Publication: Microfinance in South Asia: Toward Financial Inclusion for the Poor
Date
2006-12
ISSN
Published
2006-12
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
In South Asia, the modern microfinance
movement was born in Bangladesh in the 1970s as a response
to the prevailing poverty conditions among its vast rural
population. Astonishing growth rates in Bangladesh,
particularly during 1990s, created a new dimension for
microfinance worldwide as microfinance institutions grew to
include millions of clients. The start of the twenty-first
century reinforced this trend as the Bangladesh numbers
continued to grow impressively; in India, a substantial
microfinance system based on Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
developed. Other countries of the region made slower and
later starts but have since established active microfinance
sectors. This working paper includes the following headings:
the financial landscape and the emergence of microfinance;
limitations and challenges; institutional structures and
delivery systems; financing structures; product diversity;
transparency and performance; impact and social performance;
systems that support microfinance; and conclusions and
future perspective.
Citation
“World Bank. 2006. Microfinance in South Asia : Toward Financial Inclusion for the Poor. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36688?show=full License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”