Network Publications
Network Case Studies
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Agrifinance—Reaching the Rest of Africa
Most of Africa's population lives in rural areas, where dependence upon agriculture will require a strategic focus on the sector in order to alleviate poverty.
The main key to Africa’s rural regions is the agricultural industry, which will make up a significant percentage of Opportunity’s rural loan portfolio. This paper will discuss Opportunity’s effort to expand financial access to this difficult-to-serve industry. It will also highlight the challenges that we face and that have brought failure to previous attempts at developing sustainable rural microfinance models. Those obstacles include the complexity of farming operations, which are dependent on proper seed and farm inputs, farming techniques and infrastructure, access to markets and information and management of irregular income flows.
Finally, this paper will show how Opportunity International is seeking to overcome these obstacles through a strategic and holistic approach to agricultural lending, which we believe will help African farmers make great strides toward feeding the continent.
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The Transformation Lens
Providing opportunities for economic betterment and life abundant
Opportunity International seeks to provide financial products and services that enable whole-life transformation. This white paper discusses the biblical basis of Opportunity‘s holistic vision, introduces the Transformation Lens, and examines through case studies what is required to translate its vision of transformation into actual changes in the lives of our clients. While microfinance loans, savings, insurance, and training start from the intention to address the financial needs of clients, Opportunity has developed an instrument to assist member organizations to evaluate and plan how their financial services can actually contribute to whole-life transformation.
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Credit Scoring in Microfinance
Analyzing the characteristics and performance of past loans to predict the performance of future loans.
This white paper provides an overview of credit scoring for microfinance organizations. The Opportunity Network is at the very beginning stage of exploring credit scoring. Opportunity Finance in South Africa currently uses it, and FORUS Bank in Russia and Opportunity International Bank of Malawi have undertaken feasibility studies to begin its implementation. This paper is based on their learning, as well as published best practice in the field. It conveys the benefits and risks of credit scoring and describes how it works. It also explores the basic stages of implementing credit scoring, and outlines the questions and guidelines that executives should consider prior to introducing it.
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Banking Rollout Approaches to Rural Markets
The experience of Opportunity International Bank of Malawi.
This white paper examines strategies for expanding microfinance
bank operations to a rural setting based on the experience of
Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM). In particular,
we will focus on the following key learnings:
1. Client responsive product modification.
2. New / unconventional marketing and product education
activities.
3. Use of technology and other existing distribution channels
to create a virtual organization.
4. A phased rollout involving taking careful, sequential steps
to build business before commencing operations.
