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Microfinance Pasifika Publications - Reports

Does microcredit really help poor people?', by Richard Rosenberg, 2010.
This report asks whether or not micredit - or microfinance more generally - is being oversold? It highlights how microfinance and microcredit may not lift people out of poverty, however, they are vital tools in helping them cope with poverty by smoothing consumption, dealing with emergencies and to help pay for big ticket expenses. This is an important part of microcredits and microfinances attractiveness to poor people and is the reason behind the  high repayment rates - as people want continued access to credit.

PFIP Note Series: Women's Financial Inclusion Significantly Improves Household Wellbeing, Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme, 2009.
This report discusses the conclusion from 'Financial Capability, Financial Competence and well being in Rural Fijian households' - an in depth study of rural households in 2008. It concluded that - "The well-being of a rural household can be quantifiably improved if only one person in that household attends financial literacy training and has a savings account. A significantly higher level of well being is achieved when that person is a woman". It examines how women are more likely than men to have a greater understanding of the household finances and financial goals, however, women are less likely than men to have access to bank accounts and other financial services and training. Therefore because women are more competent than men at managing household finances giving women access to financial training would play a pivotal role in improving the well being of households.

Building a Mobile Money Distribution Network in Papua New Guinea, Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme, 2009.
The purpose of this study was to look at how mobile money services could expand in PNG. The authors sought to identify and analyze existing distribution networks that might serve as potential agents to provide cash in/out services. Existing channels for moving money “downstream,” such as the payment of salaries, purchases of commodities, and domestic money transfers and channels for moving money “upstream,” mostly through the payment for goods and services, were examined. The industries, entities, and distribution networks that are major movers of cash in, and out, of the provinces were also considered. Transaction types that have the greatest volume and frequency, particularly for low-income households, were sought. Through this analysis, the authors hoped to identify the potential for synergies between existing channels and a future mobile money agent network.This paper includes a brief review of the current environment for both the financial and telecommunications sectors, which is well documented in other sources. The main sections of the document include an analysis of the movement of money in PNG, observations on the demand and potential for building a mobile money system, and constraints to the effort.

2008 Asia Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report', by MIX and Intellecap, 2009.
The Asia Microfinance Analysis and Benchmarking Report 2008 draws on fiscal year (FY) 2007 data of 244 MFIs submitted for benchmarking analysis and data from a total 313 MFIs with published profiles on MIX Market. The data cover 16 countries across South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific (EAP): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from South Asia and Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Thailand and Vietnam from EAP. A smaller panel of 184 MFIs provided sufficient data for analyzing performance trends over the 2006 – 07 period. Table 1 presents a snapshot of the region, serving close to 47 million active borrowers with more than 10 billion USD in loans and sourcing more than 7 billion USD in deposits.

National Conference on Micro-Finance: The Way Forward, by Mr Serge Belloni, 2005.
Since 2000 microfinance has been promoted from a marginal and experimental business into a core activity in the development policy and institutional setting of Fiji. This article explores microfinance in Fiji and the roles of the Reserve Bank, the government, non-government organisations play in the microfinance industry. The article also looks at the issues of competition and its limits, guarantees and subsidies and the legal framework of microfinance institutions.

Report on the National Conference on Revitalizing Rural Finance in Solomon Islands, Central Bank of Solomon Islands, 2005.
This report summarieses the purpose and outcomes of the National Conference on Revitalising Rural Finance in Solom Islands in 2005. The purpose of the conference was to examine the options available to improve financial services in Solomon Islands and how to overcome the many impediments to rural financial services delivery.

The Changing Face of the Microfinance Industry: Building Financial Systems for the Poor', Asian Development Bank, 2004.
This report explores the changing nature of the microfinance industry. It begins with a brief history of the microfinance industry in Asia and how this has changed and developed over time. It examines the increased role and the promotion of microfinance by central banks and other commercial banks and how the commercialisation of microfinance has been increasing. It also provides case study examples from many different Asian countries.

Financial Sector Development in the Pacific Developing Member Countries: The Regional Report , Asian Development Bank, 2001.
This regional report is the first of two volumes providing a comprehensive analysis of financial sector development in seven pacific region countries that are members of the Asian Development Bank. It consolidates the findings of individual country reports and makes recommendations on strategies for the sustainable development of sound financial systems, accelerating the growth of the financial system and thus economic development in the region.

Chapter Six: Microfinance, Financial Sector Development in the Pacific Developing Member Countries: The Regional Report, Asian Development Bank, 2001.
Microfinance in the Pacific islands is at an early stage of development. There are a limited number of institutions providing microfinance to both urban and rural areas, mostly relying on government and donor subsidies for survival. This chapter examines the need for microfinance in Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) and documents the current supply of microfinance. Current modalities, capacity and performance, and the viability and sustainability of microfinance schemes are investigated. Lessons learned from past experience are also summarised.

UNDP Microfinance Assessment Report: Pacific Islands', by Ward and Yeoman International Consultants, 1997.
The UNDP Microfinance Assessment Report looks at the situation in the pacific island nations, the financial structure and banking industries. It examines successful and unsuccessful microfinance programmes by using case studies from different countries. It further looks into the demand for microfinance credit, issues with microcredit being specifically targeted at women borrowers, population densitites, banking and finance sectors and concludes with risks and considerations.