| Abstract: |
The present paper aims to adduce succinctly the reasons and arguments
sustaining female-targeting microfinance programs, predominantly because of
their capacity of offering an effective and operational tool against poverty.
The herewith paper basically follows a double-axis organization. The first
axis (embracing the 3rd and 4th part of the corpus) focuses on the benefits of
microfinance, through stressing its economical and social dimensions and
consequences - while contributing to enhance the holistic character of poverty
reduction. With regard to the second axis (composed by the 5th part of the
corpus), it emphases the potential criticisms oriented towards microfinance -
thus highlighting its weaknesses - and also offering potential answers (even
if only embryonically designed) for palliating them. By offering this former
bi-axed structure, this essay contributes to underline the positive corollary
existing between the targeting of women by microfinance programs, on the one
hand, and the consequent decrease of poverty, on the other hand, hence
contributing to sustain the quasi exclusive femaleoriented character of
microfinance. |