Search

Islamic microfinance can be seen as an emerging industry in some Muslim countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and MENA regions. It acts as a movement to eradicate poverty in the society and to help improve the social standard of the poor people. The concept of Islamic microfinance is similar to those implemented in conventional microfinance except for it adheres to several points and concepts which in line with the Shariah rulings. As a growing industry, Islamic microfinance does facing several challenges such as limited outreach in the market, lack of expertise in the industry, governance and management problems, and many more. Hence, this paper will discuss further the issues and challenges faced by Islamic microfinance institutions in selected Muslim countries. Plus, some suggestions are given at the end of this paper to solve these issues.

Progress of any society especially the poor is based on government Interventions or any development partner. Micro-credit are mandated to empower women. This study aimed at finding out whether the outcomes of utilization of Micro-credit have led to empowerment of Female Headed Households (FHHs). Data collection was done from 209 respondents. Qualitative Research design guided the study. Research tools like questionnaires, interviews, focused group discussions and observation were mainly employed. Data was collaborated with the literature review during discussion. The Study reveals that Micro-credit provided loans to start income generating projects, training and skills development, mobilisation of savings, money transfers and mobile money banking services, leading to improved incomes, household welfare and domestic purchases. Above all, female headed households continue to be poor and marginalised amidst such Interventions. The study recommends that Micro-credit be made more flexible, incorporate special relief non-financial intermediations and schemes in order to meet the deliberate gender needs within the household and at the community level.

Progress of any society especially the poor is based on government Interventions or any development partner. Micro-credit are mandated to empower women. This study aimed at finding out whether the outcomes of utilization of Micro-credit have led to empowerment of Female Headed Households (FHHs). Data collection was done from 209 respondents. Qualitative Research design guided the study. Research tools like questionnaires, interviews, focused group discussions and observation were mainly employed. Data was collaborated with the literature review during discussion. The Study reveals that Micro-credit provided loans to start income generating projects, training and skills development, mobilisation of savings, money transfers and mobile money banking services, leading to improved incomes, household welfare and domestic purchases. Above all, female headed households continue to be poor and marginalised amidst such Interventions. The study recommends that Micro-credit be made more flexible, incorporate special relief non-financial intermediations and schemes in order to meet the deliberate gender needs within the household and at the community level.

Progress of any society especially the poor is based on government Interventions or any development partner. Micro-credit are mandated to empower women. This study aimed at finding out whether the outcomes of utilization of Micro-credit have led to empowerment of Female Headed Households (FHHs). Data collection was done from 209 respondents. Qualitative Research design guided the study. Research tools like questionnaires, interviews, focused group discussions and observation were mainly employed. Data was collaborated with the literature review during discussion. The Study reveals that Micro-credit provided loans to start income generating projects, training and skills development, mobilisation of savings, money transfers and mobile money banking services, leading to improved incomes, household welfare and domestic purchases. Above all, female headed households continue to be poor and marginalised amidst such Interventions. The study recommends that Micro-credit be made more flexible, incorporate special relief non-financial intermediations and schemes in order to meet the deliberate gender needs within the household and at the community level.

The sustainability of MFIs in Ghana has been of great concern to all stakeholders due to the rampant collapsing of Microfinancial institutions in recent times. The study assesses the difference in the sustainability of Microfinancial institutions which offer both micro credit and micro savings and those which offer solely micro-credit. The study was conducted in Ghana using data from sample of 20 out of 32 Microfinancial Institutions in the country which had reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange Market from 2006 to 2013. The study adopted quantitative approach and used Mann- Whitney U test in analysing the data.

The sustainability of MFIs in Ghana has been of great concern to all stakeholders due to the rampant collapsing of Microfinancial institutions in recent times. The study assesses the difference in the sustainability of Microfinancial institutions which offer both micro credit and micro savings and those which offer solely micro-credit. The study was conducted in Ghana using data from sample of 20 out of 32 Microfinancial Institutions in the country which had reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange Market from 2006 to 2013. The study adopted quantitative approach and used Mann- Whitney U test in analysing the data.

