Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance

'Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance' brings together the latest information on microfinance institutional sustainability from leading international experts and microfinance practitioners in four Latin American countries. Each chapter focuses one topic: risk management; good governance; interest rates; microinsurance; housing microfinance; microleasing; disaster preparedness; or new technologies. The papers in the book are the result of a series of meetings financed by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development and supported by the World Bank's Global Development Learning Network. The Bank engaged practitioners in these four countries in response to a movement in some South American governments to impose policies and practices that would, in the long run, reduce the microfinance institutions' (MFIs') sustainability. The meetings were designed to strengthen MFIs by disseminating innovative approaches in the above eight areas, promoting a South-South dialogue, encouraging greater ties between these MFIs, and highlighting the Bank's ability to mobilize international experts and local practitioners. The discussions took place between 2006 and 2008. 'Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance' covers risk management topics such as risk management systems, good governance, interest rates, and microinsurance. The authors present information on new product development and efficient delivery methodologies including housing microfinance, microleasing, disaster preparedness, and new technologies. A Web site (www.dgroups.org) provided a forum for further discussion and knowledge sharing. 'Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance' is intended for MFI board members, managers, and staff, students and professors of microfinance, and government regulators and supervisors.