Invisible helping hands : how can capital markets access the poor and promote entrepreneurial spirits? : an analysis of international microfinance investment potential and a proposal for securitization in a microfinance global pool

Abstract

Donor grants and soft loans have been utilized by many microfinance institutions (MFIs) to support their operations. However, such grants and loans, already of limited size and availability, are becoming harder to access as the pool of global MFIs grows. Another option for MFIs is tapping international capital markets, international loan and security markets, but there are many barriers to this practice. This paper studies how MFIs and the poor who are seeking capital to foster their entrepreneurial spirits can overcome these barriers to access international capital markets and meet the growing micro finance demand. First, this paper establishes the degree of linkage between MFIs and international financial markets by reviewing the present funding condition of MFIs. It concludes that purely commercially based funding from capital markets is minimal except for some of the best managed MFIs. A huge gap exists between most other MFIs and international capital markets. Second, this palper studies the microfinance investment potential by analyzing the returns of one microfinance investment fund. It concludes that the profile of microfinance investment matches the needs of investors in capital markets.

(cont.) Investors in developed countries are always looking for investment products that mitigate their portfolio volatility. This paper verifies that microfinance has an attractive profile matching these needs, and offering stable return, as well as low correlation with stocks, bonds and macroeconomic factors. Capital market investors and microfinance have the potential to build win-win relationships. One of the remaining challenges of MFIs is generating required return commensurate with risks. Third, this paper proposes securitization in a microfinance global pool as a means to overcome the barriers to connecting MFIs and the poor to capital markets. In this securitization scheme, the global pool buys microcredits from MFIs, thereby 1) increasing return, 2) enabling many MFIs to obtain funds from capital markets by sharing fixed costs of funding, 3) reducing exchange rate and geographic concentration risks, and 4) creating secondary markets and liquidity. Some challenges to securitization still need to be overcome. Nevertheless, this paper demonstrates that; securitization in the microfinance global pool will be an effective means to bridge the gap between capital markets and MFIs and the poor.