|
Friday, 02 November 2007 |
|
Corpobligation: Micro credit, micro finance, small holder lending, micro creditos...whatever you call it...micro finance is a big deal and ACCION International is one of the biggest organizations:
- Micro credit organizations have moved past a donor-charity system to a sustainable financial model of helping the poorest of the poor
- Accion International is a pioneer and strong example of the micro credit model's potential
- Micro lending has been more successful in the "developing" world than the "developed" world, but social lending by individuals to other individuals has blossomed on the internet
- Corporate social responsibility stumbling blocks claimed by mainstream banks are challenged by the success of micro finance...
ACCION has an excellent website with extensive background information on the micro credit industry. Some statistics from 2006:
|
2006 Statistics for ACCION's Partners
|
Latin America &
the Caribbean
|
Africa & Asia
|
USA
|
Totals
|
|
Active Clients:
|
2.37 million
|
92,308
|
1,031
|
2.46 million
|
|
Total Amount Disbursed:
|
$3.63 billion
|
$93.4 million
|
$5.65 million
|
$3.72 billion
|
|
Active Portfolio:
|
$1.97 billion
|
$64.7 million
|
$5.4 million
|
$2.03 billion
|
|
Average Loan**:
|
$829
|
$701
|
$5,197
|
|
Accion also provides transparency and disclosure on its lending by posting reports on its and its partners' activities .
ACCION's website has introduced:
'ACCIONconnect', a new online community for users who want to engage
with microfinance and ACCION on a deeper level - connecting people in the
developed world more directly to those in under-developed nations.
'ACCIONconnect' provides individually personalized content, registration
for exclusive events and seminars, and tailored subscription management,
among other features.
A Flash video library, showcasing eight new, download-able films
about ACCION's microfinance work at home and abroad, narrated by CBS News'
Mike Wallace, and filmed on location in the U.S., Peru, Uganda and
Tanzania.
A more comprehensive 'Products & Services' section, including links
to additional resources and publications; and a new 'Events &
Publications' section, which together help to provide other microfinance
practitioners with the tools they need to improve, expand and innovate in
their own work. |
|
