Toward an ADB Microfinance Development Strategy

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Introduction

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recognizes microfinance (MF) as a critical element for an effective poverty reduction strategy in the Asia-Pacific region (the region) where 95 percent of some 180 million poor households still have little access to institutional financial services. Interest in MF has burgeoned and a growing number of development stakeholders in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) have adopted MF as a mean to enable the poor to participate in and benefit from economic growth. The MF sector has therefore grown significantly in recent years.