Microfinance in Iran: a Case Study of the Rural Microfinance Support Project

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 211-232
Author(s):  
Yasmine Di Pucchio

Microfinance programs in Iran began to be implemented at the end of the 1990s thanks to both the local government and international organizations’ efforts to eradicate poverty. Today microfinance is a growing sector in the country and has been officially recognized by the Iranian government, which included its development as one of the main points of the last Five Year Development Plan. A number of efficient microfinance programs are active in Iran among which the Rural Microfinance Support Project, promoted by the Iranian Agricultural Bank and ifad, stands out. The following study is an attempt to identify the impact of this program on women empowerment and poverty reduction through a research conducted on a sample of one hundred women clients of the program in the province of Šabestar, East Azerbaijan.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milosav Miličković ◽  
Dušan Jerotijević ◽  
Aljoša Kostić

The nation-states retained their target as the basic political units in international relations, with significant influence of the leading economic and military forces in them. Modern international organizations can be classified as government international organizations and non - government international organizations. In the first case, they are financed from government budgets, and non - governmental international organizations have funding sources mainly from state budgets, as well as from other institutions. (Andrew Duff, 2007) . International organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina carry out a large number of projects in the post-war period, and above all it relates to: improving the economy, increasing the competitiveness of producers, gender equality - Gender, improving institutions, supporting returnees, supporting small and medium-sized businesses, reducing unemployment, combating poverty etc. From the above, it can be concluded that a large number of projects are geared towards developing the economy and combating unemployment and poverty, which will be the primary research of this paper. The analysis of International Organizations raises the question of the very purpose of project design in the host countries. The assumption is that it is twofold, both for the host state and for the (state) institutions that fund it. The first is that governmental international organizations are preparing a good business environment for their markets through International Organizations, and are expanding their influence there. The public institutions and the host country’s domestic economy are preparing for the cooperation and eventual entry of their large companies and other interests. On the other hand, there are also non - governmental international organizations, which mainly deal with humanitarian projects and economic ones to a lesser extent. Accordingly, it is justifiable to set the basic aim of this paper’s research: To research and present in tables, graphically, and to interpret theoretically the extent to which international organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina have had an impact in combating poverty and reducing the unemployment rate, and whether there is a difference between accesses in other host countries. In the preliminary research for this paper, it was established that there is no quality data on the invested funds in this segment by the International Organizations, so the primary data collection was started. Primary data were collected from representatives of international organizations, employees of international organizations, as well as foreign diplomacy. The results of the analysis show the impact of the projects they have implemented on poverty alleviation and unemployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the above, it is possible to set the basic hypothesis of the work, which states: International organizations represented in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not adequately answer the task when it comes to reducing unemployment and combating poverty. In addition to the basic hypothesis of the work, there is an auxiliary one, which reads: International organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina have contributed more to poverty reduction than has been the case with reducing unemployment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 602-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Michael Greenhalgh ◽  
Kevin Muldoon-Smith ◽  
Sophie Angus

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the introduction of the business rates retention scheme (BRRS) in England which transferred financial liability for backdated appeals to LAs. Under the original scheme, business rates revenue, mandatory relief and liability for successful appeals is spilt 50/50 between central government and local government which both share the rewards of growth and bear the risk of losses. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a microanalysis approach into researching local government finance, conducting a case study of Leeds, to investigate the impact of appeals liability and reveal disparities in impact, through detailed examination of multiple perspectives in one of the largest cities in the UK. Findings The case study reveals that Leeds, despite having a buoyant commercial economy driven by retail and service sector growth, has been detrimentally impacted by BRRS as backdated appeals have outweighed uplift in business rates income. Fundamentally BRRS is not a “one size fits all” model – it results in winners and losers – which will be exacerbated if local authorities get to keep 100 per cent of their business rates from 2020. Research limitations/implications LAs’ income is more volatile as a consequence of both the rates retention and appeals liability aspects of BRRS and will become more so with the move to 100 per cent retention and liability. Practical implications Such volatility impairs the ability of local authorities to invest in growth at the same time as providing front line services over the medium term – precisely the opposite of what BRRS was intended to do. It also incentivises the construction of new floorspace, which generates risks overbuilding and exacerbating over-supply. Originality/value The research reveals the significant impact of appeals liability on LAs’ business rates revenues which will be compounded with the move to a fiscally neutral business rates system and 100 per cent business rates retention by 2020.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Toye

The production of social knowledge in all international organizations is problematic because all are public bureaucracies. The World Bank provides a case study of the problems of managing in-house research in an international public bureaucracy. Not only are there managerial constraints on what the Bank is willing to publish, but the binding constraints on publication evolve. The evolution in managerial objectives at the Bank in recent years and the factors that have influenced shifts in its rhetoric and policy are examined. Are these adjustments merely rhetorical? Recent research on poverty reduction, governance and conditionality is discussed to gauge how far the Bank has moved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-397
Author(s):  
Ambreen Sarwar ◽  
Mumtaz Anwar Chaudhry

