The research group Microfinance and Small Enterprise Development Centre for Microfinance INHolland
Table of contents Microfinance now also in holland Who are we? Our targets
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Research group
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What we do?
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Why research into microfinance in The Netherlands?
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Microfinance is more than Microcredit
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Much can be learnt from developing countries
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Microfinance, Enterprising and Education
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Who do we aim at?
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What do we offer?
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Microfinance from Morocco to Holland Hand-made slippers from Fez or traditional clogs?
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Microfinance, now Microfinance is a collective term for all financial initiatives for people with available in Holland insufficient access to regular banking, offering them the opportunity to start small business activities. With the help of micro-credit, enterprising people can find their way out from poverty and inequality through the creation of work and income, participation in society and provision of a better prospect for the future. We usually associate microfinance with developing countries, south of the equator. It is certainly true that in “the South�, microfinance has been frequently applied. There, it has acquired a position in society. But also in the Netherlands, microfinance can be an effective tool to stimulate local entrepreneurship, as it not only provides economic growth and employment, but also social cohesion at a local level. Until recently, little attention has been paid to microfinance in the Netherlands. Now, however, there is a boom in microfinance institutions (MFIs) that offer future entrepreneurs not just the finance, but often also coaching to start a new business. And it has proven to be in demand: In the Netherlands, over 600,000 people are thinking of starting some kind of business. Many of them can use microfinance to achieve this.
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Microfinance from Thailand to Holland A floating market or learning how to surf in Holland?
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Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands can be developed by stimulating microfinance initiatives at a local level. In this, financial institutions and coaching organizations play a major role. Both are in need of knowledge and experience in this field. The Centre for Microfinance and Small Business Development bundles this knowledge, previously acquired in practice in the South and in other European countries. This knowledge is offered to students at INHOLLAND University, providing the opportunity for them to broaden their knowledge and further develop within this discipline.
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Microfinance from Ghana to Holland A colorful African dress or a tailored suit?
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Who are we? The INHOLLAND Centre for Microfinance is part of the research group Microfinance and Small Business Development. This research group collaborates with the School of Economics of INHOLLAND The Hague. Together, we aim to broaden and deepen the knowledge and apply it in education and in practice. The Centre is engaged in the research, transfer and transformation of knowledge in the field of Microfinance and Small Business Development. It has been founded on the principle …. ‘Much knowledge from the South can be usefull in the North’…. This knowledge is being updated continuously through research into innovative methods. In doing so, we ask the question how Microfinance can stimulate entrepreneurship and give feedback about this knowledge to our students. Also in this process, the lessons in the field of microfinance learned from the South are applicable to the North.
What do we want to achieve? To set up, develop and carry out a practice-orientated and applied research and education programme in the field of microfinance and small business development at INHOLLAND University
Why we want to achieve this To stimulate the growth of entrepreneurship in the Netherlands through microfinance
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Microfinance from Bolivia to Holland Quail’s eggs or traditional Dutch mini-pancakes?
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Our targets ‘To use knowledge for a sustainable, fair and culturally diverse social-economic development’ We want to realize three targets:
Research acquire to knowledge from the South and, after transformation, to be able to apply this in the North.
Education to make this knowledge available and pass it on to students at INHOLLAND University.
Make knowledge in the Netherlands who wish to further train and/or orientate themselves in the available to third parties field of Microfinance and Small Business Development. Research Group The employees of the INHOLLAND Centre for Microfinance form a research group together. They are people with the necessary knowledge of and experience in, as well as passion for Microfinance and Small Business Development. With third parties, we are building a network to quickly and effectively get the most current information available and to create contacts with the right institutions and people. To enable the continuous developments of this knowledge and in order to be able to apply it in the North, both in education and in practice, we work on various research projects together with students.
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Microfinance from Cambodia to Holland Settling the finances digitally or planning a meeting?
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What we do? We are engaged in setting up, developing and carrying out practice-oriented and applied research and we provide an educational programme in the field of Microfinance and Small Business Development. Research projects are aimed at various topics. You will find a small selection of current project topics at which the research group is aiming below: • Group loans versus individual loans: In some cultures socio-cultural and location-bound feelings are lacking and individual loans may be a better option. • Interest levels, margins and expenses: The profitable return of MFIs in many developing countries is mainly made possible by asking high interest rates for small loans. Is it socially acceptable and socially justifiable to apply such high interests in the Netherlands? • Training, knowledge and experience of bank employees/MFIs staff: Specific training for MFI personnel and coaches in the Netherlands is not yet in place. To be able to give good advice and to appropriately coach the clients, this is still necessary. What can we learn from the MFI bank employees in the South with regards to training?
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Microfinance from the Caribbean to Holland Souvenirs on the beach or repairing bicycles?
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What can we learn from the â€˘â€ƒ Social legislation and microfinance: What risks, rights and obligations MFI bank employees in the play a role in microfinance? How does this compare to the situation in the South in this field? South and how can this knowledge be useful in the North? Within the general research programme, students get the opportunity to carry out traineeships and final projects commissioned by the INHOLLAND Centre for Microfinance.