The sustainability of MFIs in Ghana has been of great concern to all stakeholders due to the rampant collapsing of Microfinancial institutions in recent times. The study assesses the difference in the sustainability of Microfinancial institutions which offer both micro credit and micro savings and those which offer solely micro-credit. The study was conducted in Ghana using data from sample of 20 out of 32 Microfinancial Institutions in the country which had reported to the Microfinance Information Exchange Market from 2006 to 2013. The study adopted quantitative approach and used Mann- Whitney U test in analysing the data.

Microcredit has been seen as a way of helping low-income people, primarily women, to survive, by giving them independence and the resources to create their own businesses. Low-income people have the support of social networks that allow their members to assist each other morally, economically and by sharing information. They also share experiences that make it easier to obtain the income needed for survival. Through their social networks and social capital the poor can use the tools provided by microcredits to improve their living conditions. This document compares the ways in which women in three countries associate, and use microcredits. The countries involved are India, Bangladesh and the South of Mexico.

Microcredit has been seen as a way of helping low-income people, primarily women, to survive, by giving them independence and the resources to create their own businesses. Low-income people have the support of social networks that allow their members to assist each other morally, economically and by sharing information. They also share experiences that make it easier to obtain the income needed for survival. Through their social networks and social capital the poor can use the tools provided by microcredits to improve their living conditions. This document compares the ways in which women in three countries associate, and use microcredits. The countries involved are India, Bangladesh and the South of Mexico.

Poverty goes beyond social inequalities and it is concerned with the failure of the underserved, due to their social condition and to asset deprivation, to acquire and maintain a minimum set of basic capabilities–such as nutrition, instruction, clothing, housing needs, basic healthcare–which prevent the poor from fully participating in labor and credit markets–hence the importance of microfinance. Dehumanizing poverty goes also beyond low levels of current income and consumption, being concerned with the inability to freely access the market economy. Social exclusion from the benefits that others can enjoy is typically an enduring phenomenon, which is hard to eradicate, together with vulnerability to adverse shocks, due to the absence of social safety nets.

This thesis is based on an eight week long field-study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the aim of examining the challenges and opportunities for women’s empowerment through taking a micro-credit loan within a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) named Village Community Bank (VICOBA). This is done because of the posed objective that micro-credit lending to women is a tool for empowering them, therefore it is relevant to identify challenges in order to understand the potential for women’s empowerment. The theoretical framework consists of two defined concepts of women’s empowerment that has been used in order to analyze the collected data. The research has been conducted through qualitative, semi-structured interviews centered on a case-study. The key findings that were identified that indicated positive impacts of women’s personal and collective empowerment was within the participation in the micro-credit lending group, although this did not contribute to relational empowerment within the household. The challenges for women’s empowerment to occur were connected to economic obstacles such as the structure of the micro-credit loan, as well as market limitations.

Since late 1990's, micro-credit have been advocated by development agencies as a key tool in the fight against poverty. It is argued that along with poverty reduction, the targeting of poor women by financial services can contribute to their empowerment and consequently to gender equality. Beyond practical and efficiency arguments, the success of microcredits, as a policy tool, are better understood if considered in relation to mainstream conceptualization of development problems and solutions. This paper aims to appeal to an actor oriented approach to identify autonomous rural women's financial practices. It draws on critical development theory and feminist criticism of the empowerment concept. The identified financial practices are then contrasted with the official microcredit program driven by the Family Allowance Program (PRAF), a component of a poverty reduction strategy. By comparing methodologies, organizational forms and logics of action, conclusions are drawn related to planning, implementation and evaluation of micro-credits and development programs in general. This paper seeks to contribute to the conceptual development debate as well as questioning contemporary social policies and the relevance of universally applied solutions to poverty. Concrete ideas for field interventions are proposed. Above all, the implications of alternative practices for development thinking are exposed. This analysis is based on secondary sources, semi-oriented interviews and ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2003 and 2005, in a rural community of northwestern Honduras.

