microfinance
Offering small, affordable loans to people not served by traditional banks has been called "a weapon against poverty and hunger" by the United Nations. Credit, along with mother financial services like savings, insurance, money transfers, and innovative payment mechanisms like mobile money can help transform the lives of those living in poverty. Socially oriented, Mercy Corps-sponsored microfinance institutions, savings and credit cooperatives, loan-guarantee programmes, and technical support reach more than one million people in over a dozen countries.
All stories about microfinance
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Central African Republic, Timor-Leste: Employees engaged to drive strategic community investment February 21, 2013
Western Union's new Innovation Awards ask employees to choose which Mercy Corps initiatives to invest in. The first two awards are funding economic development programmes in the Central African Republic and Timor-Leste.
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Haiti: What does resilience look like? January 22, 2013
Discussions at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting this week will focus on how to better prepare for and minimize disasters of the future. In Haiti, we've been investing in communities to do just that.
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Haiti: Funds will help thousands rebuild after Sandy November 1, 2012
While residents in the northeastern U.S. begin the recovery after Superstorm Sandy, our teams in Haiti continue a rapid assessment of the massive destruction it caused there over the weekend.
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Indonesia: Cleaner tempeh, for health and profit August 1, 2012
About an hour’s drive from the capital of Jakarta, Ribiyanto, a 37-year-old small business owner, is going about his daily task of making tempeh. The product, which is derived from fermented soybean, is a staple in the Indonesian diet.
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Japan: Progress report: One year of emergency relief and continued economic recovery March 5, 2012
One year after the worst natural disaster in Japan’s history — the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 — Mercy Corps continues to work with our partner agencies, Peace Winds Japan and PlaNet Finance Japan, to help the Japanese people rebuild.
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Mongolia: Yak slippers point to the future of small business February 22, 2012
Holding a child's slipper — deep chocolate brown with a strong leather sole — I marvel at the fine warmth of the yak felt and realize this is not just a shoe.
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Haiti: Helping small business owners succeed January 11, 2012
Two years after the devastating earthquake, small businesses are more crucial for Haiti’s economy than ever before.
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Nepal: From unbanked to borrowers December 14, 2011
If you’re a bank, eastern Nepal might not seem like the most desirable place to open new branches.
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Haiti: Insuring women-owned businesses against natural disaster December 1, 2011
I have been in Haiti for a mere 36 hours and have already waded through a river, trekked through rice fields, climbed mountains and stumbled upon a buzzing open market in a remote village in the Central Plateau.
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Ethiopia: A sense of pride September 14, 2011
We were recently asked to create a large-scale permanent photography collection for the gallery attached to our Portland Action Centre. This image by Thatcher Cook was one of the selections.