Academic literature on the topic 'Microfinance Bangladesh Case studies'

Most of the earlier studies examined the impact of microfinance on poverty reduction. Few studies emphasized on the broader policy framework and implementation process—the actors and factors associated with the process, which are critical to make an impact. This study is an attempt to explore whether public microfinance service reaches to the poorest through qualitative case study evidence. Some quantitative studies argued that non-profit-oriented Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have greater outreach than profit-oriented MFIs. This study argues that even the non-profit MFIs could not reach to the poorest through adoption of neoliberal governmentality by demonstrating the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), a public organization dedicated for poverty reduction in Bangladesh, as a case. The study found that neoliberal policy of market solution of poverty problem provides a financial market for the better off instead of the poor.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine two interventions toward women’s empowerment in Bangladesh – formal employment and microfinance, and to highlight two case studies supporting these interventions. Design/methodology/approach This interpretive-evaluative inquiry of the state of employment and microfinance as important interventions in women’s empowerment in Bangladesh is based on both primary and secondary sources. Theoretical insights and empirical evidence from previous research along with data from various sources inform the arguments. Findings Bangladeshi women are making steady progress toward empowerment through a gradual increase in female participation in the workforce, especially in the ready-made garment manufacturing sector. The expanding microfinance arena has also been providing a growing number of women the opportunity to undertake productive small-scale business ventures that also provide informal employment to unemployed women in rural areas. However, social and cultural constraints and overt conservatism has been a daunting challenge for enterprising women and those in formal employment continue to suffer from discrimination, harassment and unfavorable working conditions. Originality/value The paper will be of value to both researchers and policy makers in Bangladesh as it seeks to relate two specific interventions toward women’s empowerment from a broad conceptual perspective and interpretive analysis.

Microfinance is considered to be the panacea for eradicating poverty from third-world society and this claim by non-government organizations (NGOs) is not unfounded. Evidence from Bangladesh reveals a partial success with respect to this viewpoint. Bangladesh is a poverty-ridden country; however, poor people in rural Bangladesh have shown significant material gains with regard to their lifestyles and it is no longer the case that they only have the bare minimum of food. Despite this significant improvement, it is still confusing as to whether these people have managed to cross the poverty line or not. Data show that poor people never stop borrowing money from the NGOs. The cycle of taking and retaking has made them dependent rather than independent agents in their society. With this viewpoint under consideration, this article seeks to explain the chronological sequence of events involved in taking credit. The ontological position of this study is interpretative in nature and such a position has allowed us to employ both observation and case studies as methodological tools for analysing our area of interest. Finally, this article argues that in order to understand the role of microfinance in Bangladeshi society, rethinking is required.

This article constitutes a summary of the literatures and practices on the microfinance industry and its contribution, the status of people with disabilities (PWDs), and the case studies for financial inclusion in Bangladesh. Many Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are operating to serve all segments of the clients for financial inclusion. People with Disabilities encounter several exclusions in the mainstream microfinance institutions in Bangladesh. At the same time, MFIs faces numerous challenges to serve these people. Even if it is not a formal analysis, it is still found that PWDs encounter tremendous discrimination such as social, political, physical, cultural, environmental; serious barriers including formal and self-employment, less access to credit, government support and social safety net system. On the other hand, these people often put themselves into ‘benefit traps’. Microfinance institutions do not realize that many disabled people are economically active, that disabled customers expect service, and do not know how to adapt products for disabled people. The profitable partnership between MFIs and Disabled People’s Organization (DPOs) are absent in practice. The government’s social safety nets programme is also very limited. Economic rehabilitation would come into progress when integration happens by blending social protection and necessary resources for income generation.

Poverty is economic, social, political and even moral issue all over the world. Microfinance has been designed to eliminate poverty and may help marginal people to materialize their dreams. Microfinance has been formalized primarily in Bangladesh with this concept. Grameen Bank (GB) has been serving large number of people below poverty level here. Initially, microfinance institutions have been supported by the Government or Donor assuming its positive impact on borrowers. However, ambiguous impacts have been reported in several studies that make microfinance questionable. Therefore, this study intent to measure the impact of microfinance on GB borrowers through the process of qualitative changes in borrowers lives. The process has been measured by some case studies for participant and non-participant borrowers using Modified Household Economic Portfolio Model (M - HEPM). Our qualitative analysis shows that microfinance makes positive changes in the process of borrowers lives observed through financial and activity diaries of the borrowers.

Women constitute not only half of the world’s population, but also sway the growth of the other half. They produce half of the world’s food supply and account for 60% of the work force, but comprise 10% of the world’s economy and surprisingly own less than 1% of the real estate. They have little access to productive resources and negligible control over family income. This discrimination is the consequence of gender bias which forms an inherent part of the global society. Examples from survey will validate the statement. The index ranking of 151 countries on gender inequality in addressing poverty, education, basic health, employment (income), violence and political participation, contained in various Human Development Report prepared by the United Nations Development Program since 1995 till 2003, shows that “no country treat women as well as men.” Despite such investments in time and labour by women, why is there so much discrimination, inequality and why are women termed as “poorest of the poor”? The main objective of this paper is to focus on women in enterprise development in Bangladesh. However, before going into the main area, the paper tries to analyze the need and reasons for micro-enterprise development of women. The paper is divided into three main sections. The first section deals with a brief discussion on the status of women and poverty in Bangladesh. The second section focuses on women and micro- enterprise development. The third section discusses the problems faced by women in enterprise development. The fourth section focuses on the interventions required to enhance women entrepreneurship development. The last section deals with the future provisions. The paper is prepared mainly on the basis of secondary information, review of previous research work, the author’s own experience and knowledge on women enterprise on some case studies of the positive and negative effects of microenterprise of women.