This thesis is based on an eight week long field-study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the aim of examining the challenges and opportunities for women’s empowerment through taking a micro-credit loan within a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) named Village Community Bank (VICOBA). This is done because of the posed objective that micro-credit lending to women is a tool for empowering them, therefore it is relevant to identify challenges in order to understand the potential for women’s empowerment. The theoretical framework consists of two defined concepts of women’s empowerment that has been used in order to analyze the collected data. The research has been conducted through qualitative, semi-structured interviews centered on a case-study. The key findings that were identified that indicated positive impacts of women’s personal and collective empowerment was within the participation in the micro-credit lending group, although this did not contribute to relational empowerment within the household. The challenges for women’s empowerment to occur were connected to economic obstacles such as the structure of the micro-credit loan, as well as market limitations.

This bachelor thesis analyses the impact that development projects working with higher education and micro-credit have on youth’s empowerment processes. I have made a minor field study in Kenya and conducted 21 semi-structured respondent interviews with a group with higher education, a group that was provided with micro-credit and a group which was not provided with neither. The interviews were constructed to measure levels of individual empowerment among the youth. The measurements are economic and human, psychological, social and political capabilities. I have, based on the interviews, identified that education is the most empowering tool since this group displayed the highest capabilities, compared to the two other groups. The individuals that were provided with higher education and micro-credit felt a change in all of the measured capabilities because of their new opportunity structure. The group with micro-credit expressed more modest future aspirations and self-esteem compared to the group with higher education. The group without any given higher education and micro-credit is less empowered according to the indicators since they are having significantly lower capabilities.

This bachelor thesis analyses the impact that development projects working with higher education and micro-credit have on youth’s empowerment processes. I have made a minor field study in Kenya and conducted 21 semi-structured respondent interviews with a group with higher education, a group that was provided with micro-credit and a group which was not provided with neither. The interviews were constructed to measure levels of individual empowerment among the youth. The measurements are economic and human, psychological, social and political capabilities. I have, based on the interviews, identified that education is the most empowering tool since this group displayed the highest capabilities, compared to the two other groups. The individuals that were provided with higher education and micro-credit felt a change in all of the measured capabilities because of their new opportunity structure. The group with micro-credit expressed more modest future aspirations and self-esteem compared to the group with higher education. The group without any given higher education and micro-credit is less empowered according to the indicators since they are having significantly lower capabilities.

Through Michael Silverman’s summer Travel Study Thailand program, UCLA students have had the opportunity to share in the women’s daily activities, delivering meals to women living with HIV/AIDS, designing and selling naturally tie-dyed bags and personal accessories, vending baked goods at the local market, and participating in environmental restoration activities. During the 2009 summer program, one group of UCLA students engaged with these women for their capstone community research project on sustainable livelihoods. One result is their development of a new collaborative called Women’s Initiatives for Local Livelihoods (W.I.L.L.). The students share highlights from their experience in this article.

中国農村部では農村信用社による小額信用貸付が農民の資金調達の機会を拡大させている。しかしその一方で，農民の債務不履行も発生しており，小額信用貸付システムの持続可能性が問題となっている。本研究では小額信用貸付システムの破綻の可能性を考慮した2期間モデルによって，農民の返済努力のインセンティブについて分析する。分析の結果，農民に最大の努力を引き出すための有限な貸付規模が存在することが明らかになった。, As the main micro-credit institutions in rural China, Rural Credit Cooperatives (RCCs) are suffering the unsuccessful repayment induced by rural households' ignoring about RCCs' sustainability. And that will damage the long-term benefit of rural households and RCCs. In this paper we are trying to solve above problem by introducing a two-period model. As one exciting result, we found that the expected utility in the future will give rural households positive incentive to care about RCCs' sustainability. And there is one optimal loan size for RCCs' sustainability and the loan interest rate should be kept at some adequate level.

Through Michael Silverman’s summer Travel Study Thailand program, UCLA students have had the opportunity to share in the women’s daily activities, delivering meals to women living with HIV/AIDS, designing and selling naturally tie-dyed bags and personal accessories, vending baked goods at the local market, and participating in environmental restoration activities. During the 2009 summer program, one group of UCLA students engaged with these women for their capstone community research project on sustainable livelihoods. One result is their development of a new collaborative called Women’s Initiatives for Local Livelihoods (W.I.L.L.). The students share highlights from their experience in this article.

