Credit union policies and performance in Latin America

This paper explores empirical linkages between credit unions' (CUs') policies and their financial performance, as measured by loan delinquency and profitability, using a unique micro dataset of credit unions in three Latin American countries. The estimated translog profit function is generalized using a slack variable concept that parameterizes any systematic deviation from profit- maximizing behavior exhibited within the sample. In general, we find that performance depends in important ways on two types of CU policy variables, some associated with the incentives of borrowers to repay and others that affect the CU's ability to screen loans.Credit unions ; Latin America

16th Annual HIGHER Ground Women\u27s Leadership Conference

Seizing Tomorrow, Today, challenges participants to develop a practice of Prospective Reflection- a deliberate practice of strategic foresight to aid in facing the challenges and opportunities that exist beyond us. Prospective reflection is unique because it forces us to capitalize on this time of era-defining moments and to imagine what is possible. Today\u27s conference will aid you in translating your values into actions, your dreams into reality, and your hopes into happens. Delivered through a high-impact combination of short, narrative-driven lectures, interactive panels, and individualized strategic reflection activities, the day will culminate in an action plan for moving your leadership forward. By the end of the program, participants will have the strategies and tools to identify the values, dreams, hopes, and actions that will strategically influence tomorrow\u27s outcomes; set future-focused intentions about their personal and professional lives; take control of their own \u27big picture\u27 regarding professional development and career advancement

Optimum imaging strategies for advanced prostate cancer: ASCO guideline

PURPOSE Provide evidence- and expert-based recommendations for optimal use of imaging in advanced prostate cancer. Due to increases in research and utilization of novel imaging for advanced prostate cancer, this guideline is intended to outline techniques available and provide recommendations on appropriate use of imaging for specified patient subgroups. METHODS An Expert Panel was convened with members from ASCO and the Society of Abdominal Radiology, American College of Radiology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, American Urological Association, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Urologic Oncology to conduct a systematic review of the literature and develop an evidence-based guideline on the optimal use of imaging for advanced prostate cancer. Representative index cases of various prostate cancer disease states are presented, including suspected high-risk disease, newly diagnosed treatment-naïve metastatic disease, suspected recurrent disease after local treatment, and progressive disease while undergoing systemic treatment. A systematic review of the literature from 2013 to August 2018 identified fully published English-language systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, reports of rigorously conducted phase III randomized controlled trials that compared $ 2 imaging modalities, and noncomparative studies that reported on the efficacy of a single imaging modality. RESULTS A total of 35 studies met inclusion criteria and form the evidence base, including 17 systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis and 18 primary research articles. RECOMMENDATIONS One or more of these imaging modalities should be used for patients with advanced prostate cancer: conventional imaging (defined as computed tomography [CT], bone scan, and/or prostate magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and/or next-generation imaging (NGI), positron emission tomography [PET], PET/CT, PET/MRI, or whole-body MRI) according to the clinical scenario

Adding 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy to postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of short-course versus no androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised controlled trial

Background Previous evidence indicates that adjuvant, short-course androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves metastasis-free survival when given with primary radiotherapy for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the value of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy is unclear. Methods RADICALS-HD was an international randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of ADT used in combination with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to radiotherapy alone (no ADT) or radiotherapy with 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT), using monthly subcutaneous gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue injections, daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as distant metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. Standard survival analysis methods were used, accounting for randomisation stratification factors. The trial had 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 80% to 86% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·67). Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00541047. Findings Between Nov 22, 2007, and June 29, 2015, 1480 patients (median age 66 years [IQR 61–69]) were randomly assigned to receive no ADT (n=737) or short-course ADT (n=743) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 121 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 9·0 years (IQR 7·1–10·1), metastasis-free survival events were reported for 268 participants (142 in the no ADT group and 126 in the short-course ADT group; HR 0·886 [95% CI 0·688–1·140], p=0·35). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 79·2% (95% CI 75·4–82·5) in the no ADT group and 80·4% (76·6–83·6) in the short-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 121 (17%) of 737 participants in the no ADT group and 100 (14%) of 743 in the short-course ADT group (p=0·15), with no treatment-related deaths. Interpretation Metastatic disease is uncommon following postoperative bed radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy. Adding 6 months of ADT to this radiotherapy did not improve metastasis-free survival compared with no ADT. These findings do not support the use of short-course ADT with postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population

Duration of androgen deprivation therapy with postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a comparison of long-course versus short-course androgen deprivation therapy in the RADICALS-HD randomised trial

