Supporting microfinance institutions or lending directly can lead to information overload. It’s easier to give to network support organizations, like ACCION, that research and give microfinance institutions startup help, technical services, loan guarantees, and more.
I found choosing among these organizations still challenging; hopefully, I can save you some of that effort. Here’s information I gathered on one while researching the field.
Overview
In 2006, CEO María Otero spoke at Google.org, about ACCION’s history and approach.
- 01:38 – Background
- 08:10 – ACCION’s approach and anecdotal history
- 14:23 – Linking microfinance to traditional banks
- 24:47 – Technical assistance
- 26:50 – Equity funds
- 28:40 – Summary
- 37:54 – What differentiates microfinance organizations?
- 42:20 – Does ACCION market entrepreneurship?
- 46:05 – Are women better borrowers?
- 51:13 – What’s the next breakthrough?
Some Numbers
ACCION started microlending in 1973, now it:
- sets up and supports microfinance institutions in twenty-three countries
- 2.4 million borrowers today
- 1.57 million through partners
- four star rating from Charity Navigator
Choices
There are many network support organizations; in 2004 the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor compared thirty-three in What is a Network? Diversity of Networks in Microfinance Today:
This graph from the report shows ACCION, and most, serve borrowers in multiple levels of poverty.
Elsewhere
The Economist covered ACCION in From charity to business, MIXMarket has a brief profile, and GuideStar has the 990s. ACCION is on ChangingThePresent and mapped on Xigi.