Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform

This report addresses the establishment of a centralized information and communication technology (ICT) platform for the microfinance sector in Nepal. It has been shown from international experience that ICT improves the efficiency, transparency, a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: World Bank
Format: Policy Note
Language:English
en_US
Published: Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
ADB
B2B
B2C
C2C
CDS
GPS
ICT
MFI
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/12/16380059/maximizing-outreach-microfinance-nepal-case-central-technology-platform
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18908
id okr-10986-18908
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO CAPITAL
ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES
ACCESS TO FORMAL FINANCE
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCOUNTING
ADB
AFFORDABILITY
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDER
AUDITING
B2B
B2C
BANK ACCOUNTS
BANK BRANCHES
BANK CREDIT
BANK LOANS
BANKING MODELS
BANKING SECTOR
BANKING SERVICES
BANKING SYSTEM
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BORROWER
BUSINESS PLAN
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
BUSINESS-TO-CUSTOMER
C2C
CAPACITY BUILDING
CDS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
CLEARING HOUSE
COLLATERAL
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKING
COMMERCIAL BANKS
COMMERCIAL LOANS
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIVITY
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CREDIT BUREAU
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT FACILITY
CREDIT INFORMATION
CREDIT INFORMATION BUREAU
CREDIT MECHANISMS
CREDIT POLICY
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT PROVISION
CREDIT UNION
CREDIT-WORTHINESS
CUSTOMER BASE
DEPOSIT
DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS
DEPOSIT PRODUCTS
DEPOSITS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT BANKS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
DIGITAL NETWORK
DONOR FUNDS
E-COMMERCE
EARNINGS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC REFORMS
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELECTRONIC DATA
ELECTRONIC FORM
ELECTRONIC FUNDS
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER POINT OF SALE
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
EXCESS LIQUIDITY
EXCLUSION
EXPENDITURE
EXPLOITATION
FAMILIES
FAMILY INCOME
FARMERS
FINANCE COMPANIES
FINANCIAL ACCESS
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL DATA
FINANCIAL HEALTH
FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
FINANCIAL PROVIDERS
FINANCIAL REFORM
FINANCIAL REGULATORS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
FORMAL FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FORMAL FINANCIAL MARKET
FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR
FORMAL FINANCIAL SERVICES
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GPS
GROUP GUARANTEE
HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSING
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
ICT
INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES
INDEBTEDNESS
INFORMAL BORROWING
INFORMATION NETWORK
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
INNOVATIONS
INSTALLMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
INTEREST PAYMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
ISPS
KEY CHALLENGE
KEY CHALLENGES
LAWS
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
LENDER
LIMITED ACCESS
LOAN
LOAN GUARANTEES
LOAN OFFICER
LOAN OFFICERS
LOAN PORTFOLIO
LOAN PORTFOLIOS
LOAN PRODUCTS
LOANABLE FUNDS
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MARKET OUTREACH
MARKET REACH
MFI
MFIS
MICRO FINANCE
MICROCREDIT
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE LOAN
MICROINSURANCE
MONEY TRANSFER
MULTIPLE ACCESS
NONPERFORMING LOANS
OPERATIONAL COST
OPERATIONAL COSTS
OUTREACH
OUTSTANDING LOANS
OVERHEAD COSTS
PACKET RADIO
PACKET RADIO SERVICE
PAYMENT SYSTEMS
POINT OF SALE
POINT-OF-SALE
POLICY ENVIRONMENT
PRIVATE BANKS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFITABILITY
PROVISION OF CREDIT
PUBLIC FUNDS
RATES OF INTEREST
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT
REMITTANCE
REMITTANCES
REPAYMENT
REPAYMENTS
RETAINED EARNINGS
RURAL FINANCE
SAVINGS
SAVINGS PRODUCTS
SAVINGS SERVICES
SMALL BUSINESS
SMALL BUSINESSES
SMALL FARMER
SMALL FARMERS
SMART CARDS
SYSTEMIC RISK
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGY DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
TELECOM
TELECOMMUNICATION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
TELEPHONE
TELEPHONE PENETRATION
TERRORISM
TRAINING CENTRE
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSLATION
UNION
UNIONS
UNIVERSAL ACCESS
VILLAGE
WHOLESALE FUNDING
spellingShingle ACCESS TO CAPITAL
ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO FINANCE
ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES
ACCESS TO FORMAL FINANCE
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCOUNTING
ADB
AFFORDABILITY
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDER
AUDITING
B2B
B2C
BANK ACCOUNTS
BANK BRANCHES
BANK CREDIT
BANK LOANS