ABSTRAK Pengelolaan pembangunan desa islami adalah konsep pembangunan desa yang memiliki karakteristik tercapainya tujuan pembangunan sosial ekonomi yang berdimensi holistik, seimbang antara aspek material dan spiritual. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pembahasan kajian-kajian terdahulu secara sistematis tentang konsep dan praktik pengelolaan pembangunan desa dalam perspektif islam. Dalam rangka melakukan review publikasi artikel secara sistematis, riset ini menggunakan standar protokol RAMESES. Hasil penelitian ini terbagi menjadi dua tema utama, yaitu peran dan fungsi lembaga keuangan mikro syariah dalam pembangunan desa dan Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat dalam pengelolaan pembangunan desa. Tema pertama menghasilkan tiga subtema: praksis keuangan mikro syariah di Bangladesh, Malaysia, dan Indonesia. Tema kedua menghasilkan satu subtema yaitu peranan Pesantren dalam mendukung pengelolaan pembangunan desa. Hasilnya memberikan landasan untuk mengisi ruang-ruang yang belum dimasuki untuk membangun pengelolaan pembangunan desa yang komprehensif berdasarkan prinsip atau nilai Islam yang ideal. Kata kunci: Islami, Pengelolaan Pembangunan Desa, Systematic Literature Review. ABSTRACT Islamic village development management is a village development concept that has the characteristics of achieving socio-economic development goals with a holistic dimension, balanced between material and spiritual aspects. This study aims to systematically review the discussion of previous studies on the concepts and practices of village development management from an Islamic perspective. To conduct the article review systematically, this research was carried out using the RAMESES protocol standard. The results of this study are divided into two main themes, namely the role and function of Islamic microfinance institutions in village development and non-governmental organizations in managing village development. The first theme produces three sub-themes: the practice of Islamic microfinance in Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The second theme resulted in a sub-theme, namely Pesantren's role in supporting the management of village development. The results provide a foundation to fill in the gaps that have not been entered to build a comprehensive village development management based on ideal Islamic principles or values. Keywords: Islamic, Village Development Management, Systematic Literature Review. REFERENCES Abdullah, M. F., Amin, M. R., & Ab Rahman, A. (2017). Is there any difference between Islamic and conventional microfinance? Evidence from Bangladesh. International Journal of Business and Society, 18(S1), 97–112. Adejoke, A.-U. G. (2010). Sustainable microfinance institutions for poverty reduction: Malaysian experience. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2(4), 47–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1666023 Akhter, W., Akhtar, N., & Jaffri, S. K. A. (2009). Islamic micro-finance and poverty alleviation: A case of Pakistan. 2nd CBRC, Lahore, Pakistan, 1–8. Al-Jayyousi, O. (2009). Islamic values and rural sustainable development. Rural21, 39–41. Alwyni, F. A., & Salleh, M. S. (2019). Discourses on development and the Muslim world. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 10(11). https://doi.org/10.30845/ijbss.v10n11a16 Anwar, A. Z., Susilo, E., Rohman, F., Santosa, P. B., & Gunanto, E. Y. A. (2019). Integrated financing model in Islamic microfinance institutions for agriculture and fisheries sector. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 16(4), 303–314. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.16(4).2019.26 Anwarul Islam, K. . (2016). Rural development scheme: A case study on Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited. International Journal of Finance and Banking Research, 2(4), 129. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfbr.20160204.12 Aslam, M. N. (2014). Role of Islamic microfinance in poverty alleviation in Pakistan: An empirical approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 4(4), 143–152. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarafms/v4-i4/1288 Bebbington, A., Dharmawan, L., Fahmi, E., & Guggenheim, S. (2006). Local capacity, village governance, and the political economy of rural development in Indonesia. World Development, 34(11), 1958–1976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.11.025 Begum, H., Alam, A. S. A. F., Mia, M. A., Bhuiyan, F., & Ghani, A. B. A. (2019). Development of Islamic microfinance: A sustainable poverty reduction approach. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 35(3), 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeas-01-2018-0007 Begum, H., Alam, M. R., Ferdous Alam, A. S. A., & Awang, A. H. (2015). Islamic microfinance as an instrument for poverty alleviation. Advanced Science Letters, 21(6), 1708–1711. https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2015.6123 Belton, B., & Filipski, M. (2019). Rural transformation in central Myanmar: By how much, and for whom? Journal of Rural Studies, 67(February), 166–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.02.012 Bhuiyan, A. B., Siwar, C., Ismail, A. G., & Talib, B. (2011). Financial sustainability & outreach of MFIs: A comparative study of aim in Malaysia and RDS of Islami Bank Bangladesh. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 5(9), 610–619. Budiwiranto, B. (2009). Pesantren and participatory development: The case of the Pesantren Maslakul Huda of Kajen, Pati, Central Java. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 03(02), 267–296. Elwardi, D. (2018). The role of Islamic microfinance in poverty alleviation : Lessons from Bangladesh Experience. In MPRA Paper (No. University of Muenchen). Fatimatuzzahroh, F., Abdoellah, O. S., & Sunardi, S. (2015). The potential of pesantren in sustainable rural development. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 3(2), 257–278. Retrieved from https://journal.scadindependent.org/index.php/jipeuradeun/article/view/66 Febianto, I., Binti Johari, F., & Zulkefli, Z. B. K. (2019). The role of Islamic microfinance for poverty alleviation in Bandung, Indonesia. Ihtifaz: Journal of Islamic Economics, Finance, and Banking, 2(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.12928/ijiefb.v2i1.736 Fianto, B. A., Gan, C., & Hu, B. (2019). Financing from Islamic microfinance institutions: Evidence from Indonesia. Agricultural Finance Review, 79(5), 633–645. https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-10-2018-0091 Hassan, A. (2014). The challenge in poverty alleviation: Role of Islamic microfinance and social capital. Humanomics, 30(1), 76–90. https://doi.org/10.1108/H-10-2013-0068 Hassan, A. A., Qamar, M. U. R., & Chachi, A. (2017). Role of Islamic microfinance scheme in poverty alleviation and well-being of women implemented. İslam Ekonomisi ve Finansi Dergisi, 1, 1–32. Retrieved from http://dergipark.gov.tr/download/issue-file/11046 Hassan, A., & Saleem, S. (2017). An Islamic microfinance business model in Bangladesh: Its role in alleviation of poverty and socio-economic well-being of women. Humanomics, 33(1), 15–37. https://doi.org/10.1108/H-08-2016-0066 Hosen, M. N., & Fitria, S. (2018). The Performance of Islamic rural banks in Indonesia: 2010-2015. European Research Studies Journal, 21(Special Issue 3), 423–440. https://doi.org/10.35808/ersj/1393 Hudaefi, F. A., & Heryani, N. (2019). The practice of local economic development and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah: Evidence from A Pesantren in West Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 12(5), 625–642. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-08-2018-0279 Ibrahim, M., & Murtala, S. (2018). The Role of Islamic microfinance institutions in alleviating poverty in Bauchi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Service, Management and Engineering, 5(1), 9–22. Islam, M. T., Omori, K., & Yoshizuka, T. (2005). Rural development policy and administrative patterns in Bangladesh : A Critical Review. Bull. Fac. Life Env. Sci, 10, 19–26. Kazimoto, P., & Fukofuka, S. (2013). The financial management challenges on the village socio-economic development. International Forum, 16(2), 37–50. Khaleequzzaman, M., & Shirazi, N. S. (2012). Islamic microfinance - An inclusive approach with special reference to poverty eradication in Pakistan. IIUM Journal of Economics and Management, 20(1), 19–49. Kraus, S., Breier, M., & Dasí-Rodríguez, S. (2020). The art of crafting a systematic literature review in entrepreneurship research. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 16(3), 1023–1042. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00635-4 Laila, T. (2010). Islamic microfinance for alleviating poverty and sustaining peace. World Universities Congress, 1–9. Li, Y., Fan, P., & Liu, Y. (2019). What makes better village development in traditional agricultural areas of China? Evidence from long-term observation of typical villages. Habitat International, 83(October 2018), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2018.11.006 Mamun, A., Uddin, M. R., & Islam, M. T. (2017). An Integrated approach to Islamic Microfinance for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. Üniversitepark Bülten, 6(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.22521/unibulletin.2017.61.3 Mohamed, E. F., & Fauziyyah, N. E. (2020). Islamic microfinance for poverty alleviation : A systematic literature. International Journal of Economics, Management and Accounting, 28(1), 141–163. Muhammad Syukri Salleh. (2011). Islamic-based development for post-tsunami Aceh: A theoritical construct. Media Syariah: Wahana Kajian Hukum Islam Dan Pranata Sosial, 13(2), 163–168. Muhammad Syukri Salleh. (2015a). An Islamic approach to poverty management: The Ban Nua Way. International Journal of Contemporary Applied Sciences, 2(7), 186–205. Muhammad Syukri Salleh. (2015b). Islamic economics revisited: Re-contemplating unresolved structure and assumptions. 8th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance, (January). Mustari, M. (2014). The roles of the institution of pesantren in the development of rural society: A study in kabupaten Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Nusantara Islam, 1(2), 13–35. https://doi.org/10.15575/ijni.v1i1.34 Mustari, M. (2018). Institution of pesantren as a contributing factor in developing rural communities. Socio Politica, 8(1), 71–89. Nasrin, N., & Sarker, S. B. (2014). Disbursement and recovery of rural credit: A study on Rajapur Branch of Rupali Bank Limited. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 16(11), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.9790/487x-161161523 Onakoya, A. B., & Onakoya, A. O. (2013). Islamic microfinance as a poverty alleviation tool: Expectations from Ogun State, Nigeria. Scholarly Journal of Business Administration, 3(2), 36–43. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). (2006). A paradigm shift in rural development. Rahim Abdul Rahman, A. (2010). Islamic Microfinance: An ethical alternative to poverty alleviation. Humanomics, 26(4), 284–295. https://doi.org/10.1108/08288661011090884 Rahim, S. A. (2017). Evaluation of the effectiveness of training programmes of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, 11(3), 154–164. Rokhman, W. (2013). The effect of Islamic microfinance on poverty alleviation: Study in Indonesia. Economic Review – Journal of Economics and Business, XI(2), 21–30. Samsuddin, S. F., Shaffril, H. A. M., & Fauzi, A. (2020). Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, to the rural libraries we go! - a systematic literature review. Library and Information Science Research, 42(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.100997 Satar, N., & Kassim, S. (2020). Issues and challenges in financing the poor: lessons learned from Islamic microfinance institutions. EJIF - European Journal of Islamic Finance, 1(15), 1–8. Shaffril, H. A. M., Ahmad, N., Samsuddin, S. F., Samah, A. A., & Hamdan, M. E. (2020). Systematic literature review on adaptation towards climate change impacts among indigenous people in the Asia Pacific Regions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 258, 120595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120595 Suzuki, Y., Pramono, S., & Rufidah, R. (2016). Islamic microfinance and poverty alleviation program: Preliminary research findings from Indonesia. Share: Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Keuangan Islam, 5(1), 63–82. https://doi.org/10.22373/share.v5i1.910 Uddin, T. A., & Mohiuddin, M. F. (2020). Islamic social finance in Bangladesh: Challenges and opportunities of the institutional and regulatory landscape. Law and Development Review, 13(1), 265–319. https://doi.org/10.1515/ldr-2019-0072 Umar, H., Usman, S., & Purba, R. B. R. (2018). The influence of internal control and competence of human resources on village fund management and the implications on the quality of village financial reports. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 9(7), 1526–1531. Wajdi Dusuki, A. (2008). Banking for the poor: The role of Islamic banking in microfinance initiatives. Humanomics, 24(1), 49–66. https://doi.org/10.1108/08288660810851469 Wong, G., Greenhalgh, T., Westhorp, G., Buckingham, J., & Pawson, R. (2013). RAMESES publication standards: Meta-narrative reviews. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(5), 987–1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12092 Xalane, M. A. E., & Binti Che Mohd Salleh, M. (2018). Poverty alleviation in Mogadishu, Somalia: The role of Islamic microfinance. Global Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance 2018, 60–80. Yudha, E. P., Juanda, B., Kolopaking, L. M., & Kinseng, R. A. (2020). Rural development policy and strategy in the rural autonomy era. Case study of pandeglang regency-indonesia. Human Geographies, 14(1), 125–147. https://doi.org/10.5719/hgeo.2020.141.8

