UPsides

'UPsides' is a new magazine about finance and development. It's a quarterly international magazine, published by FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company. The first issue is available online: http://www.upsides.nl/Download/Upsides_1.pdf

On Page 24 and 25, the TSF Project is being presented.

Two New Articles

Dear reader,

Two recently published articles are both very interesting to check out (links attached to the covers above)

First off, a document titled "Sustainability Management and Reporting' (UNEP FI, Dec 2006). The document zooms in on the benefits for financial institutions in developing and emerging economies. Quote: ' It is becoming increasingly apparent that full disclosure and transparent reporting around environmental, social and governance issues – in fact the whole spectrum of issues that make up sustainability – is a key differentiating factor between those institutions that are leading and those which are reactive in this complex area.'

The second document, titled 'The do's and dont's of Sustainable Banking' (BankTrack, Nov 2006), challenges banks to 'embark upon the journey towards sustainability'. This document is written not especially for microfinance banks or emerging countries, but it nevertheless contains some interesting viewpoints, for instance this:

' Don’t treat sustainability as a niche market. Do recognize that sustainability is already at the core of all your business activities, as most activities financed by your bank have social and environmental impacts, be they positive or negative. The challenge is to recognize these impacts and shift their balance in a positive direction.'