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Targeting the Poor versus Financial Sustainability and External Funding: Evidence of Microfinance Institutions in Ghana

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  • Samuel Kobina Annim

Abstract

The creeping effect of financial crisis and economic turmoil on African economies potentially questions the sustainability of microfinance institutions, in view of the heavy investment received both from development partners and government. This study tests the hypotheses that: (i) interacting own-mobilised funds with formal institutions, microfinance organisations reach less poor clients; and (ii) concentrating on the achievement of financial sustainability causes an institution to target non-poor clients. Using data from Ghana, we revisit the microfinance argument of serving poorer clients on a commercial basis, and control for the effect of source of funds and type of institution. Unlike financial self-sufficiency, operational self-sufficiency appeared to facilitate the reaching of poorer clients. The study upholds sceptics’ view of a trade-off. Categorising institutions based on source of funds, this study adds to knowledge on the future of microfinance. Formal institutions dispensing their own funds appeared to target less poor clients. Using instrumental variable estimation, plausible problems of endogeneity emerging via measurement error were observed. We instrument financial and operational self-sufficiency with density of microfinance institutions in a given location and the group-lending mechanism to resolve attenuation bias. This finding alludes to complementary development strategies and a deliberate harmonisation of microfinance intervention, irrespective of the source of funds.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Kobina Annim, 2009. "Targeting the Poor versus Financial Sustainability and External Funding: Evidence of Microfinance Institutions in Ghana," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 8809, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    • Handle: RePEc:bwp:bwppap:8809
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    1. Samuel Kobina Annim, 2012. "Targeting The Poor Versus Financial Sustainability And External Funding: Evidence Of Microfinance Institutions In Ghana," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(03), pages 1-19.
    2. Amidou Ayinla Akangbe Fadikpe & Richard Danquah & Mohammed Aidoo & Dejene Adugna Chomen & Richard Yankey & Xie Dongmei, 2022. "Linkages between social and financial performance: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa microfinance institutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Keddad, Benjamin & Obiang, Jean Robert Obiang, 2024. "Determinants of deposits volatility: The case of the microfinance sector in gabon," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    4. Niels Hermes & Marek Hudon, 2018. "Determinants Of The Performance Of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5), pages 1483-1513, December.
    5. P. V. Viswanath, 2017. "Microcredit and Survival Microenterprises: The Role of Market Structure," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-25, December.
    6. Ashim Kumar Kar & Ranjula Bali Swain, 2018. "Competition, Performance and Portfolio Quality in Microfinance Markets," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(5), pages 842-870, December.
    7. Chen, Rui & Hartarska, Valentina, "undated". "Are All Banking Crises the Same: Evidence from MFIs," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274227, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Hermes, Cornelis & Hudon, M., 2018. "Determinants of the Performance of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Research Report 2018008, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).

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