South and East Asia
For an overview over global support to the microfinance sector in South Asia please consult the CCAP Microfinance Funder Survey 2009 for South Asia.
Bangladesh
In the framework of the United Nations' Year of Microfinance 2005, SDC and Swiss Universities elaborated together several case studies on SDC's financial sector development projects:
| Using Palm Pilots to Reduce Microfinance Transaction Costs - An example from SafeSave Bangladesh December 2006 Author: Kathy Bugada The microfinance institution SafeSave in Bangladesh introduced the palm pilot technology in 2003 in order to reduce its transaction costs and increase its outreach. This case study was carried out by a student of the University of Lugano and analyzes how the palm pilot has changed the life of the staff and the clients of SafeSave in terms of transaction costs, security and confidence. | |
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The best summary of SDC's involvement in India is provided in the following document:
| An Era of Innovation. Thirty Years of SDC's Involvement with Rural Finance in India August 2007 Author: EDA Rural Systems This report was commissioned to capitalize on SDC's experience made during thirty years of active involvement in rural finance in India and to document them for dissemination to a larger circle of interested practitioners. This report covers the main partners of SDC in the area of rural finance in India over the past thirty years, namely NABARD – the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development; SIDBI – the Small Industries Development Bank of India; BASIX – Bhartiya Samruddhi Investment and Consulting Services Limited; Sa-Dhan – the network of Community Development Finance Institutions in India; Non-government organizations – MYRADA, Outreach and WOTR. | |
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Based on the above mentioned report, there isan issue of the Asia Brief Paper Series that focuses on Banking in Rural India- Achievements and lessons of a 30 years Swiss engagement. On four pages the topic is presented to development practitioners and the Swiss public. (further issues of the Asia Brief Paper Series)
In 2008, SDC mandated an external evaluation of SDC's support to two rural finance and employment programmes, SIDBI and SERI. The entire evaluation report can be downloaded here.
| Evaluation of Two Rural Finance and Employment Programmes in India - «SERI 2000» and «SIDBI» February 2009 In 2008, SDC commissioned an external evaluation on the SDC support to two rural finance and employment programmes in India, SERI and SIDBI. The evaluation report contains lessons learnt, the detailed evaluation report and case studies. | |
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As in the previous year, in 2008 SDC co-financed the State of the Sector Report of the Indian microfinance sector. Find the Report below. While SDC discountinued its engagement, the Report is sill published annually. A print version of the 2009 version can be purchased at any retailer.
| Microfinance India: State of the Sector Report 2008 November 2008 Author: N. Srinivasan SDC co-financed the State of Sector Report of the Indian microfinance sector 2008. It presents major trends in the Indian microfinance sector in 2008, Highlighting current issues, investments and innovations. | |
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Download (PDF, 2864 KB): [en] |
Pakistan
SDC supported leasing to the micro and small enterprise sector in Pakistan until 2009. A report drawing on the experience made in Pakistan summarises lessons learnt.
| Can Leasing Fill the Finance Gap? General Principles and Experience from Pakistan September 2000 Author: Mark Havers This paper reflects the experience of SDC in supporting leasing to the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector in Pakistan over the last four years. It also draws on experiences from elsewhere in order to provide points of comparison, but it is essentially based on lessons learned in Pakistan. | |
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The following Discussion Paper highlights the case of NLCL (Network Leasing Corporation Limited), SDC's first partner in the Pakistani leasing sector:
| Buffalo, Bakeries, and Tractors: Cases in Rural Leasing from Pakistan, Uganda, and Mexico December 2006 Author: Ajai Nair, Renate Kloeppinger‐Todd This World Bank paper presents three leasing companies in three different countries. It highlights the relevance and potential of rural leasing as a financing tool. | |
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