BANKING MODELS
BANKING SECTOR
BANKING SERVICES
BANKING SYSTEM
BARRIERS TO ENTRY
BORROWER
BUSINESS PLAN
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
BUSINESS-TO-CUSTOMER
C2C
CAPACITY BUILDING
CDS
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
CLEARING HOUSE
COLLATERAL
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKING
COMMERCIAL BANKS
COMMERCIAL LOANS
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIVITY
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CREDIT BUREAU
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT FACILITY
CREDIT INFORMATION
CREDIT INFORMATION BUREAU
CREDIT MECHANISMS
CREDIT POLICY
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT PROVISION
CREDIT UNION
CREDIT-WORTHINESS
CUSTOMER BASE
DEPOSIT
DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS
DEPOSIT PRODUCTS
DEPOSITS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT BANKS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
DIGITAL NETWORK
DONOR FUNDS
E-COMMERCE
EARNINGS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC REFORMS
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELECTRONIC DATA
ELECTRONIC FORM
ELECTRONIC FUNDS
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER POINT OF SALE
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
EXCESS LIQUIDITY
EXCLUSION
EXPENDITURE
EXPLOITATION
FAMILIES
FAMILY INCOME
FARMERS
FINANCE COMPANIES
FINANCIAL ACCESS
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL DATA
FINANCIAL HEALTH
FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
FINANCIAL PROVIDERS
FINANCIAL REFORM
FINANCIAL REGULATORS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
FORMAL FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FORMAL FINANCIAL MARKET
FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR
FORMAL FINANCIAL SERVICES
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GPS
GROUP GUARANTEE
HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSING
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
ICT
INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES
INDEBTEDNESS
INFORMAL BORROWING
INFORMATION NETWORK
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
INNOVATIONS
INSTALLMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
INTEREST PAYMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
ISPS
KEY CHALLENGE
KEY CHALLENGES
LAWS
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
LENDER
LIMITED ACCESS
LOAN
LOAN GUARANTEES
LOAN OFFICER
LOAN OFFICERS
LOAN PORTFOLIO
LOAN PORTFOLIOS
LOAN PRODUCTS
LOANABLE FUNDS
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MARKET OUTREACH
MARKET REACH
MFI
MFIS
MICRO FINANCE
MICROCREDIT
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE LOAN
MICROINSURANCE
MONEY TRANSFER
MULTIPLE ACCESS
NONPERFORMING LOANS
OPERATIONAL COST
OPERATIONAL COSTS
OUTREACH
OUTSTANDING LOANS
OVERHEAD COSTS
PACKET RADIO
PACKET RADIO SERVICE
PAYMENT SYSTEMS
POINT OF SALE
POINT-OF-SALE
POLICY ENVIRONMENT
PRIVATE BANKS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFITABILITY
PROVISION OF CREDIT
PUBLIC FUNDS
RATES OF INTEREST
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT
REMITTANCE
REMITTANCES
REPAYMENT
REPAYMENTS
RETAINED EARNINGS
RURAL FINANCE
SAVINGS
SAVINGS PRODUCTS
SAVINGS SERVICES
SMALL BUSINESS
SMALL BUSINESSES
SMALL FARMER
SMALL FARMERS
SMART CARDS
SYSTEMIC RISK
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGY DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
TELECOM
TELECOMMUNICATION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
TELEPHONE
TELEPHONE PENETRATION
TERRORISM
TRAINING CENTRE
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSLATION
UNION
UNIONS
UNIVERSAL ACCESS
VILLAGE
WHOLESALE FUNDING
World Bank
Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
geographic_facet South Asia
Nepal
description This report addresses the establishment of a centralized information and communication technology (ICT) platform for the microfinance sector in Nepal. It has been shown from international experience that ICT improves the efficiency, transparency, and outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and reduces operational costs. There is an opportunity in Nepal to implement similar solutions, and this report provides information on these solutions and offers recommendations for implementing them in Nepal. The microfinance sector in Nepal has many players, but these players have shown few real successes. The sector is largely unsustainable, subsidy driven, and fragmented to the extent that it might not meet the real needs of the country. This report presents a new paradigm for introducing ICT in the microfinance sector of Nepal. The centralized technology platform was chosen as opposed to telecom-led platforms due to its ability to resolve most of the pertinent challenges that Nepal's microfinance sector faces. The paradigm can help remove most of the constraints that have limited the growth of MFIs and kept them from becoming sustainable, moving out to remote and rural areas, and providing more loans to those that need them. In the traditional paradigm, MFIs acquire ICT in an ad hoc fashion and are able to use it only partially to automate their operations.
