Due to the overall failure of donor-driven subsidized directed credit administered by government-owned development finance institutions, the emphasis in development policy has shifted to (rural) financial systems development and the building of self-reliant, sustainable institutions. While...

SUMS S-U Management Service Limited acts as a service provider for MFIs and realizes a very efficient way of loan tracking by taking full advantage from computer aided processing. This process relies on customized Microsoft and Crystal products serving three main purposes: 1. Providing loan...

The Uganda Microfinance Union (UMU) has become one of Uganda's leading microfinance institutions. It began four years ago with a small equity loan of about US$30,000 and has grown to US$1.5 million in total assets. Through a network of five branches, UMU serves16,577 clients (70% women), all of...

Uganda, where 85 % of the population live in rural areas, has experienced a rapid rise of rural and microfinance over the last ten years. There is a pronounced gender awareness in public policities and programs. Best practices have been mastered by institutions in the formal and the NGO sector....

Rajwa is a 50 years old widow in the area of Karak, with five children. Her husband died 10 years ago. In January 2000, she received a collateral-free loan of JD 2,100 (US$ 3,000) from the ACC/IFAD Income Diversification Project, repayable over 8 years. She bought 20 sheep, which have increased...

Policymakers in Syria are seriously concerned (a) about social equality and equal opportunities for women and men; and (b) about the effectiveness of financial institutions in providing adequate services to men, women and youth to fight poverty and reduce unemployment. Considerable social...

Two thirds of the Fund's current projects have a rural finance component; about 21% of the Fund's resources are dedicated to rural finance.2 Most of IFAD's target group are small producers engaged in agric ultural and non-agricultural activities in areas of widely varying potential. Direct...

Rural Finance Nepal (RUFIN) is a joint Nepali-German project, implemented by the Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal (ADBN), with technical assistance from the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ). RUFIN aims at bringing sustainable financial services to the rural poor. The...

Over the last decade, Nepal has turned into a microfinance laboratory, exploring various approaches to provide financial services to the rural poor, both in the hill and plain areas of the country. The list of institutions and programs engaged in rural finance is long and includes informal...

Reaching 100 million of India's rural poor with savings and credit by 2008: This is NABARD's goal through its SHG banking program, leveraging the strength of the formal banking system and the flexibility of informal self-help groups in providing adequate financial services to the rural poor....