inclusive microfinance: ensuring the access to mainstream microfinance services for persons with...

Inclusive Microfinance:ensuring the access to mainstream

microfinance services for Persons with disabilities

The barriers to access MF services

“We haven’t thought about it.”

“There is probably not so many disabled persons running viable

businesses.”

“We don’t have any knowledge on how to serve this segment.”

“We need special products to serve this segment.“

“We are to busy to think about this”

From Microfinance institutions From Persons with disabilities

“MFI are money hunters”

“Borrowing money is too risky”

“Because of our situation, we should receive grants”

“What is microfinance?”

“They would always refuse to consider us as clients”

“I can’t even access their nearest branch”

The barriers to access MF services

Discrimination Self-exclusion Lack of self-esteem

Lack of saving culture

Adverse to risk

Habit of being rejected

Expectation of charity

Lack of information on the existence of the MF services

Lack if understanding of MF mechanisms

Reluctance from staff to serve Persons with disabilities (deliberately or unconsciously)

Physical barriers to access the MF services

Exclusion by group of borrowers

No communication aiming at Persons with disabilities

Including disabled clients in communication materials

What MFI can do !

What MFI can do !

Making MF branch accessible

Recruiting Persons with disabilities

What MFI can do !

What MFI can do !

Make public success storiesof disabled clients

What MFI can do !

Training for MFI staff Communication from MFI director to all MFI staff

(newsletter or special letter) Special conditions to groups which include

disabled members Bonus for Loan officer reaching out Pwd Identify existing disabled clients and get them to

recommend new clients

« Should we do all of this alone? »

Partnering with actors of the disability sector:

IDDC members: CBM, NAD, Leonard Cheshire International, Handicap international, etc.

Disabled people organisation: federation or local organisation (depends on capacities)

« Should we do all of this alone? »

Actors of the disability sector are able toConduct staff trainingContribute to MFI outreach programmePrepare future clients (graduating scheme)Help make MFI branches accessibleContribute to recruitment of Persons with disabilitiesHelp designing communication materialGather documentation and toolsBe partner to access new sources of funds from donors