2010 WAEMU- Microfinance Analysis & Benchmarking Report

Since 2008 and after more than a decade of strong growth, the microfinance sector of the WAEMU experienced a slowed growth due to indirect effects of the financial crisis, which led to a slowdown of certain categories of economic actors. Growth was also impacted by the restructuring and consolidation of activities for a certain number of MFIs. A strategy of strengthening the existing activities, driven by some of the large mutual networks during 2007, seems to have extended to medium and smaller MFIs as well. The strategy was certainly acerbated by the fear of adverse effects from the 2008 financial crisis on regional economies. Moreover, the new regulatory framework, that has been ratified and enacted in most states of the Union, is also pushing for restructuring the sector, notably through the transformation/consolidation of small isolated entities that are often operating without approval. Please click here to read more

*This article is also available in French