Background: For more than 60 years, various agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have offered microfinance products and services through integrated development programmes and as self-standing microfinance institutions.
These institutions, which are now administered by ...
En savoir plusBackground: For more than 60 years, various agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have offered microfinance products and services through integrated development programmes and as self-standing microfinance institutions.
These institutions, which are now administered by AKAM, contribute to poverty alleviation, economic growth and social cohesion in 12 countries in the developing world. The microfinance programmes, microfinance institutions (MFIs) and regulated microfinance banks have delivered over USD 200 million in loans since their inception.
Following the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, AKDN established the Emergency Microcredit Programme and the Rural Microcredit Programme, each of which was aimed at improving the economic security of the population and offering credit for start-ups, re-starts and the expansion of income-generating activities.
In March 2004, the Rural Programme was institutionalized into the Afghanistan Rural Microcredit Programme (ARMP), which provides a wide range of credit products to farmers and traders in rural provinces. It has also provided special credit for over-in debted farmers and financing for crop substitution in poppy growing areas. Loans have allowed some farmers to repurchase land sold during civil strife to poppy farming landlords and warlords, replant the fields with wheat and potatoes and acquire livestock.
Since inception in 2002 the Programme has grown rapidly and now covers 12 provinces and 54 districts through its network of 20 branches. ARMP has disbursed a total amount of USD 60 million to ca. 60,000 borrowers.
Challenges: The Programme’s challenges are:
1) Providing of a range of microfinance products to the poor, including innovative social loan products;
2) Extending outreach to the provinces by expanding the district network; and
3) Developing local human resources.
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