The view from the field: Perspectives from managers of microfinance institutions

✍ Scribed by Kimanthi Mutua; Pittayapol Nataradol; Maria Otero; Beth R. Chung

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 965 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0954-1748
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1328(199603)8:2<179::aid-jid371>3.0.co;2-q

✦ Synopsis

By examining three different institutional frameworks and performances, this paper portrays the challenges and potential for microfinance programmes to solve some of the key constraints in the field today. Tracing the growth of BancoSol, a new, private Bolivian commercial bank dedicated almost exclusively to microenterprise, many lessons about the institutional development of profitable micro-lending organizations emerge. The Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme provides evidence of the complementary roles technical assistance and other NGO services play in the strengthening of both microenterprises and microfinance programmes. Finally, the long track record and diverse lending programmes of Thailand's Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives draw lessons in the criteria and methods of effective financial intermediation. Elements of success and diffefences among the cases are highlighted.

' This paper condenses the presentations made and materials distributed by Mr Mutua, Mr Nataradol, and Ms Otero. Hence, some of the views expressed here may not reflect those of all three authors. The editor bears full responsibility for the contents.