Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Summary-of-main-recommendations--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Summary-of-main-recommendations--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html In preparing the recommendations, we shall try take into account not only the results of the client surveys, on the basis of each of the five tools used, but also the ground reality of the ZMC program. In other words, the aim is to take into account what is desirable while bearing in mind what is actually feasible. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Viewpoint-of-outgoing-clients--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Viewpoint-of-outgoing-clients--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html On the whole, the program was viewed positively, even by clients who had left it. It may be noted that for 32.8% of them, the loan was considered easy to reimburse, but the loan amount was believed to be too small to meet their business needs. One must remember that one of the main complaints the participants (present clients) make to Zakoura is the small size of the loans. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Findings--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Findings--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html It must be noted that in general, there were relatively more clients as compared to non-clients who were open and more at ease in answering the questions raised. For example, to a question referring to changes in their income, the proportion of clients who gave no answer was 1.1% as against 9.3 % for non-clients. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/MicroStart-Program-Local-Technical-Services-Provider--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/MicroStart-Program-Local-Technical-Services-Provider--Impact-Study-of-the-Zakoura-Microcredit-Program.html Zakoura Micro-Crédit (ZMC) is the microfinance arm of the Zakoura Foundation, a national NGO devoted to increasing the quality of life of the most underprivileged Moroccans. ZMC provides credit and training to a target market of economically disadvantaged women using a solidarity group methodology. Between its founding in 1995 and September 2000, ZMC had disbursed 82,814 loans totaling 121,489,000 Dirhams. Its current repayment rate is 99.69% http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Points-of-Intervention.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Points-of-Intervention.html This section is a walk through the MicroStart process, with specific recommendations. It focuses on the key areas of intervention SUM has identified. SUM's goal is to develop simple, efficient, and meaningful procedures, and these suggestions are offered in that spirit. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Is-MicroStart-a-Successful-Microfinance-Strategy-for-UNDP.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Is-MicroStart-a-Successful-Microfinance-Strategy-for-UNDP.html When MicroStart began, its designers were attempting to develop a program that would fit well with UNDP's strengths and weaknesses. They decided to focus on new institutions, recognizing UNDP's presence in many countries where microfinance was still new, as well as the limits on UNDP's ability to provide grants. In order to compensate for the lack of experience of country office staff, they developed a project blueprint that they hoped would prevent some of the most likely errors UNDP offices with little microfinance background might make. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Can-MicroStart-Have-a-Significant-Impact-on-Policy-and-the-Environment-for-Microfinance.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Can-MicroStart-Have-a-Significant-Impact-on-Policy-and-the-Environment-for-Microfinance.html MicroStart programs establish an action-oriented framework for bringing key players together to learn about microfinance development. These players include government policy makers, private sector actors (potential social entrepreneurs or financiers), MFIs, and other donors. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Are-Small-Capital-Grants-Worthwhile.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Are-Small-Capital-Grants-Worthwhile.html The MicroStart approach is to make small grants available to participating MFIs. These grants can be used to cover operating losses or to capitalize loan funds. SUM staff wanted these grants to be a way to funnel small doses of funds in a way that would not overwhelm a small and young MFI’s capacity to absorb them. Each grant has a ceiling of $150,000 and is used for either covering operating losses and/or for loan capital. http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Other-TSP-Issues.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Other-TSP-Issues.html 1. Local Technical Service Provider http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Creating-Effective-Capacity-Building-Relationships.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1700/Creating-Effective-Capacity-Building-Relationships.html MicroStart's use of TSPs is an experiment in creating a new framework for capacity building. The original design sprang from the recognition that the standard CTA model in use throughout UNDP projects was not the best way to support the development of microfinance institutions.