I met a woman who borrowed $4. She had never seen $4 in her life. She bought a comb, a pair of scissors and a mirror and she put her husband in business as a barber. Now she has a home and her children are in school. All because of $4.

— Foundation for Women —

About - Definitions

Here are some often used terms. For more definitions, click links above.

Microcredit

Microcredit is a small amount of money loaned to a client by a bank or other institution. Microcredit can be offered, often without collateral, to an individual or through group lending. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. Individual lending, in contrast, focuses on one client and does not require other people to provide collateral or guarantee a loan.
Source: International Year of Microcredit 2005

Microenterprise

A small-scale business in the informal sector. Microenterprises often employ less than 5 people and can be based out of the home. Microenterprise is often the sole source of family income but can also act as a supplement to other forms of income. Examples of microenterprises include small retail kiosks, sewing workshops, carpentry shops and market stalls. Source: ACCION

Microentrepreneurs

Microentrepreneurs are people who own small-scale businesses that are known as microenterprises. These businesses usually employ less than 5 people and can be based out of the home. They can provide the sole source of family income or supplement other forms of income. Typical microentrepreneur activities include retail kiosks, sewing workshops, carpentry shops and market stalls.
Source: International Year of Microcredit 2005

Microfinance Institution (MFI)

A financial institution - can be a nonprofit organization, regulated financial institution or commercial bank - that provides microfinance products and services to low-income clients. Source: ACCION

Microfinance

The purpose of these organizations is the extension of institutional financial services to those who are not currently serviced. Microfinance includes the provision of credit, savings and increasingly additional financial services such as foreign exchange, insurance and money transfers. Source: Calmeadow

Microinsurance

Microinsurance is a system by which people, businesses and other organizations make payments to share risk. Access to insurance enables entrepreneurs to concentrate more on growing their businesses while mitigating other risks affecting property, health or the ability to work.
Source: International Year of Microcredit 2005

Microloan Funds

Community loan funds or microcredit revolving funds in North America or Europe.
Source: Calmeadow

Microloan

A loan imparted by a microfinance institution to a microentrepreneur, to be used in the development of the borrower's small business. Microloans are used for working capital in the purchase of raw materials and goods for the microenterprise, such as capital for construction, or in the purchase of fixed assets that aid in production, among other things. Source: ACCION

Microsavings

Microsavings are deposit services that allow people to store small amounts of money for future use, often without minimum balance requirements. Savings accounts