Microfinance

Microfinance has proven a critical tool in the fight against poverty. Access to a range of microfinance services—savings, loans, and money transfers—enables poor families to invest in enterprise and in better nutrition, improved living conditions, and the health and education of their children.

Microenterprises and small businesses account for the major share of the private sector and employment in many developing countries. Yet, despite their size and importance, these businesses rarely have access to the savings, credit, and payment services provided by formal financial institutions.

IFC provides advisory services and direct and indirect investment services to the microfinance sector. Our focus is on creating and supporting commercially viable microfinance institutions that can attract the private capital needed to scale up and respond to unmet demand. We are playing a catalytic role by demonstrating the business case for commercial microfinance and promoting it as an asset class to private institutional investors.

Since pioneering commercial microfinance in the early 1990s, IFC has continued to lead innovation in microfinance, using developments in technology, financial products, and policy to help financial institutions reach more people more cost-effectively.

Recent publications

2009 Microfinance in Africa
IFC's Microfinance Program for Africa aims to increase the number of commercially viable microfinance institutions and broaden access to financial services so that the regions smallest business can access the financial services they need to thrive.


2009 Microscope Index
This IFC-MIF-CAF-EIU Global microscope reports on and ranks the microfinance business environment. September 2009.


For more information on IFC’s Microfinance Investment and Advisory Services, contact:

Mengistu Alemayehu | Manager | Email: MAlemayehu@ifc.org
Momina Aijazzudin | Principle Investment Officer (Advisory Services) | Email: MAijazzudin@ifc.org
Martin Holtmann | Chief Microfinance Specialist | Email: MHoltmann@ifc.org
Deepak Khanna | Chief Investment Officer | Email: DKhanna@ifc.org
Makanda Kioko | Program Manager (Advisory Services) | Email: MKioko@ifc.org
Andre Laude | Chief Investment Officer | Email: Alaude@ifc.org