Gender and rural microfinance: Reaching and empowering ... - IFAD

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This paper was prepared by Linda Mayoux and Maria Hartl. Linda Mayoux is an international consultant on gender issues in economic development including microfinance. She is currently global consultant for Oxfam Novib’s Women’s Empowerment, Mainstreaming and Networking (WEMAN) programme. Mayoux prepared this paper in collaboration with Maria Hartl, Technical Adviser for Gender and Social Equity in IFAD’s Technical Advisory Division. Annina Lubbock, Senior Technical Adviser for Gender and Poverty Targeting, Michael Hamp, Senior Technical Adviser for Rural Finance. Ambra Gallina, Gender and Poverty Targeting Consultant, also contributed. The following people reviewed the content: Maria Pagura (Rural Finance Officer, Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Carola Saba (Development Manager, Women’s World Banking) and Margaret Miller (Senior Microfinance Specialist, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor – CGAP). The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The designations ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. This publication or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission from IFAD, provided that the publication or extract therefrom reproduced is attributed to IFAD and the title of this publication is stated in any publication and that a copy thereof is sent to IFAD. Cover: Innovative ways of saving, such as making collective deposits to increase returns, can make a significant contribution to women’s empowerment. Powerguda, India © IFAD, R. Chalasani © 2009 by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) August 2009
Contents Acronyms 3 Introduction 5 Aims of the guide 6 Why is gender mainstreaming important for women? Potential gender impacts 8 Potential benefits of rural microfinance: Virtuous spirals 8 Importance of gender mainstreaming: Potential vicious circles 10 Mainstreaming gender equality and empowerment: Institutional implications 16 Elements of a gender strategy 16 Organizational gender mainstreaming 16 From access to empowerment: Designing financial products 21 Credit 25 Savings 27 Insurance 28 Remittances 31 Demand-driven product development: Market research and financial literacy 34 Increasing empowerment: Rural microfinance, non-financial services, participation and macro-level strategies 38 Integration and inter-organizational collaboration to provide non-financial services 38 Participation and collective action 42 Promoting an enabling environment for gender-equitable rural microfinance: Consumer protection and gender advocacy 48 Annexes: Decision checklists for gender audit 57 A. Organizational gender policy decision checklist 58 B. Gender questions in product and programme design 60 C. Programme design: Rural microfinance, non-financial services and participation 67 D. Gender impact checklist 69 References 72
Page 1: Gender and rural microfinance: Reac
Page 5 and 6: Acronyms ACORD ANANDI BRAC CGAP DFI
Page 7 and 8: Introduction IFAD’s overarching g
Page 9 and 10: and issues, and, currently, a lack
Page 11 and 12: FIGURE 1 Microfinance and women’s
Page 13 and 14: Rather, these gender differences an
Page 15 and 16: that the empowerment process must h
Page 17 and 18: Organizational culture plays an imp
Page 19 and 20: BOX 1 Mainstreaming gender: Element
Page 21 and 22: It is possible for these changes in
Page 23 and 24: III. From access to empowerment: De
Page 25 and 26: BOX 4 Increasing women’s access t
Page 27 and 28: The following sections discuss gend
Page 29 and 30: The loan products available in rura
Page 31 and 32: BOX 6 Savings products Examples of
Page 33 and 34: BOX 7 Insurance programmes for wome
Page 35 and 36: large money transfer operators (Wes
Page 37 and 38: BOX 8 Financial literacy Self-Emplo
Page 39 and 40: discriminated against, or where the
Page 41 and 42: BOX 10 Mainstreaming empowerment in
Page 43 and 44: Programmes do not need to be women-
Page 45 and 46: BOX 12 Savings-and-credit groups: A
Page 47 and 48: has abandoned its original model, t
Page 49 and 50: In India, many organizations are in
Page 51 and 52: Land titling, India The Orissa Trib
Page 53 and 54:
Women are often keen to develop the
Page 55 and 56:
BOX 16 Measures to promote an enabl
Page 57 and 58:
Quality of service • Products wil
Page 59 and 60:
Annexes: Decision checklists for ge
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Practice Recruitment and promotion
Page 63 and 64:
General Questions • Are products
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Large versus small loans • Women
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Returns to capital • Access quest
Page 69 and 70:
C. Programme design: Rural microfin
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D. Gender impact checklist Gender i
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• Even if women do not use the in
Page 75 and 76:
Groverman, V., and J.D. Gurung (200
Page 77 and 78:
Rose, K. (1992) Where women are lea
Page 79:
International Fund for Agricultural
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