Are microfinance models adequate in the ways they set to empower women?
by BrianFiore | December 20, 2007 at 2:42 PM
The question tackled by this paper is: are the current micro-finance models and ways of thinking about micro-finance and women's empowerment adequate and accurate?
The paper discusses these four ways of thinking:
* there are those who stress the positive evidence (for empowerment) and are essentially optimistic about the possibility of sustainable micro-finance programs world-wide empowering women
* another school of thought recognizes the limitations to empowerment, but explains those with poor program design;
* others recognize the limitations of micro-finance for promoting empowerment, but see it as a key ingredient as important in themselves within a strategy to alleviate poverty;
empowerment in this view needs to be addressed by other means;
* then there are those who see micro-finance programs as a waste of resources.
Where do you all stand on this debate? Are these well developed approaches?
What would you modify in the rhetoric? What typed of indications suggest effective women's empowerment?
-Brian
