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Social Entrepreneurship: Ten Questions with David Bornstein
David Bornstein is the author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. He recently updated this book, and it’s now available for the first time in paperback.
Five Talents Joins a Consortium of Fellow Christian NGOs to Support Microfinance Program in Sudan
Five Talents, a Christian development organisation supporting microfinance, has joined a consortium of organisations from the Christian micro-enterprise development (CMED) industry to fund a micro-credit program in Southern Sudan. The village banking initiative in the Wau Diocese was started in 2005, providing adult education, local savings mobilization, business development training, small business development investing and rural micro-credit provision.
Mann Deshi: A Micro-Business School for rural women
The Mann Deshi Business School for Rural Women (MDBS) is a new Micro-business school program launched in India that provides training in technical, financial and marketing skills to women with no formal education and to girls who have dropped out of high school, allowing them to start and improve their own small enterprises.
2.1.3 The potential for change
Given the received wisdom that training for the poor has had limited impact and training systems have not reoriented to meeting the need of the poor, the key question is 'what is the scope for improvement with respect to both these dimensions of the training crisis?' Again, the prevailing mood among leading commentators is decidedly pessimistic. Broadly speaking, two types of pessimism can be discerned.

Recommendations for future research - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
In light of the conclusions drawn above, there is a need for further policy and action oriented research and in-depth investigation. First and foremost, there is a need for extensive empirical evidence to verify and ascertain the capabilities of micro-credit in reducing the depth and scope of poverty.
Concluding Remarks - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
One of the most important outcome of the analysis in this paper has been that while most MFI programmes aim to reduce poverty and empower women through their programme, there is usually no clear implementation mechanism to fulfil these aims; they continue to be programmes with the same requirements and characteristics.
MFI structural inconsistencies and mismatch for poverty reduction: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Micro-credit for small economic activities, excluding actual agriculture production, can be considered as a ‘quick money making business’.
Targeting women: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Is this gender consciousness?
Group Mobilisation: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Another issue arising in the discussion of targeting clients is that of group dynamics and mobilisation. One of the other features of micro-credit for the poor is the alternatives developed to collateral, namely group guarantees.
Savings Mobilisation: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
One of the more common requirements of most MFIs is to encourage savings amongst the clients so that they develop an attitude of savings first and borrowing on that amount, and also to empower them, in the long term, to be independent of borrowing from external sources.
Interest Rates: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
During the early phases of the ‘micro-credit movement’, one of the arguments for establishing special micro-credit delivery institutions aimed at addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor, was the issue of interest rates.
Loan amounts and loan management: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
The following paragraphs will discuss some of the features which have been identified as best practices from lessons learnt in micro-credit programmes over the last two decades. These features have been developed over the years to make micro-credit accessible and manageable for the ‘poorest of the poor’, specifically women. Furthermore, it is through these features that it is expected that women should be empowered.
Micro-finance Policy and Development Framework: Malawi
In Malawi poverty is more persistent in the rural areas at about 65.3% of the population. The recent poverty profile (National Economic Council, 2000) suggests that these poor are characterised by malnutrition, lack of income earning opportunities, and unfavourable production environment. Female-headed households, which are estimated to be about 35% nationally, are consistently poorer than male-headed households, and are mainly engaged in subsistence farming and petty trading activities.
Women and Micro-credit
Since the establishment of the Grameen Bank as a micro-credit delivery model, many programmes have rushed to replicate the relative success and in doing so, a lot of attention has been given to female micro-credit borrowers. Women were specifically targeted because they make up the majority of the poorest of the poor in the rural areas and are responsible for the social and economic welfare of the family.

Poverty Measurements and Relevance of Micro-credit
Some recent studies on poverty have attempted to put forth terms and classifications of the very poor in a way that will allow the reader to imagine the extreme helplessness, and a state of extreme destitute amongst the people under discussion.
Introduction - Abstract - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
Poverty reduction has been identified as the overarching long term goal for most of the development interventions in Africa, and more recently crystallised in the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). In Africa, more than 40% of its 750 million people live below the internationally recognized poverty line of $1 a day, and the evidence is even more worrying for sub-saharan Africa.
Abstract - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
In most African countries women tend to account for an average 51% of the population, and make up about 65% of the rural labour force. Thus, many rural based micro-finance programmes have attempted to address the women specific need for micro-credit. This paper analyses the effectiveness of micro-credit as a means to reducing poverty, with particular focus on women, and demonstrates, through the critical analysis of some country-specific examples, that the use and supply of micro-credit does not always lead to a sustainable impact on household or female poverty reduction. Analysis of findings are done based on field data, interviews, and observations from Malawi and Ethiopia.
Not Just Treasure in Heaven Alliance for Christians in Development ACID to Grant Micro Loans to Benefit Ugandan Schoolchildren
The Alliance for Christians in Development (ACID) Trust, a non-governmental development organization based in Uganda which, among other projects, provides microfinance services to rural women and youth, will be extending micro loans to parents who cannot afford to pay their children’s school fees. Typically, fees cost about USD 35 per term. A September 2006 report (pg 4) by Save the Children indicated that 1.1 million primary-aged children in Uganda are out of school, the majority because they cannot afford uniforms, books, and basic supplies. Under ACID Trust’s program, the plan is that parents will borrow from the trust interest-free, invest the money to make a profit, pay back the loan and save the remainder to put toward their children’s education.

