MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Social Performance in Nepal, Sharia-Compliant Financial Inclusion, Private Sector Employment

The report “State of Social Performance in Nepal” from the US-based Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) examines the social performance (SP) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Nepal. The report notes that the biggest SP management challenge facing the 37 Nepali MFIs is that of tracking outcomes related to institutions’ development goals. The report “Trends in Sharia-Compliant Financial Inclusion” presents an analysis of recent advancements in Sharia-compliant financial inclusion as well as challenges inhibiting its further expansion. Finding sustainable Islamic models could be the key to providing financial access to millions of poor Muslims. In the report “Private Sector Development Solutions – Jobs”, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) argues that good jobs provide a clear pathway out of poverty. Because 60 percent of the developing world’s current jobs are in micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, the authors highlight the need for enhanced access to finance to allow for more investment and growth.