Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities for Micro

Description

Fight rural poverty through the creation of significant policy mechanisms, microenterprises, and employment programs The majority of the world’s poor live in Asia, and most of these live in rural areas. These areas are also infamous for the food insecurity and malnutrition associated with poverty. Making even a modest dent in rural Asian poverty has the potential to realize large gains in... Read more

Fight rural poverty through the creation of significant policy mechanisms, microenterprises, and employment programs

The majority of the world’s poor live in Asia, and most of these live in rural areas. These areas are also infamous for the food insecurity and malnutrition associated with poverty. Making even a modest dent in rural Asian poverty has the potential to realize large gains in global human development.

Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia provides evidence-based guidelines for policymakers in developing countries, for researchers focusing on development problems, and for the international development assistance community in the continuing search for ways to effectively reduce poverty in the developing world. Detailed examinations are clearly presented on the efforts for poverty alleviation through microenterprise development and rural public employment programs that focus on public works and household/small-scale industries. Asia-based case studies of various microenterprises and rural public employment projects reveal important policy mechanisms and the effectiveness of each poverty reduction measure. Tables, figures, and relevant glossaries make unfamiliar terms and difficult information easy to understand.

Part I of Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia:

presents a framework for the analysis of rural microenterprises with a focus on microfinance
highlights the main findings of country-specific case studies
suggests guidelines for an appropriate strategy for the provision of microfinance to reach the poor, alleviate poverty, and create financial stability
analyzes the issues relating to public wage employment schemes and the principal findings of the case studies
draws policy conclusions for the formulation of effective public employment schemes

Part II of Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia presents case studies conducted in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines—along with revealing conclusions. These studies include:

the SIDBI Foundation for Micro Credit in India—including the continuing problem of the exclusion of the poorest
the Maharashtra Rural Credit Project in India and concerns about the sustainability of the financial infrastructure
the Small Enterprises Development Project in Bangladesh and the high rate of return on capital from financed enterprises
the successes of the Grameen Uddog, Agrani Bank Micro-Enterprise Development Unit (MEDU), and Kishoreganj Community-Based Projects in Bangladesh
the income-stabilizing role of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Maharashtra, India
guidelines for the Public Works Employment policy and implementation in the Philippines

Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia is a concise overview of the crucial research undertaken at the request of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and makes this a vital resource for researchers, educators, students, policymakers, and development experts working towards the goal of poverty reduction. Read less

List of Acronyms
Foreword (Joachim von Braun)
Preface
PART I: SYNTHESIS AND MAJOR LESSONS
Chapter 1. Rural Poverty and the Nonfarm Sector in Rural Asia
Rural Poverty and the Nonfarm Employment Nexus
Public Policies for the Nonfarm Sector
Chapter 2. Rural Nonfarm Microenterprise: Salient Features and Issues
Introduction
Microfinance
Financial Sustainability
Nonfinancial Inputs
Chapter 3. Bangladesh Case Studies: Review and Analysis
Main Features of Microenterprise/Finance Projects
Review of Performance
Conclusions
Chapter 4. Indian Case Studies: Review and Analysis
Maharashtra Rural Credit Project
SIDBI Foundation for Micro Credit
Main Findings
Conclusions
Chapter 5. Overview of Country Experiences
Introduction
Patterns of Nonfarm Lending
Institutional Mechanisms for Credit Delivery
Noncredit Inputs: Skill, Transfer of Technology, and Market Access
Appendix: Rural Employment Support Foundation
Chapter 6. Conclusions: Microfinance for Microenterprise
Group versus Individual Lending
Targeting the Poor
To Reach the Poorest: An Illustration
Financial Sustainability
Upscaling and Financing the Missing Middle
Not by Credit Alone
Chapter 7. Public Employment Schemes: Case Studies in India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines
Introduction
The Food-for-Work Program in Bangladesh
Jawahar Rozgar Yojana in India
Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme in India
Public Employment Program in the Philippines
Chapter 8. Review of Country Experiences of Public Employment and Policy Conclusions
Experience Review
Conclusions
PART II: COUNTRY CASE STUDIES
Chapter 9. SIDBI Foundation for Micro Credit (Raghav Gaiha)
Introduction
Major Findings
Conclusions
Chapter 10. Maharashtra Rural Credit Project (Raghav Gaiha)
Introduction
Targeting of MRCP
Self-Help Groups
Exclusion of the Poorest
Nonfarm Activities
Autonomy and Empowerment of Women
Awareness, Skills, and Training
Conclusions
Chapter 11. Small Enterprises Development Project in Bangladesh (Rushidan Islam Rahman)
Introduction
Basic Features, Targets, and Achievement
Loan Disbursement, Cost, and Period of Loans
Background of Borrowers
Nonfarm Enterprises Financed by SEDP
Use of and Returns on SEDP Loans
Conclusions
Chapter 12. A Study on Grameen Uddog, MEDU, and Kishoreganj Projects (Sajjad Zohir)
Introduction
Grameen Uddog: A Commercial Venture to Promote Rural Nonfarm Employment
Employment Generation Project for the Rural Poor: An Agrani Bank Initiative
Kishoreganj Sadar Thana Project: A Community-Based Approach
Conclusions: Lessons for the Future
Chapter 13. A Review of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Maharashtra (Raghav Gaiha)
Introduction
ICRISAT Survey
Ahmadnagar Survey
Salient Features
Recent Developments
Performance of EGS
Direct Transfer Benefits
Indirect Transfer Benefits
Income Stabilization
Supplementary Analysis
Conclusions
Chapter 14. Public Works Employment and Rural Poverty Alleviation in the Philippines (Roehlano M. Briones)
Introduction
Public Works Employment Programs in the Philippines
The Case Studies: In-Depth Analysis
Case Studies: Wage Benefits and Targeting
Final Evaluation: Lessons Learned and Best Practices
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Author(s)

Biography

Nurul Islam

Reducing Rural Poverty in Asia Challenges and Opportunities for Microenterprises and Public Employment Schemes

Description

Table of Contents

Author(s)

Biography

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