MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Dr John Hatch, Founder of FINCA International, Discusses the Role of Microfinance in Disaster and Conflict Zones

In a recent interview on the Microfinance Focus website, Dr John Hatch, founder of FINCA International, a global microfinance network serving 700,000 people, discusses the successes of microfinance and FINCA’s experiences in disaster and conflict zones.

Dr Hatch reports that the most significant results seen among FINCA clients are improvement in food security and the number of clients who keep their elementary-school-age children in school.

According to Dr Hatch, out of FINCA’s 21 programs, only three are not self-sustainable, including the programs in Afghanistan, Haiti and Malawi. In Afghanistan, “it’s very dangerous for personnel, and the results are poor in part because we don’t have the total oversight for our loan portfolio,” said Dr. Hatch, adding FINCA’s operations in Haiti were severely affected by the January 12 earthquake, with over 10 percent of borrowers losing their lives and 60 percent losing their homes.

By Stefanie Rubin, Research Associate

About FINCA International:

FINCA International is a global microfinance network serving 700,000 people through its subsidiaries in 21 countries. As of 2008, it had total assets of USD 450 million, with an operating profit of USD 8.6 million.

Additional Resources:

Source Article: Microfinance Focus: Interview: Microfinance movement capable of ending severe poverty: John Hatch, FINCA

MicroCapital Universe: FINCA International

PIONEERS IN MICROFINANCE: Village Banking Innovator Dr. John Hatch of FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance)

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/