Making the financial system more accessible to SMEs - Increasing SME Access to Finance: A Four Pronged Approach
Most African financial systems are fragmented. The “missing middle” in the pattern of size of firm is matched by one in the range of financing available.

9.3.2 The Small Industries Development Organization: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
SIDO, with an office in 20 of the 21 regions of the mainland, is a large provider of financial and non-financial services to MSEs. They have 70,000 credit-delivery clients and reach 300,000 MSEs through their small business training and consultancy services. The key informant from SIDO stated that there is a big gap in the capacity of the organization to meet the demand for credit – of the 71,000 credit applications they had in the system in November 2003 (for loan amounts totalling TShs 27 billion), they will only be able to fund about 10 per cent.

Other micro credit Related Articles

9.3 Micro-finance institutions (MFIs): Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
Micro-finance operators in Tanzania function within the framework of the Government’s National Micro Finance Policy of 2000. The objectives of this policy are to provide the basis for the evolution of an efficient and effective micro-finance system to serve the low segment of society and contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction (as described in MIT, 2002). The policy establishes a framework within which micro-finance operators will develop, lays out the principles to guide operations of the system, defines roles and responsibilities of actors, and provides guidelines for coordinating mechanisms. The Central Bank was given the mandate to coordinate implementation of the policy. It is interesting to note that the Micro Finance Policy includes “gender equity” as a best practice.
9.4 Recommended actions – access to credit and micro-finance: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005
Recommendations to alleviate some of the challenges encountered by women in accessing credit to support the growth of their enterprises are presented for each of three levels of intermediaries – micro-financing operators, financial institutions and government.
Police in Uganda Investigate Front Page Micro Finance and Three Other Microfinance Firms
Ugandan Police are investigating four savings and co-operative credit organisations (SACCOs) suspected of fraud. They are alleged to be cheating their clients and making withdrawal of deposit money very difficult. The organisations are Front Page Micro Finance, Faster Micro Finance, Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Support Uganda Finance Limited and Stade Rugando Finance, all based in Kampala. According to the police up to 50 people have made complaints against the firms, accusing them of refusing to fulfill withdrawal requests completely and offering high-value loans against low-value collateral.
Micro-Start Program: Local Technical Services Provider - Impact Study of the Zakoura Microcredit Program
Zakoura Micro-Crédit (ZMC) is the microfinance arm of the Zakoura Foundation, a national NGO devoted to increasing the quality of life of the most underprivileged Moroccans. ZMC provides credit and training to a target market of economically disadvantaged women using a solidarity group methodology. Between its founding in 1995 and September 2000, ZMC had disbursed 82,814 loans totaling 121,489,000 Dirhams. Its current repayment rate is 99.69%
Abstract - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
In most African countries women tend to account for an average 51% of the population, and make up about 65% of the rural labour force. Thus, many rural based micro-finance programmes have attempted to address the women specific need for micro-credit. This paper analyses the effectiveness of micro-credit as a means to reducing poverty, with particular focus on women, and demonstrates, through the critical analysis of some country-specific examples, that the use and supply of micro-credit does not always lead to a sustainable impact on household or female poverty reduction. Analysis of findings are done based on field data, interviews, and observations from Malawi and Ethiopia.
Women and Micro-credit
Since the establishment of the Grameen Bank as a micro-credit delivery model, many programmes have rushed to replicate the relative success and in doing so, a lot of attention has been given to female micro-credit borrowers. Women were specifically targeted because they make up the majority of the poorest of the poor in the rural areas and are responsible for the social and economic welfare of the family.

Loan amounts and loan management: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
The following paragraphs will discuss some of the features which have been identified as best practices from lessons learnt in micro-credit programmes over the last two decades. These features have been developed over the years to make micro-credit accessible and manageable for the ‘poorest of the poor’, specifically women. Furthermore, it is through these features that it is expected that women should be empowered.
Interest Rates: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
During the early phases of the ‘micro-credit movement’, one of the arguments for establishing special micro-credit delivery institutions aimed at addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor, was the issue of interest rates.
MFI structural inconsistencies and mismatch for poverty reduction: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Micro-credit for small economic activities, excluding actual agriculture production, can be considered as a ‘quick money making business’.
Five Talents Joins a Consortium of Fellow Christian NGOs to Support Microfinance Program in Sudan
Five Talents, a Christian development organisation supporting microfinance, has joined a consortium of organisations from the Christian micro-enterprise development (CMED) industry to fund a micro-credit program in Southern Sudan. The village banking initiative in the Wau Diocese was started in 2005, providing adult education, local savings mobilization, business development training, small business development investing and rural micro-credit provision.
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