The World Bank recently released the April edition of Development Outreach, which happily addresses head-on the connections between development and climate change. I was pleased to see articles on topics as diverse as development for climate change adaptation and environmental considerations in China's growth, but NextBillion readers might want to check out a piece called "Microfinance: Climate Change Connections" in particular.

I was surprised and maybe even a little disappointed to see that most of the article by CGAP's Katharine McKee focused more on the possibilities of using microfinance to provide renewable energy to BoP households and businesses rather than financing microenterprises working in environmental sectors.

Still, Katharine does a good job of summarizing current challenges and opportunities for creative partnerships that utilize microfinance to expand the consumer base for renewable energy. These include:

• Generating BoP demand for low cost, renewable energy sources and
  
  
• The conflict between the large-scale, long-term investment needed for these projects vs. the short-term, small-scale nature of microfinance.

The article is certainly worth a read and importantly pushes forward dialogue between the microfinance community and sustainable development practitioners.

Unitus Equity Fund is currently seeking applicants for the position of Senior Associate.

Location: Bangalore, India

Organization: The Unitus Equity Fund is a leading global private equity fund established in 2006 with a focus on microfinance institutions (MFIs). We provide equity capital primarily to high growth MFIs and secondarily to social entrepreneurs providing products and services (insurance, housing, education etc.) to the poor and unserved in developing countries. We believe that MFIs and companies providing greater access to opportunity for the unserved 4 billion represent both attractive investment opportunities and meaningful vehicles by which to raise income levels for the global poor.

Position Description:

We seek a dynamic, passionate and experienced team player to be a part of a small and focused investment team making equity investments in entrepreneurially driven microfinance institutions and related businesses that aim to create opportunities for the poor and unserved. The successful candidate must have significant transaction experience gained in a venture capital or private equity fund or in a top-tier investment bank. The ideal candidate will have a true passion for thinking creatively and using his/her finance skills and strategic-thinking to bring about meaningful improvements in the world. This position is based in Bangalore and reports to the Managing Partners of the Unitus Equity Fund.

To see more details and apply for this position, visit the online job posting.