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Editorial
01.06.2008
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From behind the veil: industry-level methodologies for disadvantaged communities in Pakistan
01.06.2006
'Enterprise development' has evolved from the upgrading of individual businesses to the attempted advancement of entire industries using new approaches such as value chain development and making markets work for the poor. This change has resulted in an increased focus on macro-level issues such as enabling environments, trade agreements and national associations, and some policy makers question the relevance of programmes that target microenterprises. This paper presents the case of rural homebound women in Pakistan to illustrate that, although systemic analysis is essential to good programme design, projects that specifically target marginalized communities can produce significant results that would not be achievable through industry-level interventions alone. It provides an overview of MEDA's (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) work in Pakistan with sequestered women, a description of how the programme is attempting to integrate these homebound women into lucrative value chains, results of the programme to date, and conclusions relevant to the broader development industry. -
'We may not be big, but we're small'
01.09.2006
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Vouchers revisited: can small enterprises save government programmes?
01.12.2006
In Tanzania, where malaria is the biggest killer and pregnant women and small children are particularly at risk, the challenge of bringing insecticide- treated nets to poor, remote rural areas is a considerable one. This article describes how microenterprises and small businesses are providing a cost-effective retail service to the public sector, receiving their usual commercial mark-up as payment for this service. Vouchers are the vehicle of exchange throughout the system, enabling target clients to acquire nets, and providing the means for tracking the impact and outreach of the programme. As results are being monitored, there is evidence that not only is the public-private partnership a success, but that the commercial distribution of unsubsidized insecticide-treated nets has been strengthened and widened. -
Reducing borrower and lender risk in Tajikistan through context-sensitive product and portfolio design
01.06.2007
How can MFIs be helped to move from mainly urban clients to smallholder farmers? This case study shows how sustainable financial services for rural households have been developed in Tajikistan. Since 2004, MEDA has been implementing a four-year $4.5 million CIDAfunded agricultural development programme that focuses on the horticulture subsector. A key component of the project is to partner with and develop the capacity of a local MFI (microfinance institution); and a $1 million agricultural loan fund has been made available for this purpose, along with technical assistance and temporary operational support. The primary technical challenges have been to assess the local context accurately and, based on the findings, assist the MFI to design appropriate products and develop a balanced portfolio to meet the needs of the borrower and lender, reducing the risk to both. Special attention has been paid to borrowers' sources of income and agricultural cycles. The disbursement and repayment of the $1m loan portfolio has been so successful that the MFI was able to cover operating costs of the portfolio from interest earned within 18 months and reported almost no default. Farmers continue to take loans, raise their incomes and seek out additional loan products. The context-sensitive design of products and the portfolio has enabled the MFI to expand successfully into rural lending. Building on this success, the MFI now manages microfinance funds of over $7 million and has become the leader in rural finance in Tajikistan over the past three years. -
Conference report on ‘Rural Finance Research: Moving results into policies and practice’, FAO, Rome
01.06.2007
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ford Foundation and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jointly sponsored a conference on rural and agricultural finance (RAF) in Rome, Italy, 19-21 March 2007. The conference brought together leading experts in RAF from around the globe - researchers, practitioners, government representatives - to discuss the state of the art in RAF, to encourage collaboration, and to lay out the next steps for the further development of the industry. As indicated by the title of the conference, ‘An International Conference on Rural Finance Research: Moving Results into Policies and Practice’, the focus was on research and how to make it usable and relevant at various levels. The term ‘research’ spanned both academic/theoretical research as well as practical/action-oriented research, ensuring that a comprehensive perspective on learning and information sharing could be explored and advanced. -
Reviews and resources
01.10.2008
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Editorial
01.12.2011