Microfinance Handbook: An Institutional and Financial Perspective

Publication Date: 1998
Published by: World Bank - Sustainable Banking with the Poor (SBP)
Document Type: Book

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A technical manual aimed at assisting microfinance practicioners in the design and implementation of their activities

This technical manual is a culmination of the ‘Sustainable Banking with the Poor’ project.

The manual aims to:

• Assist microfinance practitioners, donors and policy makers in the design and implementation of their activities;
• Gather and present up-to-date knowledge that experts in microfinance have directly or indirectly contributed;
• Bring together, in a single source, guiding principles and tools that will promote sustainable microfinance and create viable institutions;
• Provide a comprehensive source for the design, implementation, evaluation and management of microfinance activities.

It covers:

• The policy, legal and regulatory issues relevant to microfinance development;
• The key elements in the process of building financial institutions with effective outreach to the poor;
• The institutional and financial aspects of microfinance;
• An update of lessons learned and best practices in the field.

The manual consists of three parts:

• Issues in microfinance provision addresses broad considerations of microfinance activities, including identifying target markets, conducting impact analysis, choosing products and services and possible institutional issues.
• Designing and monitoring financial products and services addresses more specific issues in the design of lending/savings products and the development of management information systems.
• Measuring performance and managing viability provides tools for evaluating the financial health of a microfinance institution (MFI) and managing operational issues concerning financial statements.