With the aim of investigating the differential dynamics that the application of a nationwide policy adopts, we develop a comparative analysis of the implementation of a micro-credit program in two towns in different Argentine Provinces, known as "Banco Popular de la Buena Fe". The conferring of loans entails the use of knowledge and skills who work as production mechanisms of hierarchical relationships, as well as egalitarian. In one case, we refer to personal knowledge that implies the construction of mutual trust, resorting to social relationships which are understood in terms of equality and cooperation. In the other case, we refer to a knowledge transmitted by a specialist, which implies conceiving hierarchical relationships between the specialist and those who receive it., Nosso objetivo é indagar nas diferentes dinámicas adotadas pela aplicação de uma política social nacional; para isso temos realizado uma análise comparativa da implementação de um programa de micro-créditos em duas localidades situadas em diferentes estados ("provincias") da Argentina. Trata-se do Banco Popular de la Buena Fe. O outorgamento dos créditos põe em jogo conhecimentos e saberes que agem como mecanismos de produção de relações tanto hierárquicas quanto igualitárias. No primeiro caso, trata-se de um conhecimento pessoal construído na base da confiança recíproca e de relações sociais de igualdade e cooperação. No outro, o conhecimento é transmitido por um especialista, ou seja, a través de relações hierárquicas entre quem recebe e quem oferece., Con el objetivo de indagar en las dinámicas diferenciales que adopta la aplicación de una política social nacional, realizamos un análisis comparativo de la implementación de un programa de microcréditos en dos localidades de diferentes provincias de la Argentina. Se trata del Banco Popular de la Buena Fe. El otorgamiento de los créditos implica la puesta en juego de conocimientos y saberes que operan como mecanismos de producción de relaciones tanto jerárquicas como igualitarias. En un caso, se trata de un conocimiento personal que implica la construcción de confianza mutua, poniendo en juego relaciones sociales que son entendidas en términos de igualdad y cooperación. En el otro caso, se trata de un conocimiento transmitido por un especialista, lo que implica concebir las relaciones entre quienes lo reciben y quienes lo ofrecen como jerárquicas.

With the aim of investigating the differential dynamics that the application of a nationwide policy adopts, we develop a comparative analysis of the implementation of a micro-credit program in two towns in different Argentine Provinces, known as "Banco Popular de la Buena Fe". The conferring of loans entails the use of knowledge and skills who work as production mechanisms of hierarchical relationships, as well as egalitarian. In one case, we refer to personal knowledge that implies the construction of mutual trust, resorting to social relationships which are understood in terms of equality and cooperation. In the other case, we refer to a knowledge transmitted by a specialist, which implies conceiving hierarchical relationships between the specialist and those who receive it., Nosso objetivo é indagar nas diferentes dinámicas adotadas pela aplicação de uma política social nacional; para isso temos realizado uma análise comparativa da implementação de um programa de micro-créditos em duas localidades situadas em diferentes estados ("provincias") da Argentina. Trata-se do Banco Popular de la Buena Fe. O outorgamento dos créditos põe em jogo conhecimentos e saberes que agem como mecanismos de produção de relações tanto hierárquicas quanto igualitárias. No primeiro caso, trata-se de um conhecimento pessoal construído na base da confiança recíproca e de relações sociais de igualdade e cooperação. No outro, o conhecimento é transmitido por um especialista, ou seja, a través de relações hierárquicas entre quem recebe e quem oferece., Con el objetivo de indagar en las dinámicas diferenciales que adopta la aplicación de una política social nacional, realizamos un análisis comparativo de la implementación de un programa de microcréditos en dos localidades de diferentes provincias de la Argentina. Se trata del Banco Popular de la Buena Fe. El otorgamiento de los créditos implica la puesta en juego de conocimientos y saberes que operan como mecanismos de producción de relaciones tanto jerárquicas como igualitarias. En un caso, se trata de un conocimiento personal que implica la construcción de confianza mutua, poniendo en juego relaciones sociales que son entendidas en términos de igualdad y cooperación. En el otro caso, se trata de un conocimiento transmitido por un especialista, lo que implica concebir las relaciones entre quienes lo reciben y quienes lo ofrecen como jerárquicas.