Purpose of the study: This study intends to examine the impact of various dimensions of women empowerment on multiple constituents of household poverty in the three cities (Lahore, Multan and, Rawalpindi) of province Punjab, Pakistan. Methodology: The primary data was gathered from a sample of 2400 married and employed females belonging to the three cities of Punjab, Pakistan. For analysis, the study develops its own all-embracing Women Empowerment and Household Poverty variables using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and examines the relationship between the empowerment of women and household poverty using structural equation modeling (SEM). Main Findings: The results show that women empowerment positively and significantly contributes towards household poverty reduction. Applications of this study: Since poverty is one of the greatest challenges that Pakistan is facing today, the need to change poor standards of living and inspiring women to contribute effectively to society through their active participation in the development process is the dire need of time. The results of the study suggest that in addition to targeting poverty directly, policies should be devised that eradicate poverty through the empowerment of women. Novelty/Originality of this study: The majority of the past studies have limited generalizability because they use already available surveys/published data, having limited dimensions/indicators of women empowerment and household poverty. Moreover, the past studies that have examined the phenomenon of women empowerment ignore its psychological dimensions. Therefore, because of minimal comprehensive investigation, the examination of the effect of the empowerment of women on household poverty remains a topic of interest for the researchers.


Author(s):  
Maretha Berlianantiya Muhammad Ridwan Eka Wardani

<p><em>Poverty often occurs in rural areas rather than urban areas, low education which results in low quality of human resources and lack of access is often the cause of rural poverty. In addition, most of the economies of rural communities rely solely on the traditional agricultural sector. Various poverty reduction policies have been implemented, including village fund policies. This study aims to examine the management of village funds in the Balong sub-district of Madiun Regency with a case study in the villages of Tatung and Karangmojo villages covering the management of village funds in Tatung village and Karangmojo village. Balong Subdistrict and the impact of empowerment in the villages of Tatung and Karangmojo, Balong District. This research was conducted in Balong Subdistrict, Ponorogo Regency with a Case study in Tatung Village and Karangmojo Village with qualitative methods. In the village of Tatung village funds are managed as tourist villages with a focus on Paragliding tourist rides. Whereas in Karangmojo village it is used for Bumdes in the form of Lovebird birds, providing Gapoktan assistance, and infrastructure development.</em></p>


Author(s):  
Lisa Erickson ◽  
Isobel Findlay ◽  
Colleen Christopherson-Cote

This case study summarizes and discusses our project exploring the impact of co-location, connectedness, and community-campus collaboration in addressing the root causes of poverty and our efforts to build capacities in Saskatoon. The site of this study is Station 20 West, a community enterprise centre in the heart of Saskatoon’s inner city that opened in the fall of 2012 as a result of community knowledge, participation, and determination to act for the common good. We share our findings, lessons learned, and project team reflections which underscore the connectedness of poverty reduction and reconciliation, the importance of including those with lived and diverse experience in community-campus engagement (CCE), and the hallmarks of good CCE.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-31
Author(s):  
Paul W Johnstone

Abstract Introduction When local councils took on responsibility for public health in England in 2013, leaders from across the north of England met to consider the scale of the challenge. As a result, Public Health England commissioned the Due North Report which outlined new approaches in tackling health inequalities. This second paper outlines what has been learnt in five years as a case study. This includes influencing devolution deals and new elected city mayors, planning for economic growth in deprived areas and developing community asset-based approaches. The paper outlines a new framework for place-based planning to reduce health inequalities. Sources of data Data was gathered from annual reports from north of England directors of public health, Office for National Statistics, Public Health England’s fingertips database and regional and national publications and strategies such as the Northern Powerhouse. Areas of agreement Devolution to English cities and councils as ‘places’ is a new opportunity to address local needs and inequalities. Due North has supported a new public health narrative which locates health action in the most fundamental determinants—how local economies are planned, jobs created and power is to be transferred to communities and connects reducing years of premature ill health to increased economic productivity. Community asset approaches to empower local leaders and entrepreneurs can be effective ways to achieve change. Areas of controversy The north–south divide in health is not closing and may be worsening. Different ways of working between local government, health and business sectors can inhibit in working together and with communities. Growing points Place-based working with devolved powers can help move away from top down and silo working, empower local government and support communities. Linking policies on health inequalities to economic planning can address upstream determinants such as poverty, homelessness and unsafe environments. Areas timely for developing research More research is needed on; (i) addressing inequalities at scale for interventions to influence community-led change and prosperity in deprived areas, and (ii) the impact of devolution policy on population health particularly for deprived areas and marginalised group. Discussion and conclusions Commissioning high profile reports like Due North is influential in supporting new approaches in reducing inequality of health through local government, elected mayors; and working with deprived communities. This second paper describes progress and lessons.


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