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Under Fire, Microfinance Faces Falling Out of Favor

Harvard Business Review

Microfinance has come under fire in the past 18 months, triggered in part by SKS Microfinance's IPO. Critics complain that the institutions supporting microfinance have become too greedy, and many are using this as an argument to deeply regulate or, even more, cut support to microfinance operations. I hope not.

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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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Funders Can Give More than Money

Harvard Business Review

At Opportunity International , where the focus is on providing loans, savings, insurance, and related training to clients in the world's poorest communities, our major donors like to see the work up close. We know that microfinance alone will not break the poverty cycle. Today, Roger is president of the school, elected by his peers.

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Give Impact Investing Time and Space to Develop

Harvard Business Review

Whether it’s solar lighting, mobile authentication, micro-insurance, mobile banking, drinking water, urban sanitation, low-income housing or primary health care, entrepreneurs need time to test, modify, and refine business models. We allowed microfinance and the venture capital industry the time and space to develop over a few decades.