Research & Analysis

Focus on Poverty: CGAP 2000

This document describes ongoing CGAP thematic work on deepening the poverty outreach of MFIs.

Measuring Microcredit Delinquency

This Occasional Paper addresses issues surrounding measuring microcredit delinquency rates. Not only can poor ratios mislead donors, they can also obscure urgent problems from microfinance institution managers until it is too late to reverse them.

CGAP’s Pilot Microfinance Capacity-Building Initiative in Africa

In April 1997, the CGAP Secretariat launched an experiment called the CGAP Pilot Microfinance Capacity-building Initiative in Africa. The initiative spanned East and West Africa and focused primarily on working with African training institutes to provide financial management courses to microfinance institutions (MFIs). The Pilot Initiative sought to build the foundation for the development of a market for quality training and technical assistance services offered on a sustainable basis in the region.

External Audits of Microfinance Institutions, Vol 2

This is volume 2 of External Audits of Microfinance Institutions. It is for external auditors.

External Audits of Microfinance Institutions, Vol 1

Volume 1 of External Audits of Microfinance Institutions for clients of MFI external audits: boards of directors and managers of MFIs, donors, creditors, and investors.

External Audits of Microfinance Institutions: Annexes

These are the annexes to Technical Tool 3, External Audits of Microfinance Institutions.

The Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest: A Microfinance Program

Microfinance is defined as the provision of credit, savings, and financial services to very poor people. Providing these services to very poor households creates opportunities for the poor to create, own, and accumulate assets and to smooth consumption.

Savings Mobilization Strategies: Lessons from Four Experiences

Around the world, poor households save in various forms and for various purposes. Although empirical evidence suggests that the poor would deposit if appropriate financial institutions and savings facilities were available, little progress has been made to establish microfinance institutions (MFIs) as full-fledged financial intermediaries.

Commercial Banks in Microfinance: New Actors in the Microfinance World

Now commercial banks in developing countries have begun to see microfinance not only as a valuable public relations tool but a profitable venture and are beginning to examine the micro-finance market.

Cost Allocation for Multi-Service Microfinance Institutions

Using examples from the field and an actual microfinance institution (MFI) -- BRAC -- this Occasional Paper explores alternative answers to a series of questions that MFI managers should ask themselves regarding the allocation of costs and assets among cost centers and the impact of cost allocation on the financial statements of multiservice MFIs.