NGOs and Local MFIs: How to Increase Poverty Reduction Through Women’s Small and Micro-Enterprise
Author(s)
Premchander, S.
Abstract
Most enterprises, from the smallest to the largest, need capital. Enterprise can play a crucial role in alleviating poverty. In developing economies, women’s role in alleviating poverty through enterprise has long been recognised, and they have been received as a client group. However, poor women lack the capital required for enterprise start-ups and although lending mechanisms exist in their economy, mainstream financial institutions are not oriented towards providing them with the funding they require. Microfinance generally refers to the provision of financial services (e.g.: savings, credit, insurance) to the poor, those who normally do not have access to formal financial institutions. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India have promoted micro-finance through women’s self-help groups. However, the different institutional forms are not value-neutral and vested interests are involved. The interests of people and those of micro-financing institutions (MFIs) sometimes compete and conflict.
