Microfinancing (genuine) is absolutely fabulous! And no question the very finest way to distribute; and then again and again, redistribute the very same bucket of aid money! And where every one dollar can be made to do the work of hundred!

Particularly if you would keep it out of the serial skimming hands of corrupt governments and or their alleged officials!

And various nefarious miscreants with covert agendas, that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with "Christian" ( red cross, red crescent) charity!

Arguably, it's these detractors, who dislike and question specifically targeted NGO microfinance?

Moreover, every impoverished community seems to have more than its share of petty crooks and even worse, loan sharks merely masquerading as members of the human race!

Parasitical payday finance, may be touted as micro financing in another guise? But never ever is!
Alan B.

Aid they call it, but it is really torture. Giving regular aid, as distinct from emergency short term relief is cruelty personified.

Keeping even more people alive, fit & healthy enough to continue breeding, & even more exceed the carrying capacity of their country is helping no one but the aid workers. If a grazier did the same thing he would have the RSPCA on his doorstep with charges.

Unless any aid given is only after sterilisation, it is not aid at all, merely virtue signalising by those aid workers.

What we should be doing with these academic aid "workers" is giving them a hoe, & a packet of seeds, with instructions to feed the multitude, or not come back. The last thing they should ever be let loose with, is other peoples money.

Has. I suspect you have no idea at all what microfinance is and what is does and has done very successfully, in various places. To lift the poorest folk on the planet out of enduring poverty.

It's very very modest business loans, usually given to more reliable family Matriarchs, who usually ensures it's used for the intended purpose.

Like say the purchase of a multiple purpose water buffalos to pull the plow, the cart, provide milk/manure and breed. Surpluses of either the milk or seriously enlarged crop/offspring, sold. With the earnings/income, going back to the lender, who lends it again and again to similar use.

Such as a pump to pump water or a couple of solar panels to power a sewing machine/washing machine.

These are start up cottage/self help industries not aid specifically!

Would it surprise you to know that two thirds of the households of the world are places that have no washing machine? And women spend wasted unproductive hours carting water and washing clothes.

When they could be hand weaving hats/tapestries/sombreros etc, that can be sold to the tourist market as souvenirs.

To create some very modest cash flows that can then be used to buy a motor bike/tinnie etc, which doubles as the family transport or a taxi/fishing platform.

With each step improving the family or village lot! And from there, across the nation until prosperity is the norm and they become our newest best friends and trading partners.

You're such a kindly thoughtful and benign Christian aren't you? And here we were thinking, you were just a really really nasty old man, living in a, [selfishness personified,] bubble.

One can see, you've really put a lot of thought into the topic and or, tried to imagine if it was your mum trying to raise a family in such diminished circumstances?

Yippee ky yay. You all have a nice day now y'hear and pass the corn pone.
Alan B.

Just practical Alan, rather than a head in the clouds impractical dreamer.

I heard about this type of thing going on...
It sounds good in theory but it's not just bad, it's sinister.

Here's what happens:
They say to Bushra "We can lend you money for a sewing machine" so that you can earn money to support your family.
12mths later Bushra's sold her daughters into sex slavery, + one of her her kidneys etc...

What it really is is a path to putting children into sex slavery and providing organs for the illegal organ trade.
You're all probably thinking "Oh, that sounds a bit rich", unfortunately it's actually true.

Hasbeen,
The only reason your head's not in the clouds is that you don't open the windows of your ivory tower! It's time for you to abandon your prejudice and look to the truth:

People are not cattle. And unlike cattle, people can choose what size family to have. Keeping even more people alive, fit & healthy enough to continue breeding makes it far more likely they'll choose to have small families.

And the carrying capacity of the land is not fixed - agriculture can be intensified where demand makes it economic to do so.