CGI is about sound, accountable investments, leveraged for maximum impact. To that end, microfinance is constantly coming up as one way in which investors can make a difference while earning returns on their investment.
So far, close to 3 million micro-entrepreneurs received access to funding thanks to CGI commitments to 270 microfinance institutions. According to onPhilanthropy's blog "BUZZ" this and other CGI successes represent a "New Clinton Metric: People Reached (Not Dollars Raised)."
Want to get involved in the microcredit movement? Make your own loans at Kiva.org or find a group in your community advocating for microcredit. And be sure to sure to let us know about commitment to this issue or any other at MyCommitment.org!
Kolleen Bouchane is the former Education for All Campaign Manager at RESULTS. She is currently working on a Masters in Conflict, Security and Development at Kings College, University of London.
September 28, 2007 This is a
September 28, 2007
This is a great initiative of Bill Clinton's. I admire his vision and unwavering dedication to make a 'difference.' The past six years I have coordinated, taught micro finance and Native Entrepreneurship to member of California's American Indian tribes. Entrepreneurship is an important avenue to self-reliance; not only, but self-respect as a contributing member of the community.
G. David Singleton
I am a consultant to The
I am a consultant to The Grameen Foundation here in Washington DC. I just returned from conducting a business process management workshop for a growing MFI (micro finance institution) in North Africa.
The success of the MFI movement in measurably reducing abject poverty is unquestioned. However most of these are subsitance loans. The loans are used to support an improved standard of living for a family or extended family. This is a good thing. What seems missing is the next stage, beyond lending. Investment in those few micro business that have the capacity to grow into full fledged commercially viable businesses is generally not available. The gap between the MFI and the commercial banking sector is still far too wide in most areas of the world to provide any real capitalization.
What is needed is a new paradigm, one that melds business development and investment. A Micro Venture Capital effort ... anyone interested?
I'm from the UK but it was a
I'm from the UK but it was a former Democrat researcher who introduced me to social enterprise and a new paradigm for business which he took to Russia to leverage a project to created 14,000 loans for new businesses,
http://p-ced.com/Projects/Russia/IntroductiontoTomsk/tabid/295/Default.aspx
Since then we've worked together, applying the same principle to a Marshall Plan for Ukraine and having delivered it 2 years ago, launched a project for models of care for disabled orphans just a week ago
http://p-ced.com/Projects/Ukraine/MarshallPlan/tabid/122/Default.aspx
The key, as I've heard President Clinton say himself, is the Grameen model that loans to poor people without requiring collateral.
We're ready and we've begun.
I have been President of
I have been President of ACIM Indian Communities in Madagascar from 1989 till 2000
and we have successfully supported many
projects in health care, poverty and others.
for a microcredit project we have bring
small support for 10.000us$, and it is
running very well since 1996.recovery is more
than 95% run now by APEM PAPEM SIPEM.
I am always ready as to participate for
better world. my preference area now is Asia.
I live in the United States
I live in the United States of America, and I am a 5th Generation in this country, but I am facing some severe economic hardships and now I see it going Globally all over the world in fact. I would love to have a small business loan so that I could help myself, and not depend on this Disablity Check that I receive for $624 a month. It never pays the bills and I always have to find other means to make ends meet each and every month. I am 54 years old, and my life is three fourths over, but I would love to go into my own business and leave something for my grandchildren to live off of after I depart from this earth. I am the mother of 7 children and 4 grandchildren. I have always been poor, and never have had an opportunity to enjoy the finer things in this life, but I did work, but it was all on low paying jobs. Can you help me to find out about a loan for someone with dreams and aspirations so that I can get on with my life?
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