Background Previous evidence supports androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with primary radiotherapy as initial treatment for intermediate-risk and high-risk localised prostate cancer. However, the use and optimal duration of ADT with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy remains uncertain. Methods RADICALS-HD was a randomised controlled trial of ADT duration within the RADICALS protocol. Here, we report on the comparison of short-course versus long-course ADT. Key eligibility criteria were indication for radiotherapy after previous radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen less than 5 ng/mL, absence of metastatic disease, and written consent. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to add 6 months of ADT (short-course ADT) or 24 months of ADT (long-course ADT) to radiotherapy, using subcutaneous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (monthly in the short-course ADT group and 3-monthly in the long-course ADT group), daily oral bicalutamide monotherapy 150 mg, or monthly subcutaneous degarelix. Randomisation was done centrally through minimisation with a random element, stratified by Gleason score, positive margins, radiotherapy timing, planned radiotherapy schedule, and planned type of ADT, in a computerised system. The allocated treatment was not masked. The primary outcome measure was metastasis-free survival, defined as metastasis arising from prostate cancer or death from any cause. The comparison had more than 80% power with two-sided α of 5% to detect an absolute increase in 10-year metastasis-free survival from 75% to 81% (hazard ratio [HR] 0·72). Standard time-to-event analyses were used. Analyses followed intention-to-treat principle. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN40814031, and ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT00541047 . Findings Between Jan 30, 2008, and July 7, 2015, 1523 patients (median age 65 years, IQR 60–69) were randomly assigned to receive short-course ADT (n=761) or long-course ADT (n=762) in addition to postoperative radiotherapy at 138 centres in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. With a median follow-up of 8·9 years (7·0–10·0), 313 metastasis-free survival events were reported overall (174 in the short-course ADT group and 139 in the long-course ADT group; HR 0·773 [95% CI 0·612–0·975]; p=0·029). 10-year metastasis-free survival was 71·9% (95% CI 67·6–75·7) in the short-course ADT group and 78·1% (74·2–81·5) in the long-course ADT group. Toxicity of grade 3 or higher was reported for 105 (14%) of 753 participants in the short-course ADT group and 142 (19%) of 757 participants in the long-course ADT group (p=0·025), with no treatment-related deaths. Interpretation Compared with adding 6 months of ADT, adding 24 months of ADT improved metastasis-free survival in people receiving postoperative radiotherapy. For individuals who can accept the additional duration of adverse effects, long-course ADT should be offered with postoperative radiotherapy. Funding Cancer Research UK, UK Research and Innovation (formerly Medical Research Council), and Canadian Cancer Society

Estrategias y estructuras de microfinanzas para la banca comercial

Una de las decisiones clave que tienen que tomar los banqueros que estén considerando operar en el nicho de mercado de las microfinanzas es si quieren otorgar microcréditos internamente o quieren hacerlo a través de algún tipo de organización externa como una compañía de servicio o una subsidiaria. La presente guía es un conjunto exhaustivo de directrices sobre cómo tomar esta decisión clave. A la hora de decidir cuál es la mejor estructura organizativa no hay una solución única que sirva para todos los casos. Cada estructura tiene una larga lista de pros y contras. Muchos de estos pros y contras pueden no ser evidentes para los banqueros que estén poco familiarizados con el funcionamiento de las microfinanzas o para aquellos que no hayan analizado detalladamente cuál es la mejor opción. Además, la importancia de los distintos factores variará dependiendo de las características de cada país y de cada banco en particular

Microfinance in the Caribbean: How to Go Further

This paper discusses microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Caribbean. It argues that the reason they have lagged is fundamentally explained by factors internal to the MFIs, rather than external to them. The paper introduces four Caribbean MFIs, two with track records of low loan delinquency rates and two with track records of high loan delinquency rates, and analyzes their lending methodology. The paper concludes that Caribbean MFIs can become profitable, successful financial institutions by making changes to their internal policies and procedures. This is a very empowering conclusion, for it says that Caribbean MFIs need not wait for someone else to remedy external difficulties. They can be successful by changing their own practices. The second half of the paper goes on to analyze the kinds of changes that are needed for Caribbean MFIs to become successful

Pautas para el monitoreo y la evaluación de proyectos del Programa de Empresariado Social

El objetivo de este documento es definir y tratar un conjunto mínimo de indicadores básicos de monitoreo y evaluación de proyectos que se deben recoger en todos o casi todos los proyectos aprobados en el marco del Programa de Empresariado Social (PES) del BID. El documento está dirigido al personal del BID y de instituciones homólogas que se dedican a diseño, monitoreo o evaluación de proyectos del PES. En el documento se describen dos conjuntos de indicadores propuestos para monitoreo y evaluación de proyectos: uno que se utilizaría para proyectos o componentes de proyectos en el área de microfinanzas y el otro, para proyectos o componentes de proyectos en el área de servicios no financieros

Guidelines for Monitoring and Evaluating Projects of the Social Entrepreneurship Program

The purpose of this document is to define and discuss a minimum set of core project monitoring and evaluation indicators that should be collected in all or nearly all projects approved under the IDB's Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP). The document is aimed at those IDB and counterpart institution personnel involved in designing, monitoring, or evaluating SEP projects. The document describes two sets of proposed project monitoring and evaluation indicators: one set to be used for projects or project components in the microfinance area and the other set to be used for projects or project components in the non-financial services area

Arrendamiento y préstamo para equipo: Guía para el microfinanciamiento

En este trabajo se describe la manera de otorgar financiamiento para equipo --arrendamiento y préstamo-- para los microempresarios objeto del estudio, es decir, los que necesitan aproximadamente entre 50 y 2.500 dólares para adquirir equipo. El trabajo examina los pro y los contra de las dos principales alternativas de financiamiento: préstamos y arrendamientos. También proporciona una serie de recomendaciones en cuanto a las mejores prácticas para que las instituciones microfinancieras (IMF) las utilicen en sus programas de arrendamiento y préstamo para equipo. Si bien se ha escrito mucho sobre arrendamiento de equipo para empresas pequeñas, medianas y grandes, se dispone de poco sobre cómo otorgar arrendamiento a los microempresarios