format Economic & Sector Work :: Policy Note
author World Bank
author_facet World Bank
author_sort World Bank
title Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
title_short Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
title_full Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
title_fullStr Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
title_full_unstemmed Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform
title_sort maximizing the outreach of microfinance in nepal : the case for a central technology platform
publisher Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/12/16380059/maximizing-outreach-microfinance-nepal-case-central-technology-platform
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18908
_version_ 1764441037071187968
spelling okr-10986-189082021-04-23T14:03:45Z Maximizing the Outreach of Microfinance in Nepal : The Case for a Central Technology Platform World Bank ACCESS TO CAPITAL ACCESS TO CREDIT ACCESS TO FINANCE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES ACCESS TO FORMAL FINANCE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACCOUNTING ADB AFFORDABILITY AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDER AUDITING B2B B2C BANK ACCOUNTS BANK BRANCHES BANK CREDIT BANK LOANS BANKING MODELS BANKING SECTOR BANKING SERVICES BANKING SYSTEM BARRIERS TO ENTRY BORROWER BUSINESS PLAN BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS BUSINESS-TO-CUSTOMER C2C CAPACITY BUILDING CDS CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS CLEARING HOUSE COLLATERAL COMMERCIAL BANK COMMERCIAL BANKING COMMERCIAL BANKS COMMERCIAL LOANS COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIVITY CONSUMER PROTECTION CREDIT BUREAU CREDIT BUREAUS CREDIT FACILITY CREDIT INFORMATION CREDIT INFORMATION BUREAU CREDIT MECHANISMS CREDIT POLICY CREDIT PROGRAMS CREDIT PROVISION CREDIT UNION CREDIT-WORTHINESS CUSTOMER BASE DEPOSIT DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS DEPOSIT PRODUCTS DEPOSITS DEVELOPMENT BANK DEVELOPMENT BANKS DEVELOPMENT CENTER DIGITAL NETWORK DONOR FUNDS E-COMMERCE EARNINGS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC REFORMS ECONOMIES OF SCALE ELECTRONIC DATA ELECTRONIC FORM ELECTRONIC FUNDS ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER POINT OF SALE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT EXCESS LIQUIDITY EXCLUSION EXPENDITURE EXPLOITATION FAMILIES FAMILY INCOME FARMERS FINANCE COMPANIES FINANCIAL ACCESS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FINANCIAL DATA FINANCIAL HEALTH FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS FINANCIAL PROVIDERS FINANCIAL REFORM FINANCIAL REGULATORS FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FORMAL FINANCIAL INDUSTRY FORMAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FORMAL FINANCIAL MARKET FORMAL FINANCIAL SECTOR FORMAL FINANCIAL SERVICES GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS GOVERNMENT POLICY GPS GROUP GUARANTEE HOUSEHOLDS HOUSING HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ICT INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES INDEBTEDNESS INFORMAL BORROWING INFORMATION NETWORK INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT INNOVATIONS INSTALLMENTS INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY INTEREST PAYMENT INTEREST RATE INTEREST RATES INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER ISPS KEY CHALLENGE KEY CHALLENGES LAWS LEGAL FRAMEWORK LENDER LIMITED ACCESS LOAN LOAN GUARANTEES LOAN OFFICER LOAN OFFICERS LOAN PORTFOLIO LOAN PORTFOLIOS LOAN PRODUCTS LOANABLE FUNDS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS MARKET OUTREACH MARKET REACH MFI MFIS MICRO FINANCE MICROCREDIT MICROFINANCE MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS MICROFINANCE LOAN MICROINSURANCE MONEY TRANSFER MULTIPLE ACCESS NONPERFORMING LOANS OPERATIONAL COST OPERATIONAL COSTS OUTREACH OUTSTANDING LOANS OVERHEAD COSTS PACKET RADIO PACKET RADIO SERVICE PAYMENT SYSTEMS POINT OF SALE POINT-OF-SALE POLICY ENVIRONMENT PRIVATE BANKS PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTIVITY PROFITABILITY PROVISION OF CREDIT PUBLIC FUNDS RATES OF INTEREST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK REGULATORY OVERSIGHT REMITTANCE REMITTANCES REPAYMENT REPAYMENTS RETAINED EARNINGS RURAL FINANCE SAVINGS SAVINGS PRODUCTS SAVINGS SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS SMALL BUSINESSES SMALL FARMER SMALL FARMERS SMART CARDS SYSTEMIC RISK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY DESIGN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM TELECOM TELECOMMUNICATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY TELEPHONE TELEPHONE PENETRATION TERRORISM TRAINING CENTRE TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSLATION UNION UNIONS UNIVERSAL ACCESS VILLAGE WHOLESALE FUNDING This report addresses the establishment of a centralized information and communication technology (ICT) platform for the microfinance sector in Nepal. It has been shown from international experience that ICT improves the efficiency, transparency, and outreach of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and reduces operational costs. There is an opportunity in Nepal to implement similar solutions, and this report provides information on these solutions and offers recommendations for implementing them in Nepal. The microfinance sector in Nepal has many players, but these players have shown few real successes. The sector is largely unsustainable, subsidy driven, and fragmented to the extent that it might not meet the real needs of the country. This report presents a new paradigm for introducing ICT in the microfinance sector of Nepal. The centralized technology platform was chosen as opposed to telecom-led platforms due to its ability to resolve most of the pertinent challenges that Nepal's microfinance sector faces. The paradigm can help remove most of the constraints that have limited the growth of MFIs and kept them from becoming sustainable, moving out to remote and rural areas, and providing more loans to those that need them. In the traditional paradigm, MFIs acquire ICT in an ad hoc fashion and are able to use it only partially to automate their operations. 2014-07-18T20:35:01Z 2014-07-18T20:35:01Z 2008-12 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/12/16380059/maximizing-outreach-microfinance-nepal-case-central-technology-platform http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18908 English en_US CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ Washington, DC Economic & Sector Work :: Policy Note Economic & Sector Work South Asia Nepal