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Women as Microfinance Leaders, Not Just Clients

Harvard Business Review

We're a network of microfinance organizations; we exist to share practices and develop the leadership skills required by a sector that has grown up fast. And as you might be aware, microfinance is a phenomenon that, while it did not set out to be "for women," has mainly turned out to be.

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Making Microfinance More Effective

Harvard Business Review

The Grameen model of microfinance gained a great deal of attention in the international development field after early data showed that it was associated with high repayment and low default. Our findings are captured in a working paper which we summarize below. This model makes small loans, usually to women, without requiring collateral.

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Global Entrepreneurs Need New Funding Models

Harvard Business Review

In low-income countries, according to World Bank data in a recent paper by the consultancy Dalberg, 43% of businesses with between 20 and 99 employees say that access to finance is a major constraint. and] a serious constraint on efforts to promote strong and sustainable global recovery.". But times have changed.

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Businesses Serving the Poor Need to Get Over Their Unease About Profit

Harvard Business Review

But even more so, I believe that deep down, managers and executives feel that getting by on razor-thin margins is the morally correct way to do business among the poor. The microfinance industry is a rare D and E success story. Given its flaws, I've often wondered why the low-price, low-margin philosophy has persisted.