Tweet

III. BACKGROUND - Microfinance in Africa

Guest post by: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Article Overview: The model seeks to identify a microfinance methodology-model adapted to Africa's specific needs for poverty eradication.

III. BACKGROUND - Microfinance in Africa

The model seeks to identify a microfinance methodology-model adapted to Africa's
specific needs for poverty eradication. It draws upon the findings from the project
GLO/99/315/A/11/31, titled Women, Microcredit, and Poverty Eradication. This project follows
up the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II), and the
Asia/Africa Forum on the Economic Empowerment of Women. It reflects the ongoing United
Nations commitment towards poverty eradication, a key theme expressed in the United Nations
New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s (UN-NADAF, GA 46/151), at the 1995
World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen (A/CONF.166/9), and by the United
Nations resolution (A/RES/50/107) proclaiming 1997-2006 as the First United Nations Decade
for the Eradication of Poverty.

The project also takes into account and builds upon United Nations documents pertaining
to microfinance and poverty eradication in Africa, including Advancing Financial Intermediation
in Africa (A/50/490 of 6 October 1995), the final report of the Africa Advocacy Forum:
Microcredit and Poverty Eradication, The Tokyo Agenda for Action: African Development
Toward the 21st Century (TICAD II, October 1998), Poverty Eradication in Africa: Selected
Country Experiences (UN/OSCAL 1998), The Constraints and Challenges Associated with
Developing Sustainable Microfinance Systems in Disadvantages Rural Areas in Africa
(UN/CDF, CIDR/Renee CHAO BEROFF, 1999), and Case Study on Best Practices Aimed at
Popularizing Micro-Financing (UNECA, Working Paper Series, ECA/DMD/PSD/WP/98/8).

The design and execution of this project were overseen by the United Nations Office of
the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries (UN/OSCAL) in close
collaboration with the United Nations Development Progamme, Gender and Development
Programme (UNDP/GIDP). The process consisted of three phases:

Phase I: Microfinance Factsheets: Presented in the publication, Microfinance and
Poverty Eradication: Strengthening Africa's Microfinance Institutions (UN/OSCAL,
2000), over 85 microfinance factsheets are compiled examining successful and
unsuccessful microfinance initiatives in Africa, as well as non-African and international
initiatives. Emphasis is placed on identifying strategies for a microfinance model
responding to Africa's realities.

Phase II: Women, Microcredit, and Poverty Eradication (Ethiopia, Cameroon,
Nigeria): Three one-week observation missions were undertaken in 1999-2000 to
examine initiatives from three different African sub-regions, each region
culturally differing in language, population distribution, and management skills. This
phase was a direct follow-up of the Asia/Africa Forum on the Economic Empowerment
of Women, held in Bangkok in July 1997.

Phase III: Expert-Group Meeting on Microfinance and Poverty Eradication in
Africa: The Expert-Group Meeting provided a platform for African practitioners of
microfinance to exchange experiences and lessons. It constituted a follow-up to the
Microcredit Summit, in which OSCAL participated in February 1997 as a member of the
Council of Advocates; to the recommendations of the one-day briefing, organized by
OSCAL in February 1997, on “Microcredit and Poverty Eradication in Africa”; to the
Asia/Africa Forum on the Economic Empowerment of Women, held in Bangkok in July
1997; to the VI International Conference on “Communication and Technology: Impact on
Women in the Global Economy,” held in Accra in September 1997; and to TICAD II,
held in October 1998. The following microfinance model was adopted during the Expert-
Group Meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (25-29 September 2000).

Microfinance in Africa: Combining the Best
Practices of Traditional and Modern
Microfinance Approaches towards
Poverty Eradication

Related Articles
  II. How Can MicroFinance Succeed In Africa?
  IV Module I Key Principles for an African Model of Microfinance
  Lonrho to Acquire 51% Stake and Control of Mozambican Microfinance Bank, Socremo Banco de Microfinancas
  Citi Foundation Creates $11.2m Program with SEEP Network to Strengthen Trade Associations
  IV. Module II: Linking Microfinance to Poverty Eradication

Article Tags: 6 october, advocacy forum, africa forum, cdf, cidr, country experiences, economic empowerment, eradication of poverty, financial intermediation, gender and development, least developed countries, new agenda, oscal, poverty eradication, second tokyo international, ticad, united nations development, united nations office, united nations resolution, world summit



Related Forum Posts
Re: need advice - Africa is a pretty big place I think it is a question of where in Africa you would like to open a call centre. South Africa for example actually has plenty of call centres already operating, so it would very much depend on what part of Africa you are considering. MichelleJ
Re: Newbie from Africa - Hello Biiyke Welcome to the forum. Which part of Africa are you from it is quite a big continent? I live in South Africa. MichelleJ
Adventure travel to Africa. - Africa is a place where adventure is taking place. If you are a travel who loves adventure, nature, culture you should visit Africa. Safari Village operator is a .leading tour operator in Kenya who are offering marvelous tour packages to Africa. Saffari Villages Online is a trusted name for africa travel.
Re: Newbie from Africa - [quote="Evan":22gvtxlq]Welcome to the forums Biiyke! You asked if we know any sellers who were trying to reach the African market... I think you'd honestly have more luck going the other way - try to find sellers in Africa and sell to the rest of the world.[/quote:22gvtxlq] Hello Evan, You are absolutely correct.Thank you for your advice.That's actually the whole idea,Africa to the world and the world to Africa. So I will throw more weight on that area.
Re: New top Banner - my feedback - [quote="Evan":3lwxhlef]Hi Ben, I liked how you showcased the prize in the top banner and I updated it along with putting a funky background on the picture similar to some of the textures you had. I also put in a community picture that Kevin suggested. What do you think about the new layout? Any more suggestions?[/quote:3lwxhlef] Hi Evan, I think it looks great! The only downside is that the forums seem to be moving slower after the change. Perhaps you can use a picture of the audience from your SEO for Africa seminars as an alternative community photo (i.e. it would switch back and forth between your Mastermind Group and your SEO for Africa attendees every time you refresh the page). This way, you'd also be able to try Ben's idea of having an orange background behind the SEO for Africa group.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Coaching - An Effective Tool for Managers

Civility in the Workplace---Is it Decreasing?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.