Employing Islamic Microfinance in Addressing Poverty Challenges in Brunei

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61
Author(s):  
Ssemambo Hussein Kakembo ◽  
Abu Umar Faruq Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Brunei Darussalam ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The People ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
Poverty Levels

Countries within the Asian region are continuously struggling to improve the living standards of their citizens. Some of them are still facing a plethora of challenges due to the ever-increasing levels of both relative and absolute poverty. This is especially among the poorest of the poor who have no access to the mainstream financial services. The conventional microfinance institutions have been greatly criticised for their dubious acts of charging exorbitant interests. Islamic microfinance has therefore, been seen as one of the viable alternatives to meeting the challenges of poverty and as an opportunity in the livelihoods of the people in the Asian region. This article analyses the magnitude at which Islamic microfinance can play a fundamental role in alleviating insignificant poverty levels in Brunei Darussalam through using a proposed Mudarabah financing model.

Adopting Islamic microfinance as a mechanism of financing small and medium enterprises in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ssemambo Hussein Kakembo ◽  
Muhamad Abduh ◽  
Pg Md Hasnol Alwee Pg Hj Md Salleh
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Alternative Scheme ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
Financial Challenges ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeDespite the fact that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in strengthening the financial sector within developing and emerging economies through providing employment opportunities to the rural and urban population, capacity building in the form of skills training and economic empowerment, they still face a plethora of challenges that continue to threaten their existence, performance and growth. Access to operational and administrative funds needed to execute their activities effectively is a significant challenge and detrimental to the growth of SMEs in Uganda. Conversely, Islamic microfinance has been noted as a panacea to the challenges of financial inaccessibility among SMEs, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is therefore to investigate how the adoption of Islamic microfinance can play a fundamental role in enhancing the sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) while meeting the financing challenges of SMEs in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a review of existing literature was carried out to critically examine relevant information (literature sources) and empirical studies on SMEs, their performance and challenges. The study being conceptual tries to understand how Islamic microfinance could be adopted as an alternative scheme of financing to bridge the gap and mitigate the financial challenges facing SMEs.FindingsThe study finds that the existing MFIs have failed to achieve their objectives of providing financial services to the poor and SMEs while remaining sustainable. This has left the majority of SMEs within Uganda's informal sector financially handicapped, thus leading to their failure in meeting their expectations and eventually collapsing even before celebrating their third or fourth birthdays. However, the enactment into law of the Financial Institutions Amendment Act 2016 that paved the way for the introduction of Islamic finance in Uganda, and the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders' Act, 2016 that incorporated the aspects of Islamic microfinance within the existing microfinance framework as seen and is perceived as a key factor in addressing the financial challenges faced by MFIs and the SMEs if fully adopted.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is conceptual with no empirical investigation and discussion of key theories. On the contrary, it will be imperative and useful when carrying out more extensive hypothetical studies by future researchers, specifically in the area of Islamic microfinance that is relatively new in Uganda.Practical implicationsPractically, this paper will serve as a guide to policymakers and practitioners in the field of microfinance by adding a flair that could enable in bridging the challenges associated with inadequate financing of SMEs in Uganda.Social implicationsSocially, the social aspects of charity (Zakah and Sadaqah) will help to improve the livelihood of the poorest of the poor who cannot engage in active business through meeting their basic needs of life without begging thereby preventing them from being social outcasts.Originality/valueThe study establishes Islamic microfinance (IMF) as a promising and unexplored viable option potentially needed in intensifying the financing needs of SMEs in Uganda. The paper provides an entirely new dimension in nature and way microfinance products should be structured with a view of ensuring that there is sustainable provision of financial services to SMEs. The paper adds real value to the existing conventional microfinance products and services in Uganda, given the ethical and moral attributes of Islamic microfinancing practices that are assumed to efficiently and effectively motivate SME owners and other small entrepreneurs to thrive.

scholarly journals Alleviating Poverty Through Islamic Microfinance: Factors and Measures of Financial Performance, and Roles of Islamic Values and Financial Policies

2019 ◽  
pp. 1266-1273
Author(s):  
Adhitya Ginanjar ◽  
Salina Kassim
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Financial Policies ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Rich Information ◽  
Islamic Microfinance

