Microfinance: the Challenge of Accessing Global Capital Markets

The main theme of this project is the facilitation and development of microfinance, which is the "provision of loans, savings, insurance, payments, and other basic financial services to low-income populations" .
The project is dedicated to identifying and evaluating existing options for microfinance institutions (MFIs) who wish to access the funds necessary to take advantage of the huge potential market for microfinance. This topic is particularly important as the current lack of funds remains the major growth constraint for the microfinance industry.
global capital markets would enable MFIs to raise capital for lower rates and longer terms than local financing. Ways for MFIs to access global capital markets are therefore explored in details. The following three sources of commercial financing are then outlined and evaluated in the context of MFIs: bonds, securitization and (quasi-)equity.
However, although microfinance can be profitable, investors remain reluctant to invest in MFIs. We identify the main concerns preventing substantial investment in this area as: concerns over the inadequate risk-return profile, a lack of expertise or experience in the area, operational problems such as pricing, liquidity and legal issues and the perception of microfinance primarily as a form of charity. We then propose ways to deal with these concerns and promote investment in microfinance.
We demonstrate not only how microfinance can offer a relatively low level of systematic risk through its low volatility and weak correlation with political and economic events, but also how it offers a good opportunity for diversification. After showing certain comparability between investments in venture capital and microfinance, we suggest targeting venture capital investors as a priority in gaining access to equity capital.
Having explored and concentrated on the financial aspects of microfinance, we then remind the reader of huge benefits it represents in terms of poverty reduction in under-developed countries.
We conclude by mentioning some further challenges faced by microfinance, such as risk hedging, especially in the context of exchange rate risk, and achieving the three factors that determine a country's ability to manage microfinance efficiently: political stability, economic security and cultural readiness.