Small loans extended to the rural and urban poor, who often lack the collateral needed to borrow from commercial banks. These loans help poor people break the cycle of poverty by giving them the means to start their own businesses. Also referred to as microfinance.
Small loans that are given to community members for the purpose of generating or enhancing income.
Small loans, perhaps $50 or $100, that are extended to small businesses to finance a business start-up or other business activity.
Programs that provide credit for self-employment and other financial services and business services (including savings and technical services) to very poor persons. This definition defines the whole industry. Very small credit provided to the poor to provide capital for starting a very small business.
Small, low interest loans to low-income entrepreneurs who have little or no collateral.
Programmes granting small, easy-term loans to enterprises which are usually excluded from the banking circuits and aimed at job creation and entrepreneurship.
A part of the field of microfinance, microcredit is the provision of credit services to low-income entrepreneurs. Microcredit can also refer to the actual microloan.
Through small loans and thanks to the access to other financial services, the poorest are able to found small enterprises and thus redeem their condition. The global campaign, launched in 1997, aims at financing 100 million of families in the poorest countries (women in particular ) and to help them start an entrepreneurial activity on their's own.
An extremely small loan given to impoverished people to help them become self employed. ; Also known as "microlending."