Solidarity economy theory has challenged the ideology and agenda of neoliberalism since the 1980s. However, are the two theories always opposed? For example, microcredit is often assessed positively as a practice of solidarity economy because it targets beneficiaries who are generally excluded or marginalised from a traditional financial infrastructure and enhances solidarity and reciprocity between people. However, other researchers have criticised it as an instrument for promoting and sustaining neoliberal politico-economic restructuring. This paper examines whether microcredit is part of solidarity economy or neoliberalism, using concrete examples of microcredit operations in rural Bangladesh. The following two questions will be addressed, as the tenets and effects of microcredit are judged, as supporting solidarity economy or neoliberalism. (i) Are microcredit services largely provided to economically or/and socially disadvantaged people? (ii) What relationships are built in local society, including microfinance institutions, through microcredit? This paper addresses these questions in field-based micro-level case studies and field data. In this examination, the paper will demonstrate and discuss articulation of the solidarity economy and neoliberalism, as well as how the effects of microcredit can be enhanced as a part of the solidarity economy instead of being an item on the neoliberal agenda.

Although Bangladesh is quite advanced in terms of setting up systems of social safety net (SSN) but the services in dealing climate change has gained little attention. On the other hand some specific public SSN programmes (SSNPs) like Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Food-For-Work (FFW), Rural Employment and Road Maintenance Programme (RERMP) and Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) through which most distressed and right less poor especially vulnerable rural women are benefitted, not yet tested whether the programmes promoted as climate proofed. Therefore the study was conducted for adapting those four SSNPs in dealing with climate change shocks like cyclone, flood, drought, water logging and salinity for escaping climate vulnerable poor from chronic poverty. Quantitative analysis has been made using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 data set. Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) session and Case Studies were performed for addressing current SSNPs with their weaknesses or effectiveness and scale up potentialities to explore better livelihood and food security options for climate poor. Relevant stakeholders in government and NGO programmes have been consulted to assess the feasibility of options for further strengthening of aforesaid SSNPs. It is found that the SSN intervention with VGD, FFW and RERMP have minimum scope in dealing with climate change although the said tools are important especially to disadvantaged rural women for creating their employment opportunity as well as poverty alleviation. The VGD beneficiaries can properly be engaged to sustainable income generation and microfinance activities for future saving to promote adaptive capacity which would enhance their resiliencies to cope with climate change. The dead or silted-up rivers, canals or ponds and irrigation channels can be excavated or re-excavated by operating the major workfare SSNPs like FFW and the excavated soil can be utilized for creating, maintaining or elevating rural roads, embankment and other infrastructures which are quite crucial for mitigating the flood, storm surge, water logging or salinity issues. The canals or ponds can additionally be utilized for enough harvesting of monsoon rain or flood water thus salinity and drought problems would be minimized for a better agricultural intervention in the affected areas. The RERMP beneficiaries can be engaged to maintain embankments and tree plantation at pond periphery or at barren land with their proper nursing, compost preparation etc. The CLP is found as a concrete example for achieving climate change adaptation to uplift the socio-economic status of chronic poor char dwellers to recurrent floods in Jamuna and Brahmaputra basins. This programme can be extended from an 18-month to a two-year period and should have to spread-up to the chars of other vulnerable flood prone areas of Bangladesh. A good agricultural marketing system is also essential for proper and timely marketing of CLP-products in the locality.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v2i2.11618 Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-2, issue-2: 78-92

Purpose This paper aims to identify incidences of default risks in microfinance. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individual borrowers in Grameen Bank. Upon completing the interview session from 40 respondents, the results of the interviews are interpreted by a comprehensive content analysis. Findings This study identifies the incidences of defaults in microfinance, which are post-disbursement monitoring, technical assistance, inexperienced field workers, weekly payment, accessible database, family member illness, hiding business, lack of motivation and over-stretched financial commitments. Among these incidences, the findings indicate that post-disbursement supervision is highly relevant in ensuring the success of microfinance because 80 per cent of the recipients of microfinance are illiterate women. Originality/value This study would be helpful for the investment companies, financial institutions, creditors and borrowers of microfinance. The financial institutions and investment companies need to identify borrower capacity and any obligation that may impede with repayment. It may help them to maximize returns on profit and minimize the risk of losses which contribute to economic growth.

Microfinance is not a new development. Its origin can be traced back to 1976, when Muhammad Yunus set up the Grameen Bank, as experiment, on the outskirts of Chittagong University campus in the village of Jobra, Bangladesh. Since then several microfinance institutions came up and have succeeded in reaching the poorest of the poor, and have devised new ground-breaking strategies with time for the fulfillment of their vision. These included the provision of collateral free loans to poor people, especially in rural areas, at full-cost interest rates that are repayable in frequent installments. Borrowers are organized into groups and peer pressure among them, which reduced the risk of default. Microfinance is now being considered as one of the most important and an effective mechanism for poverty alleviation. These are also effective mechanisms through which to disseminate precious information on ways to improve the health, education, legal rights, sanitation and other living standards, which are of relevant concerns for the poor. Above all, many micro-credit programs have targeted one of the most vulnerable groups in society – women, who live in households with little or almost no assets. By providing opportunities for self-employment, many studies have concluded that these programs have significantly improved women's security, autonomy, self-confidence and status within the household.

Our thesis is about microfinance and to investigate the impact of microfinance on the poor people of the society with the main focus on Bangladesh. We mainly concise our thesis through client’s (the poor people, who borrowed loan from microfinance institutions) perspective and build up our research based on it. Therefore, the objective of this study is to show how microfinance works, by using group lending methodology for reducing poverty and how it affects the living standard (income, saving etc.) of the poor people in Bangladesh. So on the light of our research objective; we have developed our research question, which is:

What is the impact of Microfinance on living standards, Empowerment and poverty alleviation of the poor people in Bangladesh?

