Abstract
Marcella Corsi and her co-workers analyze the social and economic impact that microfinance programmes have on participant's lives, particularly on women in the Mediterranean countries. They identify the changes of the women who took part in the microcredit programme. They examine the consumption levels, savings, housing conditions and investigate using an index of the changes whether the microcredit programme did indeed bring about women empowerment.
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Notes
MFIs decision to offer non-financial services determines whether they are minimalist or integrated.
Rahman (2001) study on Grameen Bank women clients in Bangladesh point to these complementary cultural forces.
Mody (2000) found 80 per cent of women clients in a sample of 34 largest MFIs beneficiaries, while according to the Microcredit Summit Campaign Report 2005, over a 3100 programmes sample 83.5 per cent of clients are women.
25 per cent of them answered their consumption has stabilized a lot.
Integrated approach: financial and non-financial services (such as social intermediation – group formation, leadership training, enterprise development services, marketing, business training, and social services – education, health and nutrition) are provided. Minimalist approach: only financial services are provided by the MFI, notably credit and savings.
Grameen Bank re-designed its approach and range of products offered in order to enhance the share of women served. While farming is a man-dominated sector, a greater focus was devoted to non-farm rural activities.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Fondazione Risorsa Donna (www.fondazionerisorsadonna.it) for the financial support, SANABEL (www.sanabelnetwork.org) and ETIMOS (www.etimos.it) for the networking activity and Angela Spagnuolo for the technical assistance. A preliminary version of this paper was presented at the conference on ‘Women and Microfinance: A New Path for Development in Mediterranean Countries?’ (Rome – 21 September 2005), organized by Fondazione Risorsa Donna on the occasion of the International Year of Microcredit. The usual disclaimer applies.
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Analyzes the social and economic impact of microfinance on women's lives
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Corsi, M., Botti, F., Rondinella, T. et al. Women and Microfinance in Mediterranean Countries. Development 49, 67–74 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100247
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100247