The Microcredit Summit Campaign
Commissioned Papers

Commissioned Papers on Microcredit

The following conceptual papers have been prepared for the Microcredit Summit Campaign by leaders in the field of microcredit over the years.  In 1999, the Campaign commissioned the first five papers as a follow-on to the first ever Global Microcredit Summit that was held in 1997.  These were written by thought leaders and innovators in microcredit to capture the knowledge gained to date in these key areas as well as to develop the thinking on how to address challenges certain to come in the next few years.  Since then, the Campaign has commissioned more than 50 other papers outlining 

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2006 Global Summit

Plenary Sessions

Workshops

Associated Sessions

2002 Global Summit

These six commissioned papers were discussed in Plenary Session at the Microcredit Summit +5 (in 2002), five of them and have been compiled in a book entitled Pathways Out of Poverty: Innovations in Microfinance for the Poorest Families, published by Kumarian Press in November of 2002. Hard copies of the book can be ordered using our Materials Order Form.  

The first five of the six papers listed below are also available online in Spanish and French. 

2001 Latin America / Caribbean Region Microcredit Summit

1997 Global Summit

In 1999, the Microcredit Summit Campaign commissioned these five papers as a follow-on to the first ever Global Microcredit Summit that was held in 1997.  They were written by leaders in microcredit to capture the knowledge gained to date in these key areas as well as to develop the thinking on how to address challenges certain to come in the next few years.

Creating Autonomous National and Sub-regional Microcredit Funds (Updated January 5, 2001) 

  • Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Managing Director, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)

The Microcredit Summit's Challenge: Working Towards Institutional Financial Self-Sufficiency while Maintaining a Commitment to Serving the Poorest Families (Updated June 2000) 

  • David S. Gibbons, Managing Director, CASHPOR Financial and Technical Services
  • Jennifer W. Meehan, Financial Advisor, CASHPOR Financial and Technical Services

Measuring Transformation: Assessing and Improving the Impact of Microcredit Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV 

  • Susy Cheston, Executive Director, Womens Opportunity Fund
  • Larry Reed, Managing Director, Opportunity International Network
  • Suzy Salib, Program Manager, Women's Opportunity Fund
  • Rodger Voorhies, Assistant Regional Director for Africa, Opportunity International Network
  • James Copestake, Centre for Development Studies, Bath University-UK
  • Md. Mustafa Kamal, Director, Research and Documentation, ASA Bangladesh
  • Mitzi Machado, Trust Bank Program Coordinator, AGAPE
  • Ana Laura Valazza, Technical Advisor, Opportunity International Network

Overcoming the Obstacles of Identifying the Poorest Families: Using Participatory Wealth Ranking (PWR), the CASHPOR House Index (CHI), and Other Measurements to Identify and Encourage the Participation of the Poorest Families, Especially the Women of Those Families (Updated June 2000)

  • Anton Simanowitz, Institute for Development Studies
  • Ben Nkuna, The Small Enterprise Foundation
  • Sukor Kasim, Women Development Banking Trust

How Donor Funds Could Better Reach and Support Grassroots Microcredit Institutions Working Towards the Microcredit Summit's Goal and Core Themes 

  • Muhammad Yunus, Managing Director, Grameen Bank