This case examines technological entrepreneurship and human capital in a remote village in southeast India. Sethu Sethunarayanan, director of the nongovernment organization (NGO) Center for Development of Disadvantaged People (CDDP), uses technology to improve the lives of impoverished people, focusing in particular on the indigenous Irula tribe. The Irulas’ rat catching activities constitute a primary source of income and food. However, the Irulas are often unsuccessful in catching rats and suffer many health problems from mouth-blowing a clay pot filled with smoke. Sethu developed a "better rat trap," improving success rates and income and eliminating health hazards. In parallel, CDDP established a factory and self-help, micro-credit collectives to enable other villagers to improve their socioeconomic condition. The case chronicles the project's development, including opportunity recognition, and new technology development and implementation. An overview of the skills and experience of Sethu and the CDDP team, and the national, local, and community context is also provided.

The aim of the study is to investigate how does the micro-credit does, small scale loans to poor people, work in poverty alleviation and building social capital in rural Bangladesh. The major objective of the study is to show how the NGO activities help to increase women's access to micro-finance, generate new income earning opportunities, and to enhance social mobilization and create formal network, norms and trust for collective action and thus develop social capital. The empirical study is conducted in Bangladesh to assess the increase of women's economic opportunity, security and empowerment and their effect on poverty and changes in the traditional rural social structure. Based on both qualitative and quantitative survey research, the study has organized in-depth interviews and focus group discussion with the programme clients of the two NGOs in Bangladesh. The findings suggest that, microcredit and its supportive programs have lead to a remarkable enhancement in social network formation and development, an improved status in family and community, increased mobility and to some extent also greater self-confidence and feeling of identity for the women. It also has given space to establish and strengthen social ties that reach beyond their familia networks. This process has been nurtured by NGO membership norms at the centre building. Emboldened with the awareness of self-identity beyond kinship ties, women then began to build a collective identity with an extra-familial "face to face" effective group beyond her small locality. These self-identified components of social capital have expanded each woman's life options and introduced new social opportunities for the group. Interaction at the centre has graduated into new and strengthened networks while mobility has given each woman a socially sanctioned license to move about the village and, therefore, the opportunity to call on and continue to build her networks. Perhaps, social implications of micro-credit lendin

The aim of the study is to investigate how does the micro-credit does, small scale loans to poor people, work in poverty alleviation and building social capital in rural Bangladesh. The major objective of the study is to show how the NGO activities help to increase women's access to micro-finance, generate new income earning opportunities, and to enhance social mobilization and create formal network, norms and trust for collective action and thus develop social capital. The empirical study is conducted in Bangladesh to assess the increase of women's economic opportunity, security and empowerment and their effect on poverty and changes in the traditional rural social structure. Based on both qualitative and quantitative survey research, the study has organized in-depth interviews and focus group discussion with the programme clients of the two NGOs in Bangladesh. The findings suggest that, microcredit and its supportive programs have lead to a remarkable enhancement in social network formation and development, an improved status in family and community, increased mobility and to some extent also greater self-confidence and feeling of identity for the women. It also has given space to establish and strengthen social ties that reach beyond their familia networks. This process has been nurtured by NGO membership norms at the centre building. Emboldened with the awareness of self-identity beyond kinship ties, women then began to build a collective identity with an extra-familial "face to face" effective group beyond her small locality. These self-identified components of social capital have expanded each woman's life options and introduced new social opportunities for the group. Interaction at the centre has graduated into new and strengthened networks while mobility has given each woman a socially sanctioned license to move about the village and, therefore, the opportunity to call on and continue to build her networks. Perhaps, social implications of micro-credit lendin

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have introduced incentive pay schemes for their credit agents to induce information acquisition on borrowers. Bonuses linked to repayment are efficient for profit-oriented MFIs but insufficient for non-profit MFIs trying to reach very poor borrowers, when repayment and wealth are positively correlated. We show that no incentive scheme is consistent with this (non-verifiable) objective: Random audits on the share of very poor borrowers selected by the agent become necessary. Under the optimal contract, non-profit MFIs generally maximize the number of poor borrowers it services by cross-subsidization between very poor and less poor borrowers.

