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Item Drifting into debt? : exploring household over-indebtedness amongst salaried microborrowers in Bangladesh : a case study of Kailakuri Health Care Project : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of International Development, Massey University, Manuwatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2017) Vickers, NadineSalaried microborrowers in Bangladesh take loans for a variety of reasons but they can fall into repayment difficulties, leading to further loan-taking and potentially household overindebtedness. This thesis uses a case study of Kailakuri Health Care Project staff to explore over-indebtedness amongst salaried microborrowers. Data was gathered from two participantgroups, namely twenty four KHCP staff and eleven microfinance lenders. Four focus groups were held. Seven staff participated in a set of household interviews and financial diaries, which tracked their income, expenditure, savings and borrowing behaviour over a one-month period. The thesis explores local meanings of over-indebtedness and compares these to academic definitions. It compares the lending terms and conditions of microfinance lenders including moneylenders, banks, credit unions, NGOs and others with outstanding loans to research participants. It also examines how borrowers perceive the advantage and disadvantages of different lenders and the strategies they use to manage multiple repayments. Finally it considers how borrowers’ decision-making influences their risk of household over-indebtedness, as well as the effect of their income, expenditure, savings and borrowing-related behaviour. The research findings show that in contrast to the literature, which provides a mainly financial analysis, research participants focused on social symptoms of over-indebtedness such as the stigma attached to lender visits, deceitful behaviour by borrowers and debt-related stress. What is also illuminated is that borrowers weigh up a number of factors aside from interest rates when deciding on which lender to approach and they tend to prioritise NGO loan repayment because of the pressure on timely installments. This can lead borrowers to fall behind on other repayments to moneylenders, banks and credit unions, leading to an increased risk of overindebtedness. Many borrowers struggle with over-indebtedness because of insufficient income, social aspirations, cultural expectations and a number of other factors. However, microfinance lenders are unlikely to reduce interest rates and fees due to financial sustainability concerns. This thesis concludes that it is crucial to look outside the lender and borrower bubble and to consider the external pressures which are creating the demand for so much credit. The Bangladeshi government and international NGO community have an important role to play.Item Microfinance in postwar Afghanistan : towards a conflict-sensitive approach : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University(Massey University, 2006) Harvey, Michael DavidIt is well established that microfinance has become a key tool to reduce poverty in developing countries. Previously unable to gain access to credit and savings products from formal providers such as banks, poor people can now take small loans to support income-generating activities, or build up small savings accounts for important expenditures. These services are offered by microfinance providers (MFPs), semi-formal institutions which often have development as well as financial goals. Because poverty tends to be widespread in countries emerging from war, the provision of microfinance is being increasingly recognised as crucial to post-conflict economic reconstruction. Most writers on post-conflict microfinance (PCM) have outlined the considerable challenges which MFPs face in these unstable situations, and have offered valuable operational advice on how to meet those challenges. However, little has been written on how PCM has impacted upon the clients themselves, or whether it has assisted them to re-establish viable livelihoods. Secondly, even though postwar situations are unstable due to unresolved sources of tension, most PCM literature lacks a systematic treatment of how the microfinance could be 'conflict-sensitive'. 'Conflict sensitivity' can be defined as taking preventative measures to reduce the possibility that development intervention will exacerbate tensions, and implementing pro-active strategies to help build peace. This study constructs a conflict sensitive system whereby microfinance goes beyond its traditional role of poverty alleviation to that of conflict mitigation. Afghanistan serves as context within which the concepts of conflict-sensitive microfinance are explored. Since the defeat of the Taliban in 2001, much of Afghanistan has enjoyed a period of relative peace and reconstruction after 22 years of intrastate war. However, the country still faces a number of challenges which could contribute to renewed violence, including poverty, inter-ethnic tensions, weak local governance, and the largest opium sector in the world. This study examines what role the young microfinance sector is playing in addressing these issues and what impact it is having on Afhgan livelihoods and society. The sector's success in helping to alleviate poverty and build peace depends on the extent to which MFPs in Afghanistan expand their services, coordinate efforts among themselves, and collaborate with other development and government actors in holistic, conflict-sensitive interventions.