Client-Centered Microfinance:
The student microfinance movement believes in the client-centered approach. Of the billions of people living on less than $2 a day, a large proportion have incomes that are highly irregular in addition to being low. The client-centered approach to microfinance questions a one-size-fits-all approach to microcredit, and advocates gaining a better understanding of what microfinance clients actually need so products can be tailored to fit these requirements. Getting deeper insights on client demand and responding with better products, delivery channels, and policies opens up opportunities for robust and responsible market expansion.
First, what is client-centered?
Some background on the two approaches to microfinance.
And the story of the fallout of Indian microfinance, which has brought this discussion to the forefront.
Latest Findings from Randomized Evaluations of Microfinance
Below are a few resources on client-centered microfinance:
VIDEOS:
Sam Daley-Harris “Purpose, Poverty, Pitfalls, and Redemption”
SPEECHES:
Christopher Dunford “Microfinance: A Means to What End?”
Jonathan Lewis “Storm Warnings from International Microfinance”
BOOKS:
Anaya Roy “Poverty Capital: Microfinance and the Making of Development”
ARTICLES:
Datar, Srikant M., Marc J. Epstein, and Kristi Yuthas “In Microfinance, Clients Must Come First”
BLOGPOSTS:
Michel Burbano, “Is Responsible Finance in your DNA?”
Paul DiLeo “Promises and Risks of Commercializing Microfinance”
Peter Greer “What Won’t Make the Headlines: A Client-Centered Approach to Microfinance”
N. Srinivasan “MFIs Should Do Responsible Finance: What about the Rest of Us?”
WEBPAGES:
MORE RESOURCES with DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Client-Driven versus Profit Driven Microfinance
Regulation and Client Protections
Deep versus Wide Impact (Intensive or Extensive Scale, new financial products)
If you know of any other resources, we would love to hear from you (Contact Us)!
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