Small Money Big Impact

CHAPTER 12Discussion of Resultsand Conclusions

Microfinance is not charity. This is business: business with a social objective, which is to help people get out of poverty.

Muhammad Yunus¹

Microfinance perfectly synchronizes the interests of borrowers, investors and society. This is an outstanding achievement – and unprecedented in the world of asset management.

New technologies, such as mobile money transfer systems or the use of satellite data, will only serve to further boost the productivity of an already effective operative business.

In the years to come, an increasing number of people will be able to benefit from an even more efficient microfinance sector. At the same time, microfinance will become an important part of professional investment portfolios, thanks to its attractive risk‐return patterns.

12.1 WIN‐WIN‐WIN

The significant decrease in global poverty since the creation of the MDGs in 2000 can undoubtedly also be credited to microfinance, a powerful and effective tool for the financial integration of the poor segments of the population and households. Society in general and investors in microfinance in particular also benefit from it, for the simple fact that social and financial return are not mutually exclusive, but can evidently be met simultaneously.

Another of microfinance's convincing aspects is that it respects and trusts its micro entrepreneurs. They ...