Mission Drift in Microfinance: Lending Money or Serving People?
Microfinance was born with a clear purpose—financial inclusion for the poor, especially women, who were excluded from formal banking. It promised empowerment through access to credit, enabling micro...
The Karnataka Case: Whose Fault Is It, and What Must MFIs Learn?
The recent Karnataka government order directing officials to restrain coercive recovery practices by MFIs has reignited memories of the Andhra Pradesh microfinance crisis of 2010. Back then, over-inde...
The Microfinance Stress: A Crisis Foretold
The recent surge in microfinance stress was not a bolt from the blue—it was anticipated by many who closely watch the sector. Between April and September 2023, stress levels in microfinance doubled,...
Grievance Redressal and Financial Inclusion: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Financial inclusion isn’t just about opening bank accounts or disbursing loans—it’s about creating an ecosystem where every user, especially from underserved communities, feels heard, respected,...
Strengthening Microfinance through Self-Regulation: The Vital Role of SROs in Governance, Compliance, and Client Protection
The microfinance sector is essential for financial inclusion, offering credit, savings, insurance, and other financial services to underserved populations. However, as the sector grows, challenges suc...
Challenges of Assessing Borrowers' Income in Microfinance
In the microfinance sector, accurately assessing a borrower’s income is critical for ensuring responsible lending, preventing over-indebtedness, and fostering sustainable growth. Yet, given the natu...
The Role of Central and State Governments in Capacity Building of Cluster Level Federations (CLFs)
Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) serve as essential grassroots institutions within India’s rural landscape, uniting Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and empowering women economically, socially, and political...
The Imperative of Long-Term Sustainability for Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) in India
Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) are critical institutions within India’s rural development framework, uniting Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and supporting women’s economic empowerment and community dev...
The Role of Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) in Achieving the Government of India’s “Lakhpati Didi” Vision
The “Lakhpati Didi” initiative by the Government of India aims to empower rural women by supporting them to become economically independent and capable of generating an annual income of at least o...
The Need for Cooperation Among Competitors in Microfinance: A Case for Long-Term Sustainability
In the competitive microfinance sector, where the demand for financial services far outweighs traditional access, institutions play a critical role in offering underserved populations the chance for f...
Strengthening Microfinance Through Regulatory Oversight: A Path to Responsible Growth
The microfinance sector plays a vital role in advancing financial inclusion by providing small loans to underserved populations. However, rapid expansion and increasingly high-interest lending practic...
Balancing Growth and Responsibility in Microfinance: How Self-Regulating Organizations Safeguard Against Over-Lending
In recent years, microfinance has been central to India’s mission of financial inclusion, reaching millions who lack access to traditional banking services. While this sector has made remarkable str...
Lessons from Cambodia: Rethinking Global Microfinance
Cambodia's microfinance sector, once lauded as a transformative force for economic empowerment, is now a cautionary tale of how good intentions can lead to dire consequences without proper oversig...
Strategies for MFIs to Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change for Their Clients and Communities
Climate change is an escalating global crisis that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations, particularly in developing countries. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have a crucial rol...
The Hidden Risks of Over-Lending to Microfinance Borrowers: A Growing Concern for Indian Banks
The Indian microfinance sector has long been lauded for its role in financial inclusion, offering small loans to individuals who lack access to traditional banking. However, as demand for microloans g...
The Role of Microfinance in Economic Recovery in Conflict and War-Affected Areas
Conflict and war leave deep scars on societies, disrupting economies, displacing populations, and creating environments of uncertainty and instability. In such challenging contexts, microfinance can p...
RBI's Cautionary Note: The Imperative for Sustainable Growth in Microfinance
In July 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a cautionary note advising microfinance lenders to slow down on loan disbursements in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This advisory comes in response to s...
Promoting Ethical Microfinance: The Critical Role of MFI Governance and Investor Engagement
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have long been heralded as powerful tools for economic empowerment, offering financial services to those traditionally excluded from the banking sector. However, recen...
The Current Crisis in Microfinance in Cambodia and the Way Forward
Cambodia's microfinance sector, once hailed as a beacon of hope for economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, is now facing a severe crisis. The sector, which drew significant investments from...
Unleashing Potential: The Convergence of ONDC and Microfinance in Empowering India’s Small Businesses
In the landscape of Indian commerce and finance, two powerful movements are making significant strides towards economic inclusivity: the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and microfinance. Whil...
Microfinance as a Key Enabler for Improving Housing Conditions in Low-Income Households
Microfinance has long been recognized as a crucial tool in economic empowerment, but its impact extends beyond just entrepreneurial ventures. For many low-income households, access to microfinance is ...
Tracking Financial Inclusion in India: The RBI FI Index
Financial inclusion is a cornerstone for economic development, and in India, significant strides have been made towards achieving this goal. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the Financial In...
Ensuring Responsible Pricing in Microfinance: A Long-term View on Sustainability
In recent news from June 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) highlighted a critical issue in the Indian microfinance sector: instances of micro lenders and non-bank financiers charging excessively h...
