Our Work
At Microfinance Opportunities, our work is anchored in the belief that everyone should have access to financial services that work for them. We are committed to understanding the financial realities of low-income households and developing appropriate solutions.
All human beings share the aspiration of economic security. With less money to spare, it is even more critical for poor people to have opportunities for credit, savings accounts and other financial services to successfully manage their money and invest in the future. In collaboration with a wide range of public and private sector partners, our research and expertise help to offer consumers in the developing world increased access to finance.
Building Financial Capabilities
But access to financial services is just part of the equation. Individuals also need to be empowered with the know-how and confidence to make responsible financial choices for themselves and their families.
Microfinance Opportunities has been promoting the design and delivery of financial literacy in developing countries since 2002. Through our path-breaking curricula, trainings and technical assistance – and our innovative use of mass media and grassroots techniques – we help millions of consumers build their knowledge of key financial concepts, including budgeting, saving, borrowing and investing, and develop the necessary skills to make informed financial decisions.
As the number of financial options in many parts of the developing world continues to grow, building the financial capabilities of low-income individuals has become all the more important. And research proves that an informed consumer is a better consumer. Every dollar invested in financial education translates into more loyal clients, more transactions, lower loan default rates and a stronger savings portfolio.
Conducting Consumer Research
Another important step to generating more consumer demand is offering financial products and services that meet consumers’ priorities and preferences. The most successful and impactful solutions are the ones that build upon the lessons of market research.
Microfinance Opportunities utilizes a number of innovative tools and methodologies to dive deep into the investigation of why and how poor people make certain financial decisions. We then share these insights with microfinance providers, supplying a detailed picture of money management among specific low-income populations.
Bridging the gap between academia and practitioners, our consumer research continues to serve as the foundation for the world’s leading financial education curriculum and fuels the industry with new ideas and sources of inspiration.
