Microfinance References
Is it correct to assume that poor households are not sensitive to microcredit interest rates? What are the perceptions of, and issues in microcredit interest rates? Have high microcredit interest rates encouraged microfinance institutions to move into remote and difficult markets? Should we not approach the sustainability issue more through "efficiency improvements" than through high interest rates?
Find out from the presentation
of Nimal A. Fernando,
at the ADB-AIM Workshop on Selected Issues in Banking, Microfinance,
and Regional Economic Cooperation held in Makati City during 21-22
January 2004. Nimal A. Fernando is ADB's Lead Rural Finance Specialist.
Top
The microfinance industry has been changing. The changes may be
observed in concepts, vision, practice and opportunities. Although
the industry has expanded in different dimensions, it continues
to face many challenges. What are the changes in the industry? What
are the challenges facing the industry?
Find out from the presentation of Nimal Fernando, at the Microfinance Forum organized
by the Small Economic Activity Development, Incorporated (Philippines)
and held in Bohol on 3 July 2003. Nimal Fernando is ADB's Lead Rural
Finance Specialist.
Top
From 1992 until March 2003, at least 39 NGOs have been transformed
into regulated financial institutions in 15 countries. Of these,
23 are in Latin America, 15 in Asia, and 1 in Africa. Why are NGOs
transforming themselves into regulated financial institutions? What
have the transformed institutions achieved? Have they been able
to accelerate their growth and expand different dimensions of the
outreach? What are the current views on NGO transformations?
Find out more in Nimal Fernando's presentation
. Nimal Fernando is ADB's
Lead Rural Finance Specialist.
Top
According to Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel prize-winner in Economics,
"the role of the government in financial market development is one
of the long-standing, and unresolved debates that has engaged economists
around the world." But this debate, until recently, has not covered
the issues relating to financial services for the poor, although
they are a majority of the population in most developing countries.
The scope of the debate, is fortunately expanding to include the
once neglected issues of the poor.
ADB's Lead Rural Finance Specialist, Nimal A. Fernando, discusses
this subject and provides his own reflections. Find
out what he has to say in his paper .
Topics 
Microfinance 
