Resources on social finance

  1. Article

    How microfinance institutions can finance lasting social change

    21 November 2007

    An estimated US$4 billion is invested annually in microfinance around the world. But while microfinance institutions must have strong business models in order to survive, they face the challenge of making profits while creating lasting social change. A new ILO study provides practitioners and donors with guidance on how to deal with the issue of balancing business and poverty reduction by defining criteria for supporting microfinance institutions.

  2. Video

    Measuring a microfinance institution's efficiency: Interview with Bernd Balkhenhol, editor of the new book "Microfinance and public policy"

    20 November 2007

    Bernd Balkhenhol, editor of the new book "Microfinance and public policy: Outreach, performance and efficiency", talks to ILO TV about how efficiency is a fundamental performance criterion for public donors to consider when investing in microfinance institutions.

  3. Publication

    Microfinance and public policy. Outreach, performance and efficiency.

    12 November 2007

    This book states to aid agencies and governments to consider efficiency as a robust and reliable criterion to guide their decisions on whether continuing or discounting support from microfinance institutions (MFIS).

  4. Publication

    Social Finance Working Paper #48: The poor and voluntary long term contractual savings

    01 November 2007

    Lessons from South Africa

  5. Publication

    Social Finance Working Paper #46: Assessing indebtedness

    01 August 2007

    Results from a pilot survey among steelworkers in São Paulo

  6. Publication

    Social Finance Working Paper #45: The impact of liberalisation policies on access to microfinance

    01 June 2007

    The case of Peru

  7. Web page

    Microinsurance Innovation Facility

    23 February 2007

    The Microinsurance Innovation Facility seeks to increase the availability of quality insurance for the developing world’s low-income families to help them guard against risk and overcome poverty. The Facility was launched in 2008 with the support of a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.