Significant global investment is currently devoted to “economic strengthening” activities in developing countries with the goals of addressing the short-term needs of poor people and enabling entire communities to overcome poverty and live healthy, productive lives. This paper presents an argument for the systematic monitoring and evaluation of child wellbeing related to such economic strengthening efforts.

Five microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bénin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, India and the Philippines developed and offered health protection services to microfinance clients: health education, health loans, health savings, health micro-insurance, linkages to health providers and distribution of health products. After about two years, the services were collectively reaching over 300,000 clients and are continuing to scale up. The cost to the MFI was generally low for each service (average annual net marginal cost of US$0.29 per client and average total annual cost, including allocated expenses, of $1.59 per client). Some were expected to become profitable in the near term.

The purpose of this publication is to contribute to the microfinance sector’s collective knowledge base by sharing examples of promising youth financial inclusion programs around the world and the lessons emerging from them. By sharing case studies that illustrate a variety of service combinations, approaches and delivery models, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) seeks to provide the reader with useful reference points for offering savings, credit and non-financial services (especially training and mentoring) to youth.

Active Forest Management Restores a Cultural Symbol
Empowered by a clear understanding of their rights,
Senegalese villagers are taking new responsibility for their natural resources - and other short articles about USAID local governance projects in Senegal.