Microcredit deposit-taking organizaition Arvand

Gross Loan Portfolio USD, 2011: 13.2 million

Number of active borrowers 2011: 15,392

Average loan balance per borrower USD, 2011: 860.1

Deposits USD, 2011: 260,335.7

Assets USD, 2011: 16.0 million

Number of depositors 2011: 970

Mission:

MicroInvest purpose is to strengthen the economic base of the low-income households in Tajikistan through increased access to credit services for entrepreneurial activities in urban and surrounding areas. We intend to offer diverse products, combine cost-efficient methodologies with exemplary ... Read more

Address:

Gagarin Street 135a

Khujand

Sugd

735700

Tajikistan

Phone:

992-3422-40079

Fax:

992-3422-40079

Email:

shoira [at] microinvest [dot] tj

Website:

www.microinvest.tj

Main Funding Sources:

Grants

Loans

Products and Services:

Loans

Looking for (Investment Types):

Loans in Local Currency

Donations

Loans in US$

Date established:

Mar 1 2002

FYE:

31-Dec

Current Legal Status:

NBFI

Regulated:

yes

Social Performance Profile


+ Mission specifics
+ Target markets (ranked by importance)
+ Development goals (ranked by importance)
+ Poverty targets
Low income clients
+ Governance
Has trained members of its board on social performance management
+ Range of products and services
+ Financial products and services offered
+ Credit products offered
Microcredit loans for microenterprises
SME loans
Loans for education
+ Savings products offered
Compulsory savings accounts (cash collateral)
Fixed term deposits
Special purpose savings accounts
+ Compulsory insurance products required
+ Voluntary insurance products offered
+ Other financial products and services offered
+ Non-financial services offered
+ Enterprise services offered
Enterprise skills development
Business development services
+ Education services offered
Financial literacy education
+ Health services offered
+ Women's empowerment services offered
+ Products and services targeting the poor
Products and services specifically designed to target the poor:
+ Social responsibility to clients
+ Client protection principles in use
The loan approval process requires evaluation of borrower repayment capacity and loan affordability. Loan approval does not rely solely on guarantees (whether peer guarantees, co-signers or collateral) as a substitute for good capacity analysis.
Internal audits check household debt exposure, lending practices that violate procedures including unauthorized re-financing, multiple borrowers or co-signers per household, and other practices that could increase indebtedness.
Productivity targets and incentive systems value portfolio quality at least as highly as other factors, such as disbursement or customer growth. Growth is rewarded only if portfolio quality is high.
Prices, terms and conditions of all financial products are fully disclosed to the customer prior to sale, including interest charges, insurance premiums, minimum balances, all fees, penalties, linked products, third party fees, and whether these can change over time.
Staff is trained to communicate effectively with all customers, ensuring that they understand the product, the terms of the contract, their rights and obligations. Communications techniques address literacy limitations (e.g. reading contracts out loud, materials in local languages).
Acceptable and unacceptable debt collection practices are clearly spelled out in a code of ethics, book of staff rules or debt collection manual.
The organization's corporate culture values and rewards high standards of ethical behavior and customer service.
A mechanism to handle customer complaints is in place, has dedicated staff resources, and is actively used. (Suggestion boxes alone are generally not considered adequate.)
Customers know how their information will be used. Staff explains how data will be used and seeks permission for use.
+ Cost of services to clients
Declining balance interest method
+ Social responsibility to staff
+ Human resources
Transparency on salary (a clear salary scale based upon market salaries)
Benefits (medical insurance, pension contribution)
Protection at work (safety, anti-harassment)
Equality (anti-discrimination, equal pay for men and women with equivalent skill levels)
+ Basis of staff incentives related to social performance
Ability to attract new clients from target market
Quality of interaction with clients based on client feedback mechanisms
Client retention/drop-out rate
Portfolio quality
+ Social responsibility to the environment
This institution raises clients' awareness about environmental impacts
This institution trains/educates clients regarding environmental improvements
This institution includes specific clauses in its loan contracts to mitigate specific environmental risks
This institution identifies enterprises with environmental risk
+ Poverty measurement tools in use
USAID Poverty Assessment Tool (PAT)
Per capita household income
Housing index
Participatory wealth ranking (PWR)
Means test
Food security index

Partnerships

Current
Name	Relationship
ACDI/VOCA	Network Affiliation
AMFOT	Network Affiliation
Incofin - Rural Impulse Fund	Funding
Kiva	Funding
Oikocredit	Funding

MFI Report