We consider ourselves between the Positivist and Interpretivist researchers. Because, our main goal is not only to find out the mechanism of microfinance in Bangladesh, but also to find out that how this mechanism helps poor people to improve their living standards as: income, savings etc. By doing so, we believe that it will give us an upper hand, specially when it comes to finding answers to the questions raised in the problem statement.

One of the most important aspects of microfinance is savings mobilization, which is discussed in the theory part. Besides these, microfinance methodology, solidarity, human development and liquidity are also discussed in the theoretical framework.

Several microfinance institutions are working in Bangladesh for the last few decades. Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA and PROSHIKA are some of the prominent MFIs in Bangladesh. These institutions are working tremendously to the empowerment, poverty reduction and improvement of living standards for the poor people in Bangladesh. Now, they are not only working in Bangladesh but also providing help and support, and are the source of motivation to other MFIs around the world.

We have chosen our sample based on the random sampling technique, from one district (Chittagong) in Bangladesh and we interviewed the people who are already involved in microfinance activities. Therefore, the accuracy of the analysis heavily relies on the data provided by the people, we interviewed.

From the analysis of data, we found that microfinance has the positive impact on the standard of living of the poor people and on their life style. It has not only helped the poor people to come over the poverty line, but has also helped them to empower themselves. There is an argument that the interest rate of MFIs is high, but we traced that most of the respondents of our interview, did not agree on this issue and found it to be reasonable. Inspite of the debate about higher interest rate, MFIs are contributing not only in alleviating the poverty and improving the living standards of the poor people, but also in offering extensive human development programs in Bangladesh.

The overall objectives of this thesis were to assess the theory and evaluate the development roles of MFIs in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study in particular focussed on MFIs impact on poverty reduction, empowering women, promoting health, as well as promoting children's education in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study preferred the selected countries because Bangladesh is internationally considered as the best practice for microfinance, whilst Uganda is assumed to be well-positioned in terms of microfinance as compared to other developing countries in Africa. The question that guided this empirical investigation was whether MFIs empower women, reduce poverrty, promote children's education as well as health among its beneficiaries in Uganda and whether Bangladesh has important lessons of experience for Uganda.

Abstract Title: Client Information Needs of MFIs: A Case Study of ASA Bangladesh Author: Juber Ahmed Academic Advisor: Dr. Klaus Solberg Søilen Department: School of Management, Blekinge Institute of Technology Course: Master Thesis in Business Administration Purpose: To enrich the knowledge base of client’s needs of financial services and assessing the tools MFIs used to collect clients’ information and how they utilized the information for developing new products and services or modifying existing products and services or their terms and conditions to meet the needs of financial services of their clientele. Also how MFIs organized and managed the information and how they categorized their clients using that information. Method: The investigation conducted from both a theoretical and an empirical point of view. The deductive approach used for the study and the case study method deployed. I studied ASA which is an MFI renowned in Bangladesh and beyond. At first, I had gone through a secondary research for collecting a number of successful methods and standard types of information used by successful MFIs from existing literature. In primary research, I interviewed 10 Managers (Assistant Directors) for ASA to determine which of the methods found in the literature were more effective for collecting clients’ information for them and also asked them to add their ideas to the list. At last I asked interviewees to rate the methods and results presented in this paper. Theory: This study was an exploratory one where I discussed the related aspects for the study - Microfinance, Client Assessment, Clients of Microfinance, Information needs and Management Information System. Findings: The study showed that ASA utilized client information for developing their credit products and services and based on number of loans taken by the clients they categorized their clients and modified or developed new products and services for each category of clients. Although ASA executed several tools for collecting client information but the managers think that their staffs’ collection of information from regular meeting with clients was more effective than others for modifying products’ terms and conditions and modifying or developing new products and services to their women and small enterprise clients. The conducted study also revealed that in ASA impact study was necessary to know clients’ overall level of satisfaction but management needed specific information on what aspects of ASA and its credit products and services clients preferred and did not prefer and the reasons of the preferences. Also they needed action plan to address clients’ specific concerns, so they needed the information on a continual basis and they were successful to achieve this continuous flow of information. For ASA, the best way to get this type of information would be through client satisfaction Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), although they utilized several tools but not often as discussed in part 3 in chapter 5. ASA owned an MIS (AMMS) for monitoring and managing clients’ information and they utilized this to categorize their clients based on the collected information about their number of loans. Conclusion: This study revealed that ASA served only women and small enterprise clientele that included the vulnerable non-poor and could contribute to the profitability of ASA. There was no attempt to diversify the products to include all poor that should be the goal of microfinance to alleviate poverty. Moreover client treated as individual client but the loans used to fulfill household or family needs of the clients. There were tools for collecting information on household about impact of credit programs participation but they took seldom effort for collecting information of the household money management or in other words how they utilized the loans for variety of household needs. There is lack of access to a variety of financial services for poor clients, even though MFIs are mostly serving vulnerable non-poor instead of taking consideration of all categories of poor. It revealed from the study that MFIs could gain long term success by serving specific market segment but it should not be only focus of MFIs, their initiative should be to include all poor in their clients profile with a priority to a specific market segment. This could help them to become sustainable and to minimize risks by spreading it in different market segments. The study found that ASA considered FGDs as an effective tool for collecting clients’ information as their staffs and managers were familiar with this tool, moreover it was cost effective for them. It observed that they seldom followed Tool Selection Process and it was the top management that decided over the tools, the decision might influence by internal and external interest groups and the competition. MFIs should organize client information in a way so that they could be able to manipulate the specific client information to serve client better and to take effective decision, although it is imperative to argue that they may like to serve the wealthier clients. This research paper is also presenting some important findings from existing literature of microfinance and a number of recommendations based on the study experience and scholars opinions from existing microfinance study that may help MFIs to prepare themselves to adopt client-oriented approach by utilizing client assessment tools to fulfill the needs of financial services of their clients that may hopefully include all poor irrespective of their categories.

