The need of the hour

Improving access to efficient and reliable services is a prerequisite to effectively combat poverty and stimulate economic growth. In general, commercial banks are not equipped to provide services to the poor and to micro-businesses. True to its origins and mission, Rabobank has, for decades, been at the vanguard of taking this difficult problem seriously and contributing towards solving it.

Rabobank is committed to continuing to fulfill its cooperative mission in developing countries. It achieves this aim via the Rabobank Foundation that has been active in the field of micro-financing and trade financing (fair trade) for nearly 35 years, dedicated to improve the position of the underprivileged in society.

The Rabobank Foundation has supported local, specialised institutions that in turn provided small farmers and women with micro-credit loans. Micro-credit can be defined as providing small, short-term, in most cases, unsecured loans to poor people, either individually or in groups. The reality is that micro-finance may be perceived as over-promising and under-delivering, but continues to be an effective development tool. First, micro-finance provides financial services to the low-income section of the population, which will benefit substantially from the ability to manage their cash flows. Second, micro-finance has supported a number of other important development objectives - including improving school enrollments, child nutrition and health, maternal health, and female empowerment. Third, even if most micro-finance initiatives require some ongoing support, few other development programmes come close to its cost-effectiveness. For all of these reasons, donors should accept micro-finance for what it is—an important tool in development.

Studies conclude that programmes that focus on poverty alleviation rather than those that focus on financial results are more effective. What is still missing from most micro-finance initiatives is an innovative mix of products targeted to reach the poor. Studies have shown that delivering micro-finance in conjunction with other services, such as health information, basic literacy, and business training, achieves better poverty reduction. Not only does a comprehensive approach to poverty reduction create positive synergies that are more likely to break the cycle of impoverishment, but the regular meetings of micro-finance groups also provide an effective delivery mechanism for other social services.

source:http://www.financialexpress.com/news/The-need-of-the-hour/294254/