherent to its concept.
The PlaNet Bank products will be available worldwide. In its first year, it will concentrate its efforts on Africa and poor children (loans to women, etc.).
The PlaNet Bank first main products & services will be:
* Information about microfinance: Global Virtual Library * Training for micro credit institutions : Online University * Rating and quality certification of microfinance institutions * Financial products (loans, guarantees)
The PlaNet Bank will start operating as a Foundation. Its initial capital will be provided by donations and contributions by public and international institutions, private sponsors and general public. Its customers will also take part in its capital. Profits from the Bank will be fully reinvested to allow the bank to broaden its reach to a wider range of clients.
A fundamental tenet of the organization will be the establishment of partnerships. The Bank will work with technical, commercial, information and expert partners. Additionally, alliances will group the Bank with other organizations working in the same field (World Bank, International Organizations etc.) which will use the PlaNet Bank and its expertise as new tools to complete their programs.
An initiative of Dr. Jacques Attali(1), the PlaNet Bank has already received top-level international support. Professor Yunus at the Grameen Bank, Mr. Rocard European Deputy and Chairman of the Committee of Development and Cooperation (European parliament) and Mr. Ponzellini Vice-President of the European Investment Bank have already accepted to be members of the Board of the Foundation.
The PlaNet Bank is by its own nature and concept a new challenge. It aims by using the latest technologies of information, at addressing a much greater one, probably one of the greatest challenges of this end of century: poverty.
(1) Professor, writer, special adviser to Francois Mitterrand, founder and first president of EBRD, president of an international consulting firm.