Harvard Business Review
JUNE 10, 2011
So far, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) microfinance crisis has largely been viewed as a local issue, with relatively little impact beyond AP or India's borders. Other microfinance crises, in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Bosnia, have not spread beyond the borders of a particular country. That could likely have consequences.
Harvard Business Review
NOVEMBER 27, 2012
Career paths are not one-size-fits-all, yet in emerging markets, it's often assumed that microfinance — the use of small loans to foster self-reliant small businesses in a community setting — is the only path for women seeking economic opportunity. Microfinance was one issue that we considered.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Harvard Business Review
MARCH 22, 2013
If you believe the hype, technology is going to help us end global poverty. At the program's peak, 700 pumps covered 27,000 acres, with the loans constituting 9% of BRAC's total microfinance portfolio. By the end of 1993, half of the pumps were operating at a loss and many loans were in arrears. Immerse yourself in the details.
Harvard Business Review
JUNE 13, 2012
Business cost structures in low-income markets are daunting: Operational expenses such as distribution frequently dwarf the costs that companies face in developed markets, while customer acquisition and retention often demand unusually intense — and costly — levels of consumer engagement. The result has been explosive growth.
Harvard Business Review
JANUARY 11, 2013
Six years ago, David and Donna Allman approached Opportunity with an idea that fell outside our traditional microfinance model: to build a Community Economic Development (CED) program in Nicaragua. On a recent trip, he briefed me on his business plan and on the school's operations with the maturity and confidence of a seasoned entrepreneur.
Harvard Business Review
MAY 24, 2012
These hybrids pursue a social mission while engaging in commercial activities that generate revenues that help them sustain their operations. Frogtek and many other hybrids sell goods and services, and rely on revenues to sustain and scale their operations. Take, for example, the issue of economic development.
Harvard Business Review
DECEMBER 2, 2010
Upon graduation, the governments, nonprofits, or (more recently) microfinance companies give them loans to buy tools and opens shops. We developed a very cheap rechargeable lighting system and a model where a youth can operate a charging station using solar, grid, or human energy. Dropout rates are high; repayment rates are low.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
13 
Let's personalize your content