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Institutional and Operational Arrangements of Micro-finance Institutions

Guest post by: African Development Bank

Article Overview: A large number of MFIs have set-up networks in many African countries taking advantage of increased pressure on governments to deregulate the economy and the financial sector, encourage competition in all sectors, and create the conducive environment for increased production.

Institutional and Operational Arrangements of Micro-finance Institutions

A large number of MFIs have set-up networks in many African countries taking advantage of
increased pressure on governments to deregulate the economy and the financial sector, encourage
competition in all sectors, and create the conducive environment for increased production. Thus,
micro-finance delivery has become an attractive business over the last decade in Africa. Some of
these MFIs are local based, while others are either regional or even international. Most of the
MFIs are specialised in the delivery of small loans to a wide range of clients, and specially the
“poorest of the poor”. MFIs encompass different kinds of organisations, such as limited companies,
para-statals, in addition to those legally registered as MFIs (Magill, 1994). Experience shows that
some MFIs may also channel delivery and recovery of funds through other existing banks with
whom they may have an operations agreement. Thus such MFIs, may not directly be involved in
loan disbursements, repayment collection, or business monitoring, etc.
MFIs operate in a niche market because they address the needs of those clients who are considered
‘high-risk’ by bigger banks. High-risk groups or individuals are characterised as those with very
few assets, requiring very small loans, high degree of close follow-up, business appraisal and
evaluation, as well as those engaged in activities whose income is fluctuating such as small-holder
farmers or petty traders. Thus, the MFIs cater for a market with an operationally acceptable demand
level and where clients can be protected from the unreasonable conditions of the informal moneylenders.
Such MFIs, however, charge high administrative costs and higher charges for risk coverage, which
is in addition to the market interest rates, and taking advantage of the niche market for micro
loans. Both in Malawi and Ethiopia, field observation suggests that, other than agriculture credit,
repayments are required to start immediately, starting the week after the loan has been disbursed,
and repayments are in weekly instalments. Lending is done on group basis and also on individual
basis. In most cases clients are expected to form their own groups before approaching the MFI for
a loan and those who perform well can later be eligible for individual loans. Some MFIs have their
own training modules which a potential group or individual client should undergo. The training
may be implemented by the MFI credit officers, or the local community development officers for
an incentive payment.
Field observations show that most MFIs in Malawi and Ethiopia can be categorised as profit
oriented, with a clear business approach, with a good network into the rural areas, and with
minimum expenditures on training or group mobilisation allowing for high repayment rates with
minimum risk exposure. Discussions with different stakeholders revealed an underlying assumption
that simply the existence or operations of an MFI in an area will automatically address poverty.
MFIs, on the other hand argue that they are not required to and do not always have the responsibility
for justifying whether their activities reduce poverty. Some MFIs have, however, undertaken impactanalysis
studies on a need-basis which reveals that income has been increased amongst their
clients. Nevertheless, this is very much anecdotal and limited to some cases and cannot be proven
or established as long term trend.

ECONOMIC RESEARCH PAPERS
NO 74
(January 2003)
Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia
by
Sunita Pitamber

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Article Tags: administrative costs, african countries, attractive business, business appraisal, conducive environment, different kinds, field observation, financial sector, high risk, last decade, limited companies, loan disbursements, market interest rates, mfis, micro finance, micro loans, niche market, repayments, risk coverage, risk groups



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