Indonesia has a strong presence of microfinance sector with the number of Islamic Microfinance Institutions (IMFIs) estimated to be around 5,000 currently. Microfinance is an effective tool in alleviating poverty in Indonesia due to the limited access to financial services by the poor who accounted for approximately 96 million Indonesians (or 37% of the total population), living on less than USD 1.90 a day. In the absence of collateral and steady income, the poor are considered too risky to be given credit facilities by the formal financial services providers and living in remote areas has also limited their access to formal financial services. This study aims to examine the poverty alleviation efforts from the perspective of the IMFIs in view of their direct involvement in the process and having rich information about financial issues facing the borrowers. The managers also understand about financial inclusion agenda as well as financial guidelines and regulations issued by the relevant authorities. A total of 34 managers of Baitulmaal Wa Tamwil (BMTs), which registered under the Sharia Cooperative Centre (INKOPSYAH) are taken as respondents from the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (JABODETABEK) areas. The first instrument was a survey questionnaire, and the second one was an in-depth interview to outline data related to the model design. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to better decision-making for the BMTs to further enhance its role in alleviating poverty. The findings also elaborate several dimensions to improving financial inclusion among the poor including providing financial services, implementing Islamic principles, significant policies, community-based framework concept and training financial education. This research highlights the need for a variety of strategies to warrant success of poverty alleviation efforts by BMT.

scholarly journals EXAMINING THE OUTREACH OF ISLAMIC CHARITY BASED MICROFINANCE PROGRAMS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-872
Author(s):  
Aimatul Yumna ◽  
Matthew Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Logit Model ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Selection Policy ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Islamic Microfinance

One of the advantages of using Islamic social funds is the increased ability of microfinance institutions to provide financial services to the poor. This study aims to (1) investigates the characteristics of the clients of the Islamic Charity Based Microfinance (ICBM) program; (2) test whether the clients ICBM program are more vulnerable than the non clients group (3) discuss the rationale of why poor excluded from the zakat based microfinance program. The study was conducted in the microfinance program at zakat institutions namely Baitul Maal Muamalat (BMMI), BAZNAS, and Baitul Maal Beringharjo (BMB). A total of 236 respondents including clients and non-clients of three case study institutions were participated in this study. The data is analyzed using binomial logit model to evaluate factors affecting clients participation in ICBM programs in Indonesia. The findings show that clients and non-clients of ICBM have a similar demographic profile and the majority ICBM clients live above the national poverty line, yet they live perilously close to the edge of the poverty line. Using logistic regression, this study found that the higher the client’s income level, the higher the probability of their being selected in the program. This findings contradict with the existing Islamic microfinance  literature that claim ICBM institutions in general could demonstrate a capacity to extend their services more widely to the poorest if Islamic charity is the main source of microfinance funding. This study suggests some possible barriers to include the poor in the microfinance including institutional selection policy and self exclusion factors.

scholarly journals Determinants of Financial Sustainability for Microfinance Institutions: Lessons for Islamic Microfinance Banks in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 301-320
Author(s):  
Abdurrahman Abdullahi ◽  
Anwar Hasan Abdullah Othman
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
Asset Size ◽  
Good Risk ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

Islamic microfinance institutions play a major role in the provision of financial services to the poor and underprivileged through non-interest, equity-based products and services. To achieve these critical objectives, however, they need to be financially sustainable, which is threatened by the current economic and financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The objective of this paper is to review the determinants of financial sustainability of microfinance institutions with a view to drawing lessons for Islamic microfinance banks in Nigeria. The paper utilized the literature review methodology to synthesize research findings in the area. The review revealed that the major determinants of financial sustainability of microfinance institutions are the capital structure, asset size, and financial innovation. Others are good risk management and corporate governance frameworks. The paper thus recommended that Islamic microfinance institutions in Nigeria should maintain a robust capital structure that relies more on equity, a lean but diversified Board, and utilize more technology-based services. Most importantly, they should emphasize profit and loss sharing principles in their operations.

scholarly journals Information Asymmetry and Trust: A Framework for Studying Microfinance in India

2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 77-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Sriram
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The People ◽  
Financial Transactions

