Client Assessment in Conflict - and Disaster - Affected Environments: The Experience of Action Contre La Misère in Haiti
Jun 1, 2006 | by Christon Domond, Christian Loupéda, and Gary Woller
Armed conflicts and natural disasters are frequent occurrences in the developing countries where microfinance institutions (MFIs) operate. Working in conflict- or disaster-affected environments poses numerous challenges for MFIs, which threaten both their short-term survival and long-term sustainability. Action Contre La Misere (ACLAM), an MFI in Haiti, has had the “opportunity” to work simultaneously in both environments. ACLAM’s experience offers a useful perspective that can supplement existing literature on microfinance programs in these environments.
Section 1 of this paper reviews the context in which ACLAM operates. Section 2 describes the impact of political violence and Hurricane Jeanne on the MFI’s clients and operations. Section 3 reviews the experience of other MFIs operating in conflict- and disaster-affected environments; Section 4 then examines ACLAM’s response to such an environment and relates it to that of other MFIs. Finally, the Conclusion offers a brief summary of ACLAM’s experience in the SEEP PLP in “Putting Client Assessment to Work,” followed by concluding remarks.
Categories:
Economic Strengthening and Recovery Fragile and Conflict-affected Environments Microfinance Latin America and The Caribbean English Unpublished Resources SEEP Resource Library