PLP in Using Microfinance and Consumer Lending to Improve Access to Energy Services in Eastern and Southern Africa (2005-2007)
This program seeks innovative financial solutions to microenterprise demand for modern and appropriate energy services and products. This PLP arises from increased interest and awareness in the topic and from a partnership between USAID’s Energy team, including the USAID-supported Global Village Energy Partnership-GVEP, and its Microenterprise Development Team. The following institutions participate in the program.• FINCA Uganda—in partnership with Triodos Renewable Energy based in the United Kingdom
• MicroKing Finance – Zimbabwe
• Umeme Jua Ltd. – Tanzania, in partnership with Tunakopesha Ltd. , FINCA Tanzania, and Saving and Credit Union League Ltd Tanzania (SCCULT).
With additional support from the Citigroup Foundation, research is being conducted with the following MFIs in Africa and Asia on financial solutions for modern and appropriate energy services and products.
• Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Bank - India
• Sarvodaya Economic Enterprise Development Services Guarantee Ltd. (SEEDS) - Sri Lanka
• Nirdhan Utthan Bank Limited (NUBL) - Nepal
• Amret - Cambodia
• Faulu Kenya Ltd. - Kenya
• Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCCO) – Kenya
PLP in Strategic Alliances for Financial Services and Market Linkages in Rural Areas (2005-2007)
This program explores and tests ways of using strategic alliances in rural areas to facilitate access to a range of financial and nonfinancial services and solutions that help microenterprises better integrate into growing markets, creating economic growth and wealth in poor, rural communities. The following institutions participate in the program.• ACCION – Paraguay
• American Refugee Committee (ARC) - Sierra Leone
• Caja Nor - Peru
• EDA Rural Systems - India
• IDEI - India
• KENYA BDS – Kenya
• MEDA and ABW - Tajikistan
PLP in Improving Efficiency—Maximizing Human and Physical Resources (2004–06)
This program examines the strategies, tools, and technologies that microfinance institutions (MFIs) can use to efficiently maximize existing human and physical resources, with a focus on low-technology solutions to increase staff productivity, decrease personnel or administrative costs, and increase outreach and client retention. The following institutions participate in the program.• The Covenant Center for Development—India
• Fundo de Credito Comunitario—Mozambique
• Micro Credit Organization “MI–BOSPO” Tuzla—Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Microfund for Women-Jordan
• Pro Mujer (Programs for Women)—Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru
PLP in Poverty Assessment Tools Field Testing (2003–04)
Participants in this program field test poverty assessment tools that hold promise for potential replication in diverse settings and institutions. These field tests complement USAID’s Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project (AMAP) effort to test rigorous, practitioner-oriented client poverty assessment tools and criteria for certifying them. The following institutions participate in the program.• ACCION International—Haiti and Peru
• Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA)—13 countries in Africa, Europe and Eurasia, and Latin America
• Freedom from Hunger—Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Philippines
• Opportunity International—Colombia, Ghana, the Philippines, and Russia
PLP in Putting Client Assessment to Work (2002–05)
This program examines MFI strategies, tools, and technologies for becoming more client-focused and market-led when providing products and services and facilitating internal management operations. The following institutions participate in the program.• Assocation for Social Advancement (ASA)—India
• Freedom from Hunger, CRECER, and ACLAM—Bolivia and Haiti
• Microdevelopment Fund (MDF)–Kamurj—Armenia
• Microfinance Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS)—Europe and Eurasia
• Pro Mujer—Bolivia and Peru
• URWEGO—Rwanda
PLP in BDS Market Assessment (2002–04)
This program supports the innovative strategies and efforts of BDS facilitators as they conduct and use market assessments to design targeted interventions that help create wealth in poor communities and promote economic growth by linking microenterprises to productive markets. The following institutions participate in the program.• EDA Rural Systems Pvt. Ltd—India
• Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG)—Kenya
• International Development Enterprises (IDE)—Bangladesh and India
• Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and Entrepreneurship and Career Development Institute (ECDI)—Pakistan
• PKPEK (Association for Community Economic Development and Study of Microenterprises)—Indonesia
• Swisscontact—Kenya
• Triple Trust Organisation (TTO)—South Africa
• World Education and Jigiyaso Ba Credit Union Federation—Mali