In recent times, microfinance has emerged as a major innovation in the rural financial marketplace. Microfinance largely addresses the issue of access to financial services. In trying to understand the innovation of microfinance and how it has proved to be effective, the author looks at certain design features of microfinance. He first starts by identifying the need for financial service institutions which is basically to bridge the gap between the need for financial services across time, geographies, and risk profiles. In providing services that bridge this gap, formal institutions have limited access to authentic information both in terms of transaction history and expected behaviour and, therefore, resort to seeking excessive information thereby adding to the transaction costs. The innovation in microfinance has been largely to bridge this gap through a series of trustbased surrogates that take the transaction-related risks to the people who have the information — the community through measures of social collateral. In this paper, the author attempts to examine the trajectory of institutional intermediation in the rural areas, particularly with the poor and how it has evolved over a period of time. It identifies a systematic breach of trust as one of the major problems with the institutional interventions in the area of providing financial services to the poor and argues that microfinance uses trust as an effective mechanism to address one of the issues of imperfect information in financial transactions. The paper also distinguishes between the different models of microfinance and identifies which of these models use trust in a positivist frame and as a coercive mechanism. The specific objectives of the paper are to: Superimpose the role of trust in various types of exchanges and see how it impacts the effectiveness of repeated transactions. While greater access to information fosters trust and thus helps social networks to reduce transaction costs, there could be limits to which exchanges could solely depend on networks and trust. Look at the frontiers where mutual trust cannot work as a surrogate for lower appraisal costs. Use an example in the Canadian context and see how an entity that started on the basis of social networks and trust had to morph into using the techniques used by other formal nonneighbourhood institutions as it grew in size and went beyond a threshold. Using the Canadian example, the author argues that as the transactions get sophisticated, it is possible to achieve what informal networks have achieved through the creative use of information technology. While we find that the role of trust both in the positivist and the coercive frame does provide some interesting insights into how exchanges with the poor could be managed, there still could be breaches in the assumptions. This paper identifies the conditions under which the breaches could possibly happen and also speculates on the effect of such breaches.

Pros and Cons of Integrating Non-Financial Services in Microfinance

2018 ◽  
pp. 171-199
Author(s):  
Nhung Thi Hong Vu
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Need Support ◽  
Microfinance Institution ◽  
Pros And Cons

Microfinance as argued in recent literature is not a panacea for poverty reduction as it was expected. The poor may need support from various ranges of non-financial services including business development services and social services alongside microfinance services. The main aim of this chapter is to provide policymakers and practitioners some discussions on the pros and cons of integrating non-financial services together with microfinance services. This chapter proposes a framework of both positive and negative effects of providing non-financial services on microfinance institutions and clients. A case study of offering non-financial services in a microfinance institution in Vietnam provides both quantitative and qualitative evidence of effects on the microfinance institution and its clients.

Profitability vs Poverty alleviation: has banking logic influences Islamic microfinance institutions?

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-279
Author(s):  
Luqyan Tamanni ◽  
Mohd Hairul Azrin Haji Besar
Keyword(s):  
Mission Statements ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Information ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Primary Mission

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to shed some lights on the process of mission drifting or abandoning poverty objective by Islamic microfinance institutions (IMFs). The paper investigates whether the extensive use of banking logic changes IMFs, from focusing on both development and financial objectives to only considering sustainability as their primary mission. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts mixed methods by analyzing 7,200 microfinance data from Microfinance Exchange Market and reviewing annual reports and websites of 25 IMFs to examine their vision and mission statements and other related information. Findings The finding shows Islamic microfinance has not changed, despite increasing adoption of financial or banking performance measures. However, size and age of the institutions may affect the outcome in the future. The authors find that smaller microfinance institutions maintain genuine objective to serve the poor, as the grow larger they would be more inclined toward sustainability objectives. Research limitations/implications The research is limited on the sample size as data on Islamic microfinance globally is limited. However, the paper looked at the global data rather than local data to compensate for this limitation. Future study would be further taking the study through qualitative methods to support the study. Originality/value This paper aims to shed some lights on the process of mission drifting or abandoning poverty objective by IMFIs. The paper investigates how has the extensive use of financing logic has changed IMFIs from focusing on both development and financial objectives to only considering sustainability as their primary mission. Arun and Hulme (2009) argued that the interaction of multiple logic within microfinance institutions, i.e. financial vs social, could pose some serious management dilemmas within microfinance institutions. Further, commercialization puts pressure on the field staffs to achieve financial targets and often neglect their poverty outreach mission to the poor. The well-known crisis in Andhra Pradesh, India where clients of microfinance institutions committed suicide after being shamed by field officers who tried to collect payments of loans (Mader, 2013; Taylor, 2011), provides a powerful case of the impact of financialization to microfinance clients.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Impact of Microfinance for Women in Albania

