Performance of microfinance institutions in poverty alleviation: mapping the research front

Now reaching over 100 million families, the burgeoning microcredit movement has come to play a dominant role in the international development agenda. This is especially true in Nicaragua, where microcredit has supplanted the Sandinistas’ more radical approaches to poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment. Survey and focus group data from borrowers with seven prominent Nicaraguan microfinance institutions show that women benefit less than men from microcredit because they get smaller loans and they invest those loans in less lucrative businesses. Also, these women are constrained by household responsibilities. These findings call into question neoliberal notions that market forces can solve societal problems such as gender inequality.

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The Intersection of Islamic Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment: A Case Study of Baitul Maal Wat Tamwil in Indonesia

International Journal of Financial Studies ◽

10.3390/ijfs8020037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 37 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ninik Sri Rahayu

Keyword(s):

Gender Inequality ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Local Governments ◽

Women's Empowerment ◽

Women’S Empowerment ◽

Critical Groups ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Organizational Vision ◽

Islamic Microfinance

It is largely assumed that Islamic microfinance institutions (IMFIs) deal with family empowerment instead of women’s empowerment. However, women are the main beneficiaries of Baitul Maal Wat Tamwil (BMT), Indonesia’s first IMFIs. This paper aims to explore the origins, the initiators, and the visions of BMTs and the extent to which they intersect with women’s empowerment. Employing a qualitative approach, this study selected four BMTs in Yogyakarta as a case study. It found that four critical groups that have a significant role in the development of Indonesian BMTs: ICMI (Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectual), Islamic mass organizations, NGOs, and local governments. The issues of loan sharks and poverty alleviation were the primary factors driving the inception of BMTs. Despite women being crucial clients, none of the studied BMTs explicitly invoked women’s empowerment in their organizational vision. To conclude, the BMTs’ preference for women is not based on an understanding of gender inequality, but rather motivated by pragmatic business considerations, particularly the self-sustainability paradigm that underpins their practices.

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Microfinance institutions and urban housing in Addis Ababa: challenges and prospects for sustainable poverty alleviation

Journal of Business and Administrative Studies ◽

10.4314/jbas.v2i1.63518 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

T Gumbo

Keyword(s):

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Urban Housing ◽

Microfinance Institutions

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A Survey of Literature on the Sustainability of Grameen Bank

Khulna University Business Review ◽

10.35649/kubr.2005.5.1.8 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 71-88

Author(s):

Mamunur Rashid ◽

Dr. Taslima Begum ◽

Md. Mizanur Rahman ◽

Md. Monimul Haque

Keyword(s):

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Operating Costs ◽

Living Standard ◽

Financial Sustainability ◽

Rural Poor ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Grameen Bank ◽

Group Lending ◽

Soft Term

This paper is designed to survey the existing literatures on the issue of financial sustainability of microfinance institutions working with group-lending approach. The paper is based on secondary data and information. The most highlighted feature of microfinance program is embodied in the innovation of group-lending approach introduced by the Grameen Bank (GB) in Bangladesh. Even though most of the microfinance institutions have their striking results of reaching to the poorest borrowers with high repayment rates, most of them are, however, still dependent on the subsidized or soft-term loans. Grameen Bank, with all its success in poverty alleviation and in increasing living standard of the rural poor, is yet to achieve financial sustainability to a fullest form. Should it increase the lending rate, should it reduce its operating costs to a greater extent, or should it try to diversify its investment, or should it try to mobilize savings as a base for re-lending? All these questions are still open for further research and planning.

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Evaluating the Impact of Microfinance for Women in Albania

Journal of Business Theory and Practice ◽

10.22158/jbtp.v4n2p233 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 233

Author(s):

Oltiana Muharremi ◽

Filloreta Madani ◽

Erald Pelari

Keyword(s):

Social Influence ◽

Low Income ◽

Financial Services ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Empirical Investigation ◽

Social Value ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

The Poor ◽

The Impact ◽

Micro Enterprises

Microfinance is defined as any activity involving the offering of financial services such as loans, savings and insurance to individuals with low income. Creating social value includes reducing poverty and having a better impact to improve living conditions through capital for micro-enterprises; insurance and savings deposits for reducing risk and boosting consumption. Worldwide microfinance actors promote access to basic financial services by developing new tools, a variety of products and the adoption of an integrated banking access.Initially, microfinance was largely gender neutral: it sought to provide credit to the poor who had no assets to pledge as collateral. It quickly emerged, however, that women invested their business profits in ways that would have a longer-lasting impact on their families and communities. Consequently women became fundamental to the success of the microfinance model as a poverty alleviation tool. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of microfinance loans in improving the lives of women borrowers, as well as in strengthening their social influence and the microcredit impact in promoting savings. This study is based on an empirical investigation of 384 structured questionnaires and surveys directed at microfinance institutions and their clients in the regions of Vlore and Fier, Albania.

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Rural Microcredit: Evidences From Albania

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2016.v12n10p104 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Egerta Marku

Keyword(s):

Rural Area ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Financial Sector ◽

Sustainable Livelihood ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Rural People ◽

Rural Credit ◽

Enhancing Production ◽

The Needy

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the issues and concerns of Albanian rural credit, which is a powerful tool for enhancing production and productivity and for poverty alleviation. Further it highlights some of the strategies adopted by the Albanian government to increase the rural credit facilities in the rural area of Albania. The various problems faced by the farmers in applying for loans are analysed in detail. Rural credits serve as a tool for providing a sustainable livelihood for people who lives in these areas. Several organisations and Microfinance Institutions,. are playing a major role in providing rural credit facilities to rural Albania. to make the rural credit facilities available to most of the needy. In spite of several efforts put up by various organisations to increase the rural credit facilities, several challenges will prevail in the years to come.These aspects of the financial sector remain undervalued in mainstream literature on rural credit. With Albania being a nation in which more than 40 percent of people live in rural areas and rural credit being a powerful, and the only, tool for rural people in providing a means of livelihood, its importance and potential should be known to each individual.

