2009 Asia Microfinance Analysis & Benchmarking Report

The 2009 MIX regional report on Asia presents a first opportunity to look at potential effects of the global financial crisis on microfinance institutions in Asia using a large volume of performance information. In this paper, we will cover benchmarks and regional trends for Asia, with special emphasis on the risk factors emphasized through the financial crisis. Operational indicators for most MFIs remained stable through 2008 and growth and outreach figures show little effect from the crisis. However, indicators of credit, financing, and currency risk are more forward-looking and investigation of these metrics helps to show several pockets of potential concern. Overall, the increasing transparency of microfinance institutions in the region enables all practitioners to have better tools available for analysis of key issues.

The 2009 Asia Microfinance Analysis & Benchmarking Report, produced by Microfinance Information Exchange, includes benchmarks based on data collected from 283 microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific, as well as analysis of outreach and growth, funding structure, MFI operations, and a special case study on currency risk in Cambodia. To read the full report, click on the link to the right.