The Role of Microfinance in Enhancing India's Skilling Ecosystem
As India continues to advance towards becoming a global knowledge economy, the expansion of its skilling initiatives is critical. However, a significant barrier to this goal is the economic capability...
Challenges and Strategies for Expanding India’s Skilling Initiatives
As India strides towards becoming a global knowledge economy, scaling up its skilling initiatives is paramount. However, the diversity of its population in terms of languages, cultures, and socio-econ...
The Role of Technology in Transforming India’s Skilling Ecosystem
In India, the adoption of technology in the skilling ecosystem is revolutionizing how educational and vocational training is delivered. Digital technologies, particularly online learning platforms, vi...
Assessing ONDC's Role in Shaping India's E-commerce Future
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has embarked on an ambitious journey to reshape India's digital marketplace. Designed to make online commerce less monopolistic and more inclusive, OND...
Skilling Ecosystem in India
India's skilling ecosystem is extensive, designed to enhance the employability of its large and diverse population. Here are some key aspects of this ecosystem: Government Initiatives: The In...
Revolutionizing E-commerce for MSMEs and the Low-Income Population: The Role of ONDC
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Indian government has launched an ambitious initiative known as the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This platform aims to transform the e-commerc...
The Crucial Role of Affordable Housing Finance in Enhancing Well-being of Low-Income Households
In the complex web of economic challenges faced by low-income households, housing affordability stands out as a critical issue with far-reaching implications for overall well-being and community stabi...
How Microfinance Institutions Can Combat Climate Change Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Climate change poses a significant threat to low-income communities worldwide, affecting livelihoods, housing, and food security. Microfinance institutions (MFIs), which traditionally support these co...
Strategies to Boost Digital Transaction Adoption in Low-Income Communities
In an increasingly digital world, the shift toward online and mobile banking transactions offers numerous benefits, including convenience, safety, and faster access to services. However, low-income po...
The No-Pay Movement of Nicaragua of 2008: Lessons for the Global Microfinance Sector
The No-Pay Movement that swept through Nicaragua in 2008 and the ensuing years offers critical lessons for the microfinance sector worldwide. This grassroots movement, led by a politically motivated g...
Best Practices for Self Regulatory Organisations in the Financial Services Industry
Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) in the banking and financial services industry play an important role in maintaining the integrity and stability of the sector. These entities, recognized by regul...
The Importance of educating Microfinance Customers on Data Protection
As microfinance institutions (MFIs) gear up to align with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the emphasis on customer education has never been more pressing. The Act isn't just a regulatory...
Role of Microfinance in managing climate change risks for the poor
In the face of climate change, microfinance emerges as a powerful tool to mitigate its impacts on the livelihoods of the poor. By providing financial services to those traditionally excluded from form...
Implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act for the MFIs
The enactment of India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act has significant implications for microfinance institutions (MFIs) that handle a plethora of client data. Compliance is not just a lega...
The Role of Account Aggregators in India's Inclusion Journey
India's financial landscape is on the brink of a major transformation with the introduction of the Account Aggregator (AA) network, a move that could potentially bring financial services within th...
Impact of climate change on the lives and livelihoods of the poor
Climate change is not just an environmental issue — it's a humanitarian crisis that disproportionately affects the world's poor. As global temperatures rise, the adverse impacts on agricultu...
Understanding Salient Principles of India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act
The digital era is marked by the continuous exchange of personal data, necessitating robust data protection laws. India's recent Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a landmark piece of legisla...
India's Account Aggregator Network: A Step Towards Simplified Financial Data Sharing
The Account Aggregator (AA) system in India represents a significant step towards enhancing financial inclusion and streamlining the process of sharing financial data among institutions with the conse...
Anatomy of Microfinance Frauds and Auditors’ bias - Frauds and the standard MO
Frauds are an area of concern for the MFIs and also for the microfinance industry. Depending on the scale of the fraud, it impacts various stakeholders. Most frauds are perpetrated either by an indivi...
Baseline Studies: The Foundation of Measuring Developmental Impact
In the realm of developmental interventions, measuring impact is not just a matter of assessing end results. It's about understanding the journey from inception to completion and the changes that ...
Enhancing Consumer Protection through the Banking Ombudsman Scheme: Current Contributions and Future Directions
The Banking Ombudsman Scheme, established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is a critical mechanism for resolving customer complaints against banks. This paper aims to delve into how the scheme cont...
Enhancing the Effectiveness of RBI's Customer Rights Charter
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Charter of Customer Rights marks a significant step towards protecting consumers in the Indian financial sector. However, while the charter lays a solid foundatio...
A Guide to Consumer Empowerment: The Role of RBI's Charter of Customer Rights
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding consumer interests in the banking and financial services sector. The RBI's Charter of Customer Rights stands as a testament to ...
The Dawn of a New Era in Fintech: How RBI's SRO Regulations Foster Transparency and Consumer Protection
In a significant move for the fintech sector, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently unveiled draft norms for self-regulatory organisations (SRO-FTs), heralding a new chapter in governance of fi...