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GAUGING AUDIENCES’ MESSAGE RECALL THROUGH BRAND ELEMENT PLACEMENT IN TELEVISED COMMERCIALS

IBT Journal of Business Studies ◽

10.46745/ilma.jbs.2016.12.02.09 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Kashif Riaz ◽

Keyword(s):

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Inverse Relationship ◽

Statistical Data ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Consumer Preference ◽

Vital Role ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Structured Questionnaire

Purpose: This study helps to understand the successful path of micro-financing, which can plays a vital role in poverty alleviation in Pakistan. Methodolgy/Sampling: To collect data authors of this paper visited different microfinance institutions (MFIs) like Tameer Micro Financing Bank and Khushali Bank Limited in Karachi. A structured questionnaire was designed for data collection of consumers of microfinance. Statistical data of 100 samples showed 46% of respondents acquired loan for agricultural purposes while 54% loans were business based. Findings: It is observed that male respondents are higher than female. Regression model showed 38% variation in consumer preference regarding the microfinance services. Statistic in the ANOVA shows the significance of model. The coefficient of MFI’s Approach with negative sign indicates an inverse relationship with that of consumer preferences. It means that MFI agents do not give proper value to the targeted consumers. Finally the amount of loan and interest charged by the MFI’s is also having a negative impact on the consumers of micro- finance. Practical Implications: This study deliver statistical evidence of utilization of funds as well as the consistency of gathered data. Work showed that responded are need to be aquired more knowlwdge about the microfinance services in Pakistan..

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Alleviating Poverty Through Islamic Microfinance: Factors and Measures of Financial Performance, and Roles of Islamic Values and Financial Policies

The Journal of Social Sciences Research ◽

10.32861/jssr.54.1266.1273 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1266-1273

Author(s):

Adhitya Ginanjar ◽

Salina Kassim

Keyword(s):

Financial Services ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Financial Education ◽

Financial Inclusion ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Financial Policies ◽

The Poor ◽

Depth Interview ◽

Rich Information ◽

Islamic Microfinance

Indonesia has a strong presence of microfinance sector with the number of Islamic Microfinance Institutions (IMFIs) estimated to be around 5,000 currently. Microfinance is an effective tool in alleviating poverty in Indonesia due to the limited access to financial services by the poor who accounted for approximately 96 million Indonesians (or 37% of the total population), living on less than USD 1.90 a day. In the absence of collateral and steady income, the poor are considered too risky to be given credit facilities by the formal financial services providers and living in remote areas has also limited their access to formal financial services. This study aims to examine the poverty alleviation efforts from the perspective of the IMFIs in view of their direct involvement in the process and having rich information about financial issues facing the borrowers. The managers also understand about financial inclusion agenda as well as financial guidelines and regulations issued by the relevant authorities. A total of 34 managers of Baitulmaal Wa Tamwil (BMTs), which registered under the Sharia Cooperative Centre (INKOPSYAH) are taken as respondents from the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (JABODETABEK) areas. The first instrument was a survey questionnaire, and the second one was an in-depth interview to outline data related to the model design. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to better decision-making for the BMTs to further enhance its role in alleviating poverty. The findings also elaborate several dimensions to improving financial inclusion among the poor including providing financial services, implementing Islamic principles, significant policies, community-based framework concept and training financial education. This research highlights the need for a variety of strategies to warrant success of poverty alleviation efforts by BMT.

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Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Intervention in Poverty Alleviation of Households in Lopez, Quezon Province, Philippines

Psychology and Education Journal ◽

10.17762/pae.v58i1.1350 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 3625-3631

Author(s):

Veronica ALMASE

Keyword(s):

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Standard Of Living ◽

Microfinance Institutions ◽

Family Needs ◽

Goal Congruence ◽

Savings And Loans ◽

Basic Family ◽

Survey Form ◽

Household Members

This paper investigates Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Intervention in poverty alleviation of households in the locality of Lopez, Quezon province, Philippines. It focuses on five specific objectives to: Determine the personal profile of MFIs household members, their membership profile, examine the goal congruence between MFIs and households, investigate the circumstances during MFIs intervention and, finally find out threats in availing loans from MFIs. This paper adopts quantitative type of research primarily the descriptive questions survey where 117 were considered as the representative sample of MFIs in the municipality. Likewise, purposive sampling was used in the determination of samples and survey form for data collection. This study utilized the SPSS to generate the frequency distribution and weighted mean. It was revealed in the analysis that microfinance interventions that offer both savings and loans contributed to a higher standard of living of households. More so, the results show that microfinance institutions provide supplemental income for families which may adhere to basic family needs, health, education, and lessen debts to specific persons. Therefore, It was found out that both microfinance savings and microfinance credit appreciably and undoubtedly changed the conditions of every household after availing the MFIs services. The study recommends that MFIs should continuously pay closer attention on their interventions that will provide assistance that are favorable to the welfare of every member and the society as well.

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