Raising awareness

Microfinance is the provision of business loans to the working poor and is a rapidly growing area of social investment

Microfinance is defined as the provision of financial services to the working poor, and is a rapidly growing area of social investment. The year 2005 was designated the United Nations Year of Microfinance, and the reduction of third-world (particularly African) poverty was one of the key cornerstones of UK government policy during its recent presidencies of both the G8 group of industrialised countries and the European Union (EU). The issue remains a key agenda item for the current round of G8 discussions. Microfinance is an emerging investment sector and is increasingly being viewed as a ...