De nouvelles initiatives de micro-finance émergent dans des pays aux marchés bancaires et financiers pourtant très développés. Au Nord, la micro-finance est perçue comme un nouveau moyen de résoudre la contrainte de financement des micro-entreprises et d’offrir aux individus les moyens de leur propre développement. Nous sommes ainsi amenés à nous interroger sur l’applicabilité des mécanismes du Sud. Cet apprentissage Sud-Nord implique d’analyser les différences de contexte qui font que tant les objectifs que les instruments ne peuvent pas être exactement les mêmes. Nous défendons la thèse selon laquelle les institutions de micro-finance au Nord ont sans doute un rôle à jouer en tant que politique active d’emploi et de promotion de l’entrepreneuriat, à condition qu’elles s’inscrivent dans une stratégie de développement local. Trois pistes d’action publique sont alors envisagées afin de soutenir le développement des institutions de micro-finance dans ce contexte particulier.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have introduced incentive pay schemes for their credit agents to induce information acquisition on borrowers. Bonuses linked to repayment are efficient for profit-oriented MFIs but insufficient for non-profit MFIs trying to reach very poor borrowers, when repayment and wealth are positively correlated. We show that no incentive scheme is consistent with this (non-verifiable) objective: Random audits on the share of very poor borrowers selected by the agent become necessary. Under the optimal contract, non-profit MFIs generally maximize the number of poor borrowers it services by cross-subsidization between very poor and less poor borrowers.

In 1997, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs commenced an Inquiry into Indigenous Business. However, after a Commonwealth election held late in 1998, the government decided not to continue the Inquiry and its investigations have not been published. This paper summarises some of the evidence given to the Inquiry to see if this increases our understanding of indigenous businesses. The evidence provides additional information on issues about which we are already aware. For example, there appears to be a continuing desire to clarify social and commercial goals within indigenous businesses. There is also some interest in establishing businesses that are owned by individuals and families rather than just communities, and in the strategy of joint venturing. A number of access issues were also raised during the Inquiry such as the ability to raise capital from inalienable land and some of the limits of the existing government structures. However, most of the data supplied to the inquiry were from bureaucracies and much of it related to their programs rather than to the enterprises themselves. Very few submissions were from indigenous people in business and the data tell us almost nothing about such issues as their aims, their problems, or the size of their ventures (for example, the number of employees or turnover). Despite the fact that other data indicate the majority of self-employed indigenous people are in major urban centres (capital cities), the Inquiry collected no data from these areas. Also absent were submissions from any of the mainstream banks. Therefore, the majority of the evidence to the Inquiry does not add a great deal to our knowledge about the nature of indigenous businesses nor does it introduce many new issues or insights. However, evidence to the Inquiry did raise the possibility of increasing access for indigenous people through micro-credit and credit union arrangements and one su

Policy-makers have become increasingly interested in the use of micro-credit models to alleviate poverty among Australian indigenous communities. These models, such as the model developed by the Grameen Bank, work to extend small amounts of credit to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for commercial lending. The key element of the Grameen Bank model is its peer group lending structure, which fosters mutual accountability for loans among borrowers. Neither the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) nor commercial lending institutions have utilised micro-credit lending strategies. While internal analysis conducted by ATSIC shows that smaller loans (of less than $30,000) are more likely to be repaid, ATSIC loans to indigenous businesses continue to be relatively large. Restriction of lending to large loans has, however, effectively excluded large numbers of potential borrowers from access to credit. Credit access problems are further compounded for indigenous women, who often have limited credit records and no collateral. Case studies of replications of micro-credit programs with indigenous communities in America and Canada show that it is possible to adapt these programs to developed countries. However, policy-makers may encounter a series of problems when trying to adapt a similar model to Australia. In particular the presence of low population density, welfare payments, investment opportunities and specific indigenous cultural practices are problems that need to be addressed if such a model is to be viable.

