Welcome to our sixth issue of Countdown 2005, the newsletter of the Microcredit Summit Campaign. This issue features an interview with Britain's Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short, on the Department for International Development's work funding microcredit programs worldwide. There is an inspiring article by UNIFEM's Executive Director, Noeleen Heyzer, on the role of microcredit in empowering women. The Action Plan presentation featured in this issue is that of PKSF, a national apex funding institution in Bangladesh. This issue's Best Practices examines the first two elements of the Microcredit Summit Campaign's Poverty Measurement Tool Kit, which are Participatory Wealth Ranking and the CASHPOR House Index.

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Countdown 2005 is available in English, French, and Spanish.