Economic Crisis Impact | Microbanking Bulletin, June 2009 (Issue No. 18)

The newest issue of the MicroBanking Bulletin focuses on the global economic crisis and the impact it is having on microfinance, its clients and other aspects of the industry. This issue includes feature articles from Pakistan Microfinance Network and the Grameen Foundation to share the MFI and network perspective, Deutsche Bank to discuss the funders perspective, and a digest of a new survey by CGAP. The MFI Benchmark Trend Lines are more robust than ever, covering the years 2005 - 2007 with 487 MFIs participating.

Several trends come to light for this time period, including:

• Persistent rate of growth of borrower outreach.
• The median MFI in all regions had accessed commercial funding to fund more than half its portfolio.
• MFI profits have flattened relative to their asset bases.
• As MFIs mature, efficiency gains have become slimmer.

Articles in this issue:

The Impact of Inflation on Microfinance Clients and its Implications for Microfinance Practitioners

*S. Akbar Zaidi, Maheen Saleem Farooqi and Aleena Naseem, for the Pakistan Microfinance Network*

Elevated Food Prices — Impact on Microfinance Clients

*Zaved Ahmed and Camilla Nestor, Grameen Foundation*

Microfinance: Where Do We Stand Today?

*Ajit Jain and Caroline Norton, Deutsche Bank*

The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Microfinance Institutions — Results from a CGAP Survey

*Xavier Reille and Christoph Kneiding, CGAP*

Breaking It Down: Subsidy Dependence Index vs. Financial Self-Sufficiency

*Scott Gaul, Product Development Manager, MIX*

MFI Trend Lines Analysis

*Blaine Stephens, COO, MIX*

Trend Lines 2005 – 2007 MFI Benchmark Tables