Elizabeth Littlefield

The Global Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Microfinance

So far, policy makers have mostly focused on macro-level measures. And in some regions like Latin America, they are taking a cautious wait-and-see attitude for the first semester of 2009, with more clarity on their steps to be expected later this year.

Shedding Light on Microfinance Equity Valuation: Past and Present

The report's objective is to provide benchmarks for valuation of microfinance equity, both private and publicly listed.

Financial Inclusion 2015

CGAP undertook a scenario-building exercise to help anticipate and prepare for the global demographic, political, and technological forces that will shape the future of microfinance. We and a wide range of outside experts grappled with the potential impact of these forces in order to craft positive and negative scenarios for the year 2015 that might instruct the microfinance actors today.

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk in Microfinance

Many borrowing microfinance institutions (MFIs) are not adequately managing their exposure to foreign exchange rate risk. There are at least three components of foreign exchange rate risk: (1) devaluation or depreciation risk, (2) convertibility risk, and (3) transfer risk.

Breaking Down the Walls between Microfinance and the Formal Financial System

Microfinance works. It enables the poor to build assets, diversify and increase incomes, and reduce their vulnerability to economic stress. Microfinance is sustainable: Dozens of institutions have proved that financial services for poor people can cover their full costs, through adequate interest spreads, relentless focus on efficiency, and aggressive enforcement of repayment.