IslamicFinance.de

A series of German-funded studies and pilot projects aims to bridge the gap between Islamic finance and microcredit, to the benefit of communities in developing countries. Expanding the appeal of Islamic microfinance is crucial for an estimated 650 million Muslims who live on less than $2 a day, according to the Washington-based Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). The German government's international development agency GIZ is helping to develop regulations, education and training for Islamic microfinance in developing countries. A study of Islamic microfinance products by GIZ and CGAP aims to identify ways to lower costs, while a separate GIZ study is exploring demand factors.