This paper begins with a profile of Torres Strait and an analysis of potential areas, such as tourism and art and craft, in which Indigenous women's businesses could be developed. Such business development can only occur if Indigenous women are given adequate access to credit. Credit sources available to the Indigenous population in Torres Strait include the Torres Strait Regional Authority's (TSRA) Business Funding Scheme and the loans available from the National Australia Bank. However, at present, very low numbers of Indigenous women are independently accessing credit from these sources. Further research needs to be conducted before conclusions as to the adequacy of current credit sources for Indigenous women can be reached. However, within Torres Strait the perception of problems with access to credit for Indigenous borrowers have prompted calls by the Islander Board of Industry and Service for an Indigenous credit union to be established along the same lines as the Traditional Credit Union in Arnhem Land. Another credit model that could possibly be used within the Torres Strait is the Grameen Bank micro–credit model. Key aspects of the model are discussed in this paper. In particular, the model highlights the benefits that can be accrued in lending capital to women.

This paper begins with a profile of Torres Strait and an analysis of potential areas, such as tourism and art and craft, in which Indigenous women's businesses could be developed. Such business development can only occur if Indigenous women are given adequate access to credit. Credit sources available to the Indigenous population in Torres Strait include the Torres Strait Regional Authority's (TSRA) Business Funding Scheme and the loans available from the National Australia Bank. However, at present, very low numbers of Indigenous women are independently accessing credit from these sources. Further research needs to be conducted before conclusions as to the adequacy of current credit sources for Indigenous women can be reached. However, within Torres Strait the perception of problems with access to credit for Indigenous borrowers have prompted calls by the Islander Board of Industry and Service for an Indigenous credit union to be established along the same lines as the Traditional Credit Union in Arnhem Land. Another credit model that could possibly be used within the Torres Strait is the Grameen Bank micro–credit model. Key aspects of the model are discussed in this paper. In particular, the model highlights the benefits that can be accrued in lending capital to women.

In 1997, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs commenced an Inquiry into Indigenous Business. However, after a Commonwealth election held late in 1998, the government decided not to continue the Inquiry and its investigations have not been published. This paper summarises some of the evidence given to the Inquiry to see if this increases our understanding of indigenous businesses. The evidence provides additional information on issues about which we are already aware. For example, there appears to be a continuing desire to clarify social and commercial goals within indigenous businesses. There is also some interest in establishing businesses that are owned by individuals and families rather than just communities, and in the strategy of joint venturing. A number of access issues were also raised during the Inquiry such as the ability to raise capital from inalienable land and some of the limits of the existing government structures. However, most of the data supplied to the inquiry were from bureaucracies and much of it related to their programs rather than to the enterprises themselves. Very few submissions were from indigenous people in business and the data tell us almost nothing about such issues as their aims, their problems, or the size of their ventures (for example, the number of employees or turnover). Despite the fact that other data indicate the majority of self-employed indigenous people are in major urban centres (capital cities), the Inquiry collected no data from these areas. Also absent were submissions from any of the mainstream banks. Therefore, the majority of the evidence to the Inquiry does not add a great deal to our knowledge about the nature of indigenous businesses nor does it introduce many new issues or insights. However, evidence to the Inquiry did raise the possibility of increasing access for indigenous people through micro-credit and credit union arrangements and one su

Policy-makers have become increasingly interested in the use of micro-credit models to alleviate poverty among Australian indigenous communities. These models, such as the model developed by the Grameen Bank, work to extend small amounts of credit to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for commercial lending. The key element of the Grameen Bank model is its peer group lending structure, which fosters mutual accountability for loans among borrowers. Neither the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) nor commercial lending institutions have utilised micro-credit lending strategies. While internal analysis conducted by ATSIC shows that smaller loans (of less than $30,000) are more likely to be repaid, ATSIC loans to indigenous businesses continue to be relatively large. Restriction of lending to large loans has, however, effectively excluded large numbers of potential borrowers from access to credit. Credit access problems are further compounded for indigenous women, who often have limited credit records and no collateral. Case studies of replications of micro-credit programs with indigenous communities in America and Canada show that it is possible to adapt these programs to developed countries. However, policy-makers may encounter a series of problems when trying to adapt a similar model to Australia. In particular the presence of low population density, welfare payments, investment opportunities and specific indigenous cultural practices are problems that need to be addressed if such a model is to be viable.