RBI's Vision for Self-Regulatory Organizations in Fintech: A New Era of Governance
In a significant move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its draft norms on January 15, outlining a visionary framework for Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) in the rapidly evolving fintech ...
Harmonization of regulatory provisions for Housing Finance Companies and Non Banking Finance Companies
In a significant step towards regulatory harmonization, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a draft circular on January 15, aiming to align the regulations of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) w...
Beware of Misleading Loan Waiver Campaigns: A Caution for Borrowers and Microfinance Institutions
In the ever-evolving landscape of finance, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently issued a stern warning about misleading loan waiver advertisements. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/indust...
Measuring Impact, Maximizing Change: The Conceptual Framework for Social Return on Investments (SROI)
Introduction Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a framework for measuring and accounting for social and environmental values created by the organisations. SROI measures changes which are relevant t...
Scaling Up from Group Loans to Individual Loans: Institutional and Operational Imperatives
Scaling Up from Group Loans to Individual Loans: Institutional and Operational Imperatives As the demand for larger micro-enterprise loans grows, the imperative to shift from group lending to individ...
Importance of Internal Audit in Microfinance Institutions
A functioning Internal Audit system holds immense importance within Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) as it diligently oversees the institution's processes and transactions. Its primary role lies i...
The Vital Role of Smaller and Localized Microfinance Institutions in Promoting Financial Inclusion
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) play a pivotal role in fostering financial inclusion, and the significance of smaller, localized MFIs cannot be overstated. Unlike their larger counterparts, smaller M...
Code of Conduct Assessment (COCA): Evolution and Growing Importance
M2i maintains that for micro-finance to sustain, sound operational management practices, which strongly emphasize on ethical behavior and responsible lending are imperative. In order to assess adhere...
Client Protection Principles in Microfinance Institutions
Microfinance has emerged as a powerful tool for financial inclusion, providing access to financial services for millions of underserved individuals around the world. However, with its rapid growth, co...
Microfinance Client Fraud Chronicles 1
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play a pivotal role in extending financial services to underserved populations, empowering individuals like Shardha, Pooja, Anuradha, and Mamta (assumed names) with ac...
Business Due Diligence for Investing in Microfinance Institutions: Balancing Social and Financial Returns
Due Diligence for Investing in Microfinance Institutions: Balancing Social and Financial Returns Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have emerged as a powerful instrument for fostering financial inclusi...
Technology Solutions for CSR Programs : Leveraging Innovation
Technology Solutions for CSR Programs Technology Solutions for CSR Programs is no longer just a buzzword; it's a powerful tool for businesses to drive positive change. With the advent of technolo...
E Learning Solution for the Banking and Microfinance
E Learning Solution for the Banking and Microfinance The finance industry, including banking and microfinance, is a rapidly evolving sector that demands constant learning and adaptation. With the ris...
Training for Farmer Producer Organisations : Empowering Agriculture
Training for Farmer Producer Organisations In the dynamic world of agriculture, empowering farmer producer organizations (FPOs) is vital for sustainable growth. FPOs play a pivotal role in bringing s...
Baseline Survey for CSR Program
Baseline Survey for CSR Program Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs have evolved into powerful tools for businesses to make a positive impact on society. However, to truly measure and maxi...
Software for Doing Internal Audit
Introduction Internal audits are a vital part of any organization's risk management and compliance strategy. However, managing these audits manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. That...
Internal Audit in Microfinance Sector
Internal Audit in Microfinance Sector In the ever-evolving landscape of financial services, microfinance institutions (MFIs) have emerged as powerful agents of change. These institutions, often servi...
Fraud Risk Assessment in Microfinance
Fraud Risk Assessment in Microfinance In the dynamic realm of microfinance, where institutions extend financial services to the underprivileged, the fight against fraud is an ongoing battle. As M2i C...
Code of Conduct Assessment for MFIs (COCA): Evolution and Growing Importance
Code of Conduct Assessment for MFIs M2i maintains that for micro-finance to sustain, sound operational management practices, which strongly emphasize on ethical behavior and responsible lending are i...
Time to have a relook at the IIBF certification for business correspondents
The certification program for Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) provided by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) has become an industry standard. However, to ...
Strategies to Enhance Financial Inclusion in Geographically Remote Areas
Ensuring financial inclusion is a critical goal for economic development, and one of the significant challenges lies in reaching geographically remote areas. However, with strategic approaches and inn...
The Role of Business Correspondent Agents in Driving Financial Inclusion in India
Financial inclusion through business correspondents Introduction - Financial inclusion through business correspondents Financial inclusion through business correspondents is a key objective for d...
How well MFIs use technology
In this Ecopinion, Atul discusses about the technology adoption among Indian MFIs. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have successfully integrated technology into their operations, particularly in tran...
Three Ecopinion Wishes
In this Ecopinion Atul expresses three wishes Collaborative Taxation Taxation can be reimagined as a collaborative venture between citizens and the government, where taxpayers express their preferen...