Member Navigation
Upcoming Events
-
April 16, 2012 - April 20, 2012
-
June 18, 2012 - June 21, 2012
CML Newsletter
Why Gender Diversity Matters
Gender diversity matters in microfinance. WWB champions gender diversity because we believe that diverse perspectives lead to stronger decisions and healthier, more vibrant organizations. Incorporating women’s voices when designing and delivering microfinance products is particularly important when a majority of clients are women. Equally as important, microfinance clients often speak of the inspiration they derive from seeing powerful women leaders in the organizations that serve them. How best to achieve diversity? The answer lies in leadership and technical skill development of individual, high-potential leaders as well as in organizational transformations to ensure that all women and men work in environments where they can perform, excel and lead.
Featured Publication
“Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women” introduces WWB’s new methodology for helping MFIs support gender diversity at all levels of their institution. WWB has expanded its Women’s Leadership Development Program, which works with individuals, to include a tool that focuses on the challenges and opportunities microfinance institutions face in the attraction, retention, and promotion of qualified women staff members - the Organizational Gender Assessment. Now available in English and Spanish.
Knowledge@Wharton: Microfinance's Latest Challenge: Cutting Back on Over-indebtedness Among Its Poorest Clients
Long before "99%" became a symbol of Occupy Wall Street, the microfinance industry used the number to describe the share of its clients -- poor entrepreneurs shunned by traditional banks -- who repaid their micro-loans on time. It's a number used less and less in microfinance these days -- not because of Occupy Wall Street, but because many micro-borrowers are starting to default.
To read the full story, click here