De nouvelles initiatives de micro-finance émergent dans des pays aux marchés bancaires et financiers pourtant très développés. Au Nord, la micro-finance est perçue comme un nouveau moyen de résoudre la contrainte de financement des micro-entreprises et d’offrir aux individus les moyens de leur propre développement. Nous sommes ainsi amenés à nous interroger sur l’applicabilité des mécanismes du Sud. Cet apprentissage Sud-Nord implique d’analyser les différences de contexte qui font que tant les objectifs que les instruments ne peuvent pas être exactement les mêmes. Nous défendons la thèse selon laquelle les institutions de micro-finance au Nord ont sans doute un rôle à jouer en tant que politique active d’emploi et de promotion de l’entrepreneuriat, à condition qu’elles s’inscrivent dans une stratégie de développement local. Trois pistes d’action publique sont alors envisagées afin de soutenir le développement des institutions de micro-finance dans ce contexte particulier., New micro-finance initiatives are emerging in countries with, however, highly developed banking and financial markets. In the North, micro-finance is considered as a new channel to solve the financing constraint of micro enterprises and to provide the means of their own development. Consequently, it leads us to explore the applicability of mechanisms from the South. This South-North learning involves analysing the contextual differences that imply that both objectives and tools might not be exactly the same. We are defending the thesis according which micro-finance institutions may have a role to play as a active employment and pro-entrepreneurship policies, provided that they come within the framework of a local development strategy. Three suggestions of action are approached in order to support the development of micro-finance institutions in this particular context.

Dans un contexte de mondialisation, le microcrédit pour des femmes a été largement investi par la plupart des grands organismes internationaux et de nombreuses ONG. Est-ce une panacée pour combattre la pauvreté dans le monde ou une manière d’introduire aussi les plus vulnérables dans l’économie néolibérale mondiale ?Pour faire le point sur ce débat, nous proposons d’aborder la question sous deux angles. Premièrement, celui de l’efficacité du microcrédit comme instrument de la lutte contre la pauvreté. Il semble alors qu’elle est très variable et que ce sont au mieux les « moins pauvres » qui peuvent en profiter. Deuxièmement, celui de l’objectif secondaire du microcrédit qui se veut aussi l’élément déclencheur de l’empowerment des femmes pauvres. Les éléments de réponses sont également divers et l’empowerment clairement constaté dans certains exemples indiens semble être surtout l’impact des groupes d’entraide (self-help groups), dont le microcrédit ne représente qu’une des activités.En conclusion, il semble que, dans la majorité des cas, la microfinance crée un filet de sécurité évitant ainsi des situations sociales explosives, sans pour autant représenter une échelle pour sortir durablement de la pauvreté., Is microcredit the mask of neoliberalism? Microfinance and poor women: the story so far. In the context of globalisation, micro-credit for women has been invested by the majority of the international institutions and many NGOs. Is it the panacea for fighting against poverty or a means of introducing even the most vulnerable into the neo-liberal world-economy?In order to give an overview of the debate, we propose to look into the question from two points of view. Firstly, the effectiveness of micro-credit as an instrument to fight against poverty seems variable and apparently the “least poor” are the only ones who might benefit. Secondly, micro-credit often pretends to trigger off poor women’s empowerment. The conclusions are once more divers and in some Indian cases where clear evidence of empowerment could be found, this seems to be first of all the positive impact of the self-help groups who provide many more services on top of micro-credit.In conclusion, it seems that most of the time, micro-credit creates a safety net that avoids socially explosive situations but does not provide a ladder to climb durably out of poverty.