Microfinance and micro credits are concepts that are used frequently when talking about poverty reducing actions. This paper is a case study of the poverty alleviation impacts of microfinance institutions and it contrasts the effects of Grameen Bank and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) operating in Bangladesh. The case study examines the organisations effects in the 21st century since most of the reports have compared the effects in the past not reflecting on future conditions. The questions at issue are if Grameen Bank and BRAC can affect the poverty status of its members in a positive way and if there is a positive effect, which of the approaches are the best to use? To analyse the non monetary dimension, concepts such as health and education has been used as indicators for poverty reduction and the monetary indicator used is income through employment. Simultaneously economic models and concepts have been considered throughout the paper.

The findings of this case study implied that both organisations have positive effects on reducing poverty among its members, but BRAC has the broadest view seeing to all factors investigated and therefore its approach is the best to use. Nevertheless, as previous studies have implied sustainability and cost-effectiveness within the microfinance programme is important for the long-run poverty reduction. Evaluating the economic performance of the two organisations Grameen Bank is more efficient in using its resources than BRAC, but Grameen Bank show a decreasing rate of efficiency while BRAC is improving significantly. With this in consideration BRAC is still showing the best poverty reducing result for its members today, but if the organisation does not find a way to improve its economical performance its actions will not be sustainable in the long run.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2007.
A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Law and Business, School of Economics and Finance, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Since its beginning in Bangladesh in the 1970s, the spread of microfinance worldwide has been impressive. While proponents argue that microfinance has improved the lives of millions of poor people, critics have raised doubts about its efficacy as a poverty alleviation strategy. Few rigorous studies of impact have been completed. My dissertation is a contribution to the ongoing debate, and focuses on Bangladesh as a case study. It consists of three empirical research essays: (i) Chapter 2 estimates the impact of microfinance on seasonal food security of the ultrapoor in Northwestern Bangladesh; (ii) Chapter 3 assesses its impact on the informal credit market; and (iii) Chapter 4 looks at its impact on women's and men's agricultural wages. We take advantage of a unique dataset of 280,000 ultrapoor households generously shared with us by the Institute of Microfinance (InM) in Bangladesh and we apply novel econometric techniques to address the endogeneity of microfinance.

Chapter 2 uses a subset of 150,000 ultrapoor households in Bangladesh to analyze whether microfinance helps a household cope with aggregate shocks such as seasonal famine, known as Monga in Bengali. To address selection on unobservables, we use the "Minimum-Bias Bias-Corrected" estimator due to Millimet and Tchernis (2012) that corrects for endogeneity bias without exclusion restrictions. The empirical results suggest that microfinance improves food security of poor households by increasing food consumption during the Monga season. Also evidence is strong that microfinance helps households avoid distress sale of labor, and reduces the probability of short-term migration in search of work during the seasonal famine.

The expansion of microfinance programs through the developing world has raised some interesting questions regarding its impact on the existing informal credit market. Chapter 3 analyzes this question by looking at both the impact on the village moneylender interest rate and on informal borrowing by households. We use two data sets from Bangladesh: (i) a large cross-section that includes more than 800 villages (extracted from the above InM data set); and (ii) a nationally representative panel with household-level data from 62 villages from BRAC. Relying on heteroskedasticity and matching to achieve identification (Klein and Vella 2009a, 2010; Millimet and Tchernis 2012), our results suggest that the spread of microfinance has had a positive and statistically significant effect on the moneylender interest rate. Microfinance membership seems to decrease the probability of borrowing from informal lenders but increase the average amount borrowed. We consider three alternative hypotheses to explain these results: increased demand, cream skimming, or fixed costs. The theory of cream skimming is most consistent with our results: as MFIs reach villages, they attract the better borrowers, leaving behind a riskier pool, leading the moneylenders to raise their interest rates accordingly.

Chapter 4 investigates the impact of microfinance coverage on women's agricultural wages, looking into both the impact on the general, "Normal", agricultural daily wage and the wage prevailing during the Monga. To address the endogeneity of microfinance coverage, we employ the Klein and Vella (2009a) instrumental variable and the Minimum Bias estimator of Millimet and Tchernis (2012). The results suggest that microfinance expansion tends to increase the average wage earned by women in agriculture, both during the Monga and Normal seasons, a significant poverty alleviation measure since only ultrapoor women work as agricultural laborers. The wages of men are found to increase as well. As microfinance expands, women tend to substitute their time away from the wage market towards their microenterprise. Consequently, the labor supply curve shifts to the left thus increasing the wage rate for those who continue to work in the labor market. Also by improving the situation during Monga, microfinance has an even greater impact during the non-Monga season, when more laborers—both men and women—now work at the going wage.

In brief, the results of our research suggest that microfinance does have a significantly positive impact on the welfare of the ultrapoor. Microfinance membership reduces the likelihood that households will be forced to skip meals and practice distress sale of labor during the hungry season, while also reducing the poor's reliance on informal "exploitative" sources of finance, and increasing the agricultural wages earned by both men and women in the villages. At the same time, by capturing the less risky borrowers, MFIs do not bring down the interest rates for those fewer villagers who continue to borrow in the informal market. But higher average interest rates in the informal market do not necessarily worsen the situation of this group since they were risky borrowers in the first place, likely facing higher interest rates regardless. In fact they may even have easier access to informal credit as suggested by the larger average loan size. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Microfinance has become one of the most promising tools for development and poverty alleviation over the past two decades. Millions of borrowers around the globe have utilized microcredit to start or expand their small businesses and raise their household income. One poverty-induced problem microfinance could potentially alleviate is child labor. Despite international legislation prohibiting it, child labor continues to deprive millions of children of their right to education. Without education, there is little hope for a country to increase productivity and wealth in the future. A number of scholars have highlighted a negative correlation between credit rationing and child labor. However, there are no studies that examine whether or not children are less likely to work in households that participate in microfinance programs. In some circumstances, microcredit may increase household income and induce parents to withdraw their children from work while in others, raising the household income level may lead children to work more. In low-income countries with numerous microfinance institutions, many children work despite their parents’ access to credit. In order to examine this paradoxical phenomenon, this thesis presents a number of econometric models which analyze both child labor and credit at the household level. Though these models are vital in explaining the relevant trends, a purely economic analysis fails to capture the political and cultural factors that also engender child labor. To illustrate this complex relationship between economics and mores, this thesis highlights the impact of microfinance on child labor in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an ideal country for this study because microfinance and child labor are both endemic. Finally, conclusions drawn from this analysis inform policy recommendations to amplify the effectiveness of microfinance on diminishing child labor.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
Little research has yet been undertaken in South Africa about commercial banks that are servicing the microenterprise market. The objective for the current research was to investigate the key factors that should be considered by commercial banks in South Africa servicing the microenterprise market. The focus for the study was on identifying the key factors and on investigating how the key factors were being considered. There are a number of case studies documenting the key factors that international commercial banks have considered. However, in South Africa, there are relatively few documented cases, which rightfully confirms that commercial banks providing microfinance to microentrepreneurs are still in a new line of business that is in its early developmental stages. The first part of the current study aimed to identify the key factors that required consideration, which have been well documented in a number of research reports. The focus was also laid on international commercial banks that offered microfinance services, especially to microenterprises. The intention was to obtain an overview of how international banks have considered the key factors concerned. The second part of the research study aimed to see how South African commercial banks have considered the above-mentioned key factors, using Absa and Capitec banks as case studies. The key factors identified are the following: the operating model; the delivery model; institutional commitment; product development; funding; technical assistance; human resource (recruitment, retention and remuneration); and operations (credit methodology; loan appraisals; lending methodology; collections; branch network; and support services). The international commercial banks whose case studies are reviewed include: Banco do Nordeste; Bank Rakyat Indonesia; the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe; the Cooperative Bank of Kenya; Banque du Caire; the Agricultural Bank of Mongolia; Hatton National Bank; the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India; and Banco de la Empressa. From the case studies it was seen that some of the commercial banks considered certain factors more than others. The other differentiating factor is how the key factors were considered, because the operating context of the different commercial banks differs. In South Africa, Absa and Capitec Bank have also considered the key factors, however, the operating model and the delivery model are the biggest differentiator as to how the other factors are considered.

More than 15.5 percent of Bangladeshi girls had been forced into wedlock below the age of 15 whereas the marriage age in Bangladesh during a pandemic. With the recent reopening of Bangladeshi schools, authorities have been alarmed by the number of girls not attending classes. In Khulna district, North of Bangladesh recorded more than 3,000 child marriages in this district. The paper will assess and estimate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the education of young girls. Some case studies will be conducted in the child marriage-prone district of Khulna. Technology is not the only solution to all problems, it needs infrastructure, access to the internet or mobile, and economic solvency to provide necessary things. Since the majority of schools have moved instruction online because of the pandemic, it is now important to give girls the tools to participate in distance learning techniques. Because thousands of girl brides in southern Bangladesh whose classroom seats have remained empty after reopening of school.

Background: Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a highest problem in the prevention and eradication of TB worldwide. MDR-TB exists in 27 countries where there are at least 6,800 MDR-TB cases annually and 12% of new TB cases registered are MDR TB. This study aimed to examine the effect of incomplete medication intake on the incidence of MDR TB. Subjects and Method: Meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted by collecting articles from Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Springer Link databases, from year 2010 to 2019. Keywords used “Risk Factor MDR TB” OR “Previous Treatment” AND “Multidrug resistant tuberculosis”. The inclusion criteria were full text, using English language, using case control study design, and reporting adjusted odds ratio. The study population was patients with Tuberculosis. The intervention was incomplete medication intake with comparison complete medication intake. The study outcome was multidrug resistant Tuberculosis. Collected articles were selected by PRISMA flow chart. Quantitative data were analyzed by fixed effect model using Revman 5.3. Results: 6 studies from Taiwan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Ethiophia were selected for data analysis. This study reported that incomplete medication intake increased the risk of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (aOR= 14.33; 95% CI= 12.47 to 16.47; p<0.001). Conclusion: Incomplete medication intake increases the risk of multidrug resistant Tuberculosis. Keywords: incomplete medication intake, multidrug resistant tuberculosis Correspondence: Widya Kurnianingsih. Masters Program in Public Health. Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java. Email: widyakurnianingsih08@gmail.com. Mobile: 081556837033

This guide explores the benefits of using nature-based solutions to promote sustainable and resource-efficient infrastructure. Nature-based solutions are interventions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage natural or modified ecosystems to support both biodiversity and people’s well-being. This guide includes case studies from Bangladesh, Nepal, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. It considers challenges and opportunities and shows how nature-based solutions can be mainstreamed in the portfolio of the Asian Development Bank.

This is a report of a first-stage project sponsored by UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning to map the extent, range, and impact of transnational, private, and for-profit tertiary education provision in a sample of countries. The data, collected from readily available public sources and verified by in-country experts, was first used to create country case studies for Jamaica, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Bulgaria. A summary report was then produced that drew comparisons across countries in relation to five topics: overviews of each country; national education systems and policies; regulatory frameworks, accreditation, and quality assurance; transnational, private, and for-profit provision; and local perceptions of impact. The summary report also provides a comparative analysis across countries, with reference to the wider literature, and draws out a series of policy implications from the study for governments, institutions, and agencies, both national and international.

International financial institutions (IFIs) and multilateral development banks have been playing a vital role in the response, recovery and ‘build back anew’ agenda from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially true of the World Bank Group (WBG), given its high volumes of committed investments across sectors, especially in low-income and vulnerable countries. This report presents, through case studies, how care-responsive the World Bank’s COVID-19-related investments have been in four member countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. It does so by using the Care Principles and Care-Responsive Barometer for IFIs to assess the nature of the WBG’s post-COVID recovery investments in these select countries, and by building evidence through a gender- and care-responsive budget review. The foundation for care inclusion has already been laid in WBG policy. The report uses this as an entry point to urge it to bring women’s unpaid, underpaid and paid work to the centre of the IFI agenda in order to move towards rebuilding a more gender-just and equal future.