Why research into microfinance Recently, more material has become available to researchers, and their in the Netherlands? analyses and recommendations are getting more relevant every day. This enables other people to get to work with existing acquired knowledge and insights. There is also a very large practical benefit: better knowledge about microfinance can contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic structure of the Netherlands. Cooperation between the members of the research group and professionals is necessary to make this knowledge available and pass it on to the students of INHOLLAND University. Together, we can further deepen and develop this knowledge. By having students participate in minors, training sessions, traineeships and microfinance projects, the growth of entrepreneurship will be stimulated and enhanced.
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Microfinance from Vietnam to Holland Fish from the South China Sea or a typically Dutch herring?
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Microfinance is more Microfinance is a collective term for all financial initiatives for people with than just microcredit insufficient access to the services of regular banks. Micro-credit is a part of microfinance. Micro-credit consists of small loans to entrepreneurs who have insufficient access to, or are not seen by, the regular banks. Apart from microcredit, new entrepreneurs also need guarantees, micro-insurances, savings and microlease products, all elements of microfinance. Those who qualify for microfinance are often people like recently graduated students, semi- or unskilled people, ethnical minorities, inhabitants of deprived areas, the unemployed and people on social securities.
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Microfinance from Nepal to Holland Producing hand-made paper or turning your hobby into your work?
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A lot can be learnt from Microfinance in the Netherlands can be a good instrument to stimulate local developing countries entrepreneurship and to contribute to the local economy. This does not only create an economic growth and employment, but also social cohesion. It belongs to the distant past that Microfinance is only for the poor in developing countries. It is a confusing term, misleading people in two respects: • M icrofinance is not at all only for the poor, more than that: it still often happens that the really poor do not even qualify for Microfinance. Microfinance is for everyone who is an entrepreneur in spirit, but does not have enough financial means and does not qualify for a loan from a regular bank. • B esides, Microfinance is not only on offer in developing countries; it is also stimulated in many European countries (such as Spain, United Kingdom, France and Finland) and developed as an answer to social problems.
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Microfinance from Burma to Holland Making bricks or cleaning windows?
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We consider it important for students to go into Microfinance and Small Business Development. For them, much is to be learnt in this field. Knowledge they may be able to apply in their jobs. Researches are necessary to broaden that knowledge and to check how it can be adapted to the situations in Europe and/or in the Netherlands. Each country is different, having its own cultural, demographic and socialeconomic differences to be taken into account. For instance, the group loans from Microfinance are much harder to be realized in the Netherlands, solely because of the fact that the Netherlands has other relations in the social field than for example Kenya or Bangladesh. In the Netherlands, an individual Microfinance will for instance be applied sooner. But in a society that is getting more and more diverse, other forms are needed as well. Also other aspects, such as communication, interest regulations, information and coaching will have to be considered and examined per country. But the principle of Microfinance remains the same: a financial support of a relatively small amount (often a maximum of â‚Ź 35,000) to enable the purchase of a sewing machine, the rent of a shop or an investment in raw materials.
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Microfinance from Malaysia to Holland Casings for the construction of houses or to frame paintings?
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Microfinance, There is a direct relation between microfinance and small business Enterprising and Education developments. In cooperation with the INHOLLAND School of Economics The Hague, this link will get attention in the educational programme. Additionally, there will be close cooperation with other research groups within the University aimed at ‘Enterprise’. The lectures on microfinance offer 3rd and 4th year-students the opportunity to learn what microfinance is and to be informed about the issues regarding this topic. In addition to the lectures, students can participate in traineeships with microfinance projects and programmes, both in the Netherlands and abroad. To this end, one should always make a link to the feedback of knowledge from the South to the North.
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Microfinanciering van Senegal naar Holland A classic African barber or a trendy beauty parlour?
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Who do we • S tudents of INHOLLAND University, preferably of the Schools of Economics, who are interested in Microfinance and Small Business Development. aim at? • P olicy-makers who are directly involved in microfinance and/or specific subsectors. • P roject managers at local and/or national level(s) in the Netherlands who are active in the field of development of Microfinance and Small Business Development. • P rofessionals wanting to share or further develop their knowledge. • T he potential entrepreneurs, always at the back of our minds, who themselves want to get working and want to get out of their socio-economic isolation. People who do not have access to financing possibilities and want to improve their lives.
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Microfinance from Laos to Holland Harvesting rice or picking tulips?
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In education, we aim at the students of INHOLLAND University, preferably students at the School of Economics. But of course, all other INHOLLAND students who are interested in Microfinance and Small Business Development are cordially invited! In research, we aim at policy-makers, project managers, researchers and professionals. Their efforts must lead to better access for potential entrepreneurs to finance and coaching, and to an effective use of microfinance in general.
What we offer? To both students at INHOLLAND University and other interested parties we offer the opportunity to develop themselves into professionals within the MFI sector by participating in the microfinance educational programme. This consists, among other things, of • G uest lectures and master classes on microfinance, • T raining for prospective coaches and executives within the MFIs, • C ollaboration at home and abroad, and • S ub-research projects, traineeships and thesis topics.
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The research group Microfinance Interested in Microfinance and Small Business Development? Then please and Small Enterprise Development visit the INHolland Centre for Microfinance in The Hague. Or phone/mail for Centre for Microfinance INHolland an appointment or more information. INHolland University The Hague INHolland Centre for Microfinance Theresiastraat 8 2593 AN The Hague Phone 070-3123294 Email Microfinance@INHolland.nl Opening hours Centre for Microfinance Monday – Friday: 9.00h. – 17.30h. Need extensive information? Then first make an appointment.
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