Table des matières

Editors and Scientific Advisory Committee

• Editors
• Scientific Advisory Committee

List of Authors

Isabelle Guérin et Jane Palier

Acknowledgements

Isabelle Guérin et Jane Palier

General Introduction

Part I - Questions as to definition: what is understood by empowerment?

Jane Palier

Introduction

Defining the concept of empowerment through experiences in India

• 1. Empowerment: key word in the discourse on development
• 1.1. Empowerment, synonymous with women emancipation?
• 1.2. Empowerment: an ethnocentric vision?
• 1.3. The sine qua non of empowerment: the establishment of good institutions?
• 2. Empowerment: a neutral process or by nature political?
• 2.1. Empowerment: power over oneself or over others?
• 2.2. Empowerment as an individual or collective process? Towards a transcendence of this opposition

Meera Sundararajan

1. ‘Engendering’ microfinance

• 1. About the role of FWWB with its partners
• 2. Engendering strategies
• 2.1. Building a gender perspective adapted to the partners who adopted a ‘credit plus’ approach
• 2.2. Building a gender perspective, adapted to the partners that adopted a financially focused model
• Conclusion

M. Thanuja

2. Relevance of microfinance and empowerment in tribal areas: a case study of the Konda Reddis

• The Konda Reddis: production-consumption pattern and resource ownership
• Conclusion

Sreejata Banerjee et S.J.S. Swamidoss

3. Structural issues in empowerment under microfinance

• 1. Empowerment: what it implies
• 2. Structural issues in empowerment
• 2.1. Awareness
• 2.2. Self-esteem
• 2.3. Dependence
• 2.4. Sustainability
• Conclusion: a road map

Wayan Suadnya, Shankariah Chamala, Muktasam Abdurahman et al.

4. Empowerment and microfinance: an analysis of theoretical concepts and practices – Reflections from a microfinance project in Indonesia

• 1. Understanding the meaning of the empowerment process
• 2. Results and discussion
• Conclusion

Sunita Rabindranathan

5. Historical analysis of empowerment and its present understanding in the context of microfinance

• 1. Definition of empowerment and historical perspective
• 2. SHGs and women’s empowerment
• Conclusion

S. Mohanakumar et Suja Susan George

6. Micro enterprises of self-help groups and State policies under a neo-liberal regime: Evidences from a village in Kerala

• 1. Change in policies and SHGs
• 2. Formation of the federation of SHGs at Kunnathukal
• 3. Micro enterprises and women’s labour at Kunnathukal
• Conclusion

Joy Deshmukh-Ranadive

7. Can microfinance empower women?

• 1. What is empowerment?
• 2. Spaces that shift
• Conclusion

References Part 1

Part II - Microfinance in its environment

Isabelle Guérin

Introduction

Analysing microfinance as a process of endogenous development

• 1. Microfinance and power structures
• 2. Microfinance and informal finance
• 3. Microfinance and market structures

K. Kalpana

8. Situating microcredit in India: some reflections

• 1. Intra-group peer pressures and power dynamics
• 2. The relationship between self help groups and the sponsoring NGO/MFI
• 3. The importance of government organizations in the Indian context
• Conclusion

Christine Bonnin

9. Women’s survival strategies and experiences with support services as home-based micro-entrepreneurs in Metro Manila

• 1. Research Methods
• 2. Impacts of the Economic Crisis
• 3. Gender Roles and Expectations
• 4. Working conditions: long hours and double burdens
• 5. Housing Insecurity
• 6. Market strategies
• 7. Experiences accessing business supports from ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ sources
• Conclusion

R. Sunil

10. Microfinance, informal finance and empowerment of the poor: lessons from a case study of the SHG-bank linkage programme in a backward district in India

• 1. SHG-bank linkage programme and empowerment of the poor
• 1.1. Engendering credit
• 1.2. Objective of the study
• 2. Locale of the study and methodology
• 2.1. District economy
• 2.2. Performance of the SHG programme in the district
• 2.3. General livelihood concerns in the district
• 2.4. Selection of Households and data collection
• 2.5. Profile of the SHG member households
• 3. Major observations and analysis of the study
• 3.1. Gender aspects of credit
• 3.2. Credit usage patterns
• 3.3. Summary of findings
• 4. Conclusions and implications

Parveen Mahmud

11. Emerging women micro-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh: the “missing middle”

• 1. Who are the missing middle?
• 1.1. Features of the “missing middle” micro-enterprises
• 1.2. A mix of push and pull factors
• 2. Focal issues for micro-enterprise
• 2.1. Business Development Service (BDS)
• 2.2. Product Innovation
• 2.3. Government / MFI Policy Measures
• 2.4. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Conclusion

Arun Raste

12. Microfinance technology and linkages with non-financial services

• 1. Challenges posed by globalisation
• 2. Intervention strategies
• 3. Fair trade – An option for better living
• 4. Why do we need BDS services?
• 5. Development of common facilities and flexibility
• Conclusion

References Part 2

Part III - Assessing microfinance

Cyril Fouillet et Jane Palier

Introduction

Assessing the impact of microfinance in terms of empowerment: issues and challenges