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Oltiana Muharremi ◽  
Filloreta Madani ◽  
Erald Pelari
Keyword(s):  
Social Influence ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Micro Enterprises

<p class="Default"><em>Microfinance is defined as any activity involving the offering of financial services such as loans, savings and insurance to individuals with low income.</em><em> </em><em>Creating social value includes reducing poverty and having a better impact to improve living conditions through capital for micro-enterprises; insurance and savings deposits for reducing risk and boosting consumption. Worldwide microfinance actors promote access to basic financial services by developing new tools, a variety of products and the adoption of an integrated banking access.</em></p><p class="Default"><em>Initially, microfinance was largely gender neutral: it sought to provide credit to the poor who had no assets to pledge as collateral. It quickly emerged, however, that women invested their business profits in ways that would have a longer-lasting impact on their families and communities. Consequently women became fundamental to the success of the microfinance model as a poverty alleviation tool. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of microfinance loans in improving the lives of women borrowers, as well as in strengthening their social influence and the microcredit impact in promoting savings. This study is based on an empirical investigation of 384 structured questionnaires and surveys directed at microfinance institutions and their clients in the regions of Vlore and Fier, Albania.</em></p>

scholarly journals The Islamic Microfinance System And Its Ultimate Impact On The Poor In Bauchi Metropolis In The Context Of Socio-Economic Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Hashim Sabo Bello ◽  
Shamsuddeen Abubakar ◽  
Sunusi Abdulkadir Fateh
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
And Gender ◽  
High Level ◽  
Financial Transactions ◽  
The Impact

One of the conditions for providing social services to the population, reducing the differentiation of their incomes, as well as reducing poverty is to provide equal access to financial services for all segments of the population. Despite high unemployment and a significant number of poor people, only about a few thousand Nigerians today use Islamic microfinance services. The main purpose of this study is to study the impact of the Islamic microfinance system on the financial situation of the population. The study is based on the principles of the theory of positivism. Methods of deduction, statistical analysis, and survey served as methodological tools. The authors of the article developed a structured questionnaire, the analysis of which allowed to analyze the attitude of citizens to Islamic microfinance services. A representative sample of citizens of the metropolis Bauchi with different levels of wealth, age and gender was selected for the study. According to the results of the survey, the development of special microcredit programs for low-income people allowed to finance the start of their own business, thus providing their own and household members’ employment. The main factors hindering the development of microfinance in Muslim countries are the high level of non-repayment of borrowed funds, imperfect infrastructure, the presence of Sharia bans on certain types of financial transactions. The results of the study showed the need for an active information campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of using macro-financial services and their accessibility for low-income citizens, as well as expanding the network of microfinance institutions throughout the metropolis. These measures will create conditions for the development of small business in the country, and as a consequence reduce poverty and reduce the number of unemployed in the country.

Drivers of Sustainability of Indian Microfinance Institutions

Think India ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Niti Bhasin ◽  
Preeti Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Loan Portfolio ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Major Section

Microfinance is the most preferred way of satisfying the essentials of poor which are generally not taken care of by formal financial institutions. It is the way to facilitate them to uphold self-employment through various financial services like provision of funds, insurance, credit etc. Microfinance institutions cater to the need of major section of society by providing access to funds and other financial services, which basically lack access to these services. To accomplish this moral objective microfinance institutions (MFIs) need to be profitable and sustainable. Thus most important question arises is: what factors drive the sustainability of MFIs. The aim of microfinance is to alleviate poverty with the help of increasing access to finance. For well-being of the poor, good sustainable performance of MFIs must be achieved. Therefore, the present study attempts to explore different factors which might affect sustainability of Indian MFIs. Panel regression analysis is used to identify the determinants of sustainability of Indian MFIs. Due to non-availability of data for most of the MFIs, five years (2009-2013) data for 46 MFIs shall constitute our sample size. Results of the study exhibit that variables such as average loan balance, borrowers per staff member, return on asset, and yield on gross loan portfolio are major determinants of sustainability (financial and operational sustainability) of Indian MFIs.

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