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Microfinance is being increasingly recognized as a sustainable solution for developmental interventions. In fact, the success of some innovative experiments to alleviate poverty in countries has proved that small credit given to the poor can effectively increase their income-level through entrepreneurship and skill support development. In addition to this, it has also been noted that . . . → Read More: Microfinance, Cooperatives and Microinsurance as Sustainable Solutions

Gender should an integrated component of all the activities of the strategy. Gender equality should be ensured in all the stages of cooperative formation and strengthening. In order to bring women forward on par with men, special attention should be given to women. Women should be given priority in the SHG formation process. In order to . . . → Read More: Gender in Microfinance and Cooperatives

The strategy can adopt the following ways to promote the cooperatives and ensure their sustainability.

Building effective management information systems (MIS)
Reaching large number of clients with vision for growth;
Promoting savings services and diversify savings products;
Offering services that fit the clients’ needs and diversify loan products;
Simplify procedures to reduce operational costs;
Motivating clients to repay loans and focuses on . . . → Read More: Sustainability of Cooperatives

Cooperatives play a crucial role in promoting values of self-reliance, good governance, equity and transparency. The concept of cooperatives is based upon the ethical values of openness, honesty and social responsibility. They are organized by a group of persons voluntarily coming together to meet their common social, economic and cultural needs. They . . . → Read More: Cooperatives as a Means to Promote Sustainable Livelihoods

The strategy can involve development of microfinance through promotional activities at two-levels: SHG and cooperative level. Self-Help Groups cab be promoted at the village/ hamlet level consisting of, say, 20 members. The SHGs meet at regular intervals and collect savings from the members and carry out inter-lending among themselves. The Groups will be strengthened through continuous . . . → Read More: Savings and Credit Cooperatives

Entry-Point Activities are necessary part to orient the community members towards thrift and credit activities. Direct dialogue about the intervention can create a negative attitude among them and hence, some innovative method should be applied to bring about a positive air in the project area. Entry-Point Activities help us manage that. However, these activities cannot be . . . → Read More: Entry-Point Activities

The project will compile an inventory of the existing SHGs (self-help groups) in the project area in the beginning. This information will help the project to assess the existing SHGs and their capacities. The existing SHGs can be assessed applying the following criteria:

Criteria:

Age of the group ( at least one year old)
Number of members (between 10 . . . → Read More: Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

The goal of a microfinance and cooperative strategy can be to enhance easily accessible, cost effective and sustainable financial services to the people living in the project area that would enable increased investment in income generating activities resulting in an increase of their income levels. The strategy would specifically:

Enhance accessibility of financial services
Enhance women’s participation and . . . → Read More: Goal of the Microfinance and Cooperative Strategy