• 1. Questions raised by the impact evaluation of a microfinance programme
• 1.1. Preliminary vocabulary questions: how to define an impact evaluation?
• 1.2. The evolution of microfinance impact evaluation practices
• 1.3. The aims of microfinance impact evaluation
• 1.4. When to carry out an impact evaluation?
• 1.5. The actors of impact evaluation
• 1.6. The relation between the different impact evaluation actors
• 2. How to evaluate the empowerment induced by microfinance? (with special reference to SHGs in India)
• 2.1. The contributions of pioneer studies conducted in Bangladesh
• 2.2. To evaluate the different dimensions of empowerment
• 2.2.1 Economic empowerment
• 2.2.2. Participation in decision-making within the household
• 2.2.3. Self-empowerment
• 2.2.4. Socio-political empowerment
• 2.3. Building empowerment indexes

Helzi Noponen

13. Microfinance, rural livelihoods and women’s empowerment – a participatory learning system to assess and enhance impact

• 1. A brief overview of the internal learning system
• 2. PRADAN – Professional assistance for development action
• 3. PRADAN’s approach to ILS adaptation: PRADAN's “boat of Life –the family’s oar”

Meenal Patole et Frances Sinha

14. Microfinance and women’s empowerment: research approach and findings from an impact assessment of MFIs in India

• 1. Research approach
• 1.1. Hypotheses
• 1.2. Study variables
• 1.3. Impact indicators
• 1.4. Indicators of change mentioned by women include:
• 1.5. Methods
• 1.6. Relevance / limitations
• 2. Findings
• 2.1. How do Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) view their women clients?
• 2.2. Who are the women clients?
• 2.3. Feedback gathered from FGDs and case studies
• 3. MFI practice can be more empowering

Binitha V. Thampi

15. Self-help groups and the empowerment of Women – a study on Community Development Society in Alleppey, Kerala

• 1. Impact of the CDS programme on economic status of women
• 2. Impact of the programme on the empowerment of women
• Conclusion

Usha Oommen et A. Meenakshisundararajan

16. Microfinance and self-help groups – the way ahead (with special reference to Kanyakumari district)

• Statement of the problem
• Selection of sample
• 1. Characteristics of functioning of SHGs in Kanyakumari district
• 2. Background of the members
• 2.1. Classification of the members according to age
• 2.2. Classification of the members according to religion and caste
• 2.3. Educational background
• 3. Financial status of the selected SHGs
• 4. Activities of the selected SHGs
• 4.1. Economic activities
• 4.2. Social activities
• 4.3. Marketing of the products
• Conclusion: findings and suggestions
• Findings
• Suggestions

Prabhat Labh

17. Findings from the mid-term impact assessment study of the CASHE programme in Orissa, carried out by Sampark, Bangalore

• 1. Introduction to CARE India and the CASHE project
• 1.1. Minimalist approach and empowerment
• 1.2. Impact assessment study of CASHE in Orissa
• 2. Major findings of the impact assessment study
• 2.1. Increase in income levels
• 2.2. Changes in consumption patterns
• 2.3. Expenses on healthcare
• 2.4. Expenditure on education
• 2.5. Ownership of house and assets
• 2.6. Reduced vulnerability
• 2.7. Participation of women in household decision-making
• 2.8. Participation in social and political processes
• Conclusions

P.A. Lakshmi Prasanna

18. Microfinance and empowerment – concepts and tools: some preliminary insights from the SHG model in Andhra Pradesh

• 1. Methodology
• 2. Economic empowerment
• 3. Social empowerment (network building)
• 4. Political empowerment
• 5. Group dynamics and empowerment
• 6. How defaults affect empowerment
• Conclusion: further issues

Prakash Louis

19. SHGs and their place and role in civil society

• 1. Objectives of the study and methodology
• 1.1. Objectives
• 1.2. Methodology
• 2. Major findings of the study
• Concluding remarks

M. Indira

20. Social externalities of women’s empowerment through microfinance: a comparative study of two interventions

• 1. Conceptual clarification and methodology
• 1.1. Indicators of social externalities
• Positive externalities
• Negative externalities
• 1.2. Comparison of Stree Shakthi and Mahila Samakhya Programmes
• 2. Findings of the study
• 2.1. Participation in local governance bodies
• 2.2. Promotion of gender equity
• 2.3. Negative externalities
• Conclusions

D. Vasudeva Rao

21. Empowerment of SHG/DWCRA women through microfinance: A study in Andhra Pradesh

• Rationale for the study
• Major objectives
• 1. Methodology
• 1.1. Sample design
• 1.2. Choice of tools and indicators
• 2. Results of the study: functioning of groups in different districts
• 2.1. Participation levels of different family members in decision making in family matters
• 2.2. Self-management aspects
• 2.3. Composition of capital
• 2.4. Participation in community problems
• 2.5. Change in perceptions on important aspects of social development
• 2.6. Occupational mobility
• 2.7. Social emancipation index
• 3. Findings and recommendations

K.R. Lakshmy Devi

22. Microcredit programmes, poverty alleviation and empowerment of women – some empirical evidence from Kerala

• 1. Methodology
• 2. Findings

Uday Kumar

23. From passive participation to effective leadership: a study on empowerment of women in Dakshina Kannada, India

• 1. Method of study
• 2. Case studies
• 2.1. Case 1
• 2.2. Case 2
• 2.3. Case 3
• 2.4. Case 4
• 3. Level of socio-economic empowerment
• Conclusion

References Part 3

Isabelle Guérin et Jane Palier

By way of a conclusion: microfinance, empowerment and solidarity-based economy

• 1. Let's be realistic: microfinance will not resolve all the problems of poverty and inequality
• 2. To consider microfinance as a right
• 3. The weaknesses of microfinance: a statement true for the whole third sector?
• 4. SHGs: an essential teaching tool for democratic practices
• 5. To think of microfinance in terms of solidarity-based economy