Message-ID: <9511078183.AA818382664@mail2.ausaid.gov.au> Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 16:31:04 EST From: Angus Barnes <mailto:Angus_Barnes@AUSAID.GOV.AU> Subject: Re: No subject given To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
This is an brief (unofficial) response on AusAID's (the
Australian Agency for International Development) activities
__________________________________________________________________
1. How long has your organization been lending to the poor?
Revolving loan funds / credit schemes / micro-enterprise
development have been components of rural development
projects for many years. Specific micro-finance activities
have been funded since the late 1980s.
2. In what locations does your organization currently make these
loans? If possible, please indicate country, province, and town.
Focussing mainly in Southeast Asia (Philippines in
particular), but with some projects in Southern Africa (eg
Zimbabwe/South Africa), South Asia (Bangladesh) and the
Pacific.
3. In what locations do you anticipate expanding these programs
in the next five years?
Looking to do more work in Vietnam/Cambodia and Laos
4. What legal status is required in order for you to lend money
to the poor? What other regulations must you follow? What
government agencies enforce these regulations?
AusAID provides 100% grant funding - usually through an
Australian NGO which is building/strengthening a local
organisation. Proposals must be consistent with AusAID
corporate policy, fit in with relevant country strategy, be
consistent with (and endorsed by) recipient government, and
have positive assessment from the Post.
5. What are the sources of the capital for these loans? Please
indicate the nature of the organization: government, private,
development agency, individuals.
AusAID is a government agency
6. In what form is this capital provided: grant or subsidies,
equity investment, debt?
100% grants
9. What conditions are imposed by the sources of funds or
governmental agencies? (E.g., a source or the Central Bank might
require that certain cash reserves be maintained, etc.)
Depends on each particular proposal and the program from
which funding is available. Eg a Philippines NGO program
requires that no more than 10% of funds are spent on
administration.
10. How many loans were granted?
11. What was the total amount loaned?
For financial years 1994/95 and 1995/96 over AUD$16 million has been expended
on micro-enterprise development activities. Approximately AUD$6 million of
this is on specific micro-finance activities. There were well over 70
separate activities in total.
12. What was the largest loan amount issued?
The largest specific micro-finance project is the Zambuko Trust
project in Zimbabwe (AUD$2 million over five years)
The specific questions on projects details obviously vary
from project to project. A range of models are used, but
many projects do adopt group-lending techniques (like
Grameen).
Cheers
Angus Barnes
Policy Development Section
mailto:angus_barnes@ausaid.gov.au