Browsing by Subject "Wirkungsanalyse"

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    Mikrofinanzierung, Armutsbekämpfung und ländliche Entwicklung in Westafrika : Wirkungsanalysen in Côte d'Ivoire und Niger
    (2008) Schäfer, Birgit; Heidhues, Franz
    The aim of the study was to take a critical look at the impact of microfinance as a free market development instrument in terms of sustainable poverty reduction at the target-group level in rural areas of West Africa. On the basis of empirical surveys carried out in two microfinance projects supported by the GTZ, the ?Associations Féminines d?Epargne et de Crédit? (AFECs) in Côte d'Ivoire and the ?Mutuelles d?Epargne et Crédit? (MUTECs) in Niger, the strengths and limitations of microfinance in terms of structural poverty reduction were assessed and recommendations for action were drawn up for implementing the concept in the development cooperation context. The understanding of poverty is based on the idea of human capabilities put forward by Armatya Sen in conjunction with the concept of social vulnerability and the life dimensions approach of the UNDP. Sustainable poverty reduction means extending the scope of action and freedom of poor people to use and transform the set of material and immaterial resources available to them so as to increase their productive capacity and enhance their choices, with a view to improving their well-being as they see it. This study is intended to provide a conceptual framework enabling researchers, practitioners and politicians to carry out structured impact assessment of microfinance projects. By enabling more realistic estimation of the effectiveness of microfinance for poor target groups in rural regions in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it is also intended to provide a decision-making aid for planning and designing microfinance projects.