This paper synthesises the findings of a set of country studies commissioned by the RISE Programme to explore the influence of politics and power on education sector policymaking and implementation. The synthesis groups the countries into three political-institutional contexts: Dominant contexts, where power is centred around a political leader and a hierarchical governance structure. As the Vietnam case details, top-down leadership potentially can provide a robust platform for improving learning outcomes. However, as the case studies of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Tanzania illustrate, all-too-often dominant leaders’ goals vis-à-vis the education sector can veer in other directions. In impersonal competitive contexts, a combination of strong formal institutions and effective processes of resolving disagreements can, on occasion, result in a shared commitment among powerful interests to improve learning outcomes—but in none of the case studies is this outcome evident. In Peru, substantial learning gains have been achieved despite messy top-level politics. But the Chilean, Indian, and South African case studies suggest that the all-too-common result of rule-boundedness plus unresolved political contestation over the education sector’s goals is some combination of exaggerated rule compliance and/or performative isomorphic mimicry. Personalised competitive contexts (Bangladesh, Ghana, and Kenya for example) lack the seeming strengths of either their dominant or their impersonal competitive contexts; there are multiple politically-influential groups and multiple, competing goals—but no credible framework of rules to bring coherence either to political competition or to the education bureaucracy. The case studies show that political and institutional constraints can render ineffective many specialised sectoral interventions intended to improve learning outcomes. But they also point to the possibility that ‘soft governance’ entry points might open up some context-aligned opportunities for improving learning outcomes. In dominant contexts, the focus might usefully be on trying to influence the goals and strategies of top-level leadership. In impersonal competitive contexts, it might be on strengthening alliances between mission-oriented public officials and other developmentally-oriented stakeholders. In personalised competitive contexts, gains are more likely to come from the bottom-up—via a combination of local-level initiatives plus a broader effort to inculcate a shared sense among a country’s citizenry of ‘all for education’.

This paper synthesises the findings of a set of country studies commissioned by the RISE Programme to explore the influence of politics and power on education sector policymaking and implementation. The synthesis groups the countries into three political-institutional contexts: Dominant contexts, where power is centred around a political leader and a hierarchical governance structure. As the Vietnam case details, top-down leadership potentially can provide a robust platform for improving learning outcomes. However, as the case studies of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Tanzania illustrate, all-too-often dominant leaders’ goals vis-à-vis the education sector can veer in other directions. In impersonal competitive contexts, a combination of strong formal institutions and effective processes of resolving disagreements can, on occasion, result in a shared commitment among powerful interests to improve learning outcomes—but in none of the case studies is this outcome evident. In Peru, substantial learning gains have been achieved despite messy top-level politics. But the Chilean, Indian, and South African case studies suggest that the all-too-common result of rule-boundedness plus unresolved political contestation over the education sector’s goals is some combination of exaggerated rule compliance and/or performative isomorphic mimicry. Personalised competitive contexts (Bangladesh, Ghana, and Kenya for example) lack the seeming strengths of either their dominant or their impersonal competitive contexts; there are multiple politically-influential groups and multiple, competing goals—but no credible framework of rules to bring coherence either to political competition or to the education bureaucracy. The case studies show that political and institutional constraints can render ineffective many specialised sectoral interventions intended to improve learning outcomes. But they also point to the possibility that ‘soft governance’ entry points might open up some context-aligned opportunities for improving learning outcomes. In dominant contexts, the focus might usefully be on trying to influence the goals and strategies of top-level leadership. In impersonal competitive contexts, it might be on strengthening alliances between mission-oriented public officials and other developmentally-oriented stakeholders. In personalised competitive contexts, gains are more likely to come from the bottom-up—via a combination of local-level initiatives plus a broader effort to inculcate a shared sense among a country’s citizenry of ‘all for education’.

This rapid review draws on literature from academic, policy and non-governmental organisation sources. There is a huge literature on climate governance issues in general, but less is known about effective support and the political-economy of adaptation. A large literature base and case studies on climate finance accountability and budgeting in governments is nascent and growing. Section 2 of this report briefly discusses governance of climate change issues, with a focus on the complexity and cross-cutting nature of climate change compared to the often static organisational landscape of government structured along sectoral lines. Section 3 explores green public financial management (PFM). Section 4 then brings together several principles and lessons learned on green PFM highlighted in the guidance notes. Transparency and accountability lessons are then highlighted in Section 5. The Key findings are: 1) Engaging with the governance context and the political economy of climate governance and financing is crucial to climate objectives being realised. 2) More attention is needed on whether and how governments are prioritising adaptation and resilience in their own operations. 3) Countries in Africa further along in the green PFM agenda give accounts of reform approaches that are gradual, iterative and context-specific, building on existing PFM systems and their functionality. 4) A well-functioning “accountability ecosystem” is needed in which state and non-state accountability actors engage with one another. 5) Climate change finance accountability systems and ecosystems in countries are at best emerging. 6) Although case studies from Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh are commonly cited in the literature and are seen as some of the most advanced developing country examples of green PFM, none of the countries have had significant examples of collaboration and engagement between actors. 7) Lessons and guiding principles for green PFM reform include: use the existing budget cycle and legal frameworks; ensure that the basic elements of a functional PFM system are in place; strong leadership of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and clear linkages with the overall PFM reform agenda are needed; smart sequencing of reforms; real political ownership and clearly defined roles and responsibilities; and good communication to stakeholders).

This publication presents eight case studies of recent ADB projects that highlight innovative interventions and effective approaches to reduce poverty. The case studies­ include projects in Bangladesh, the Cook Islands, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and the People’s Republic of China. Together they focus on four themes: ensuring equality and inclusion, caring for the environment, securing food for all, and sustaining prosperity through access to finance. The publication builds on the first volume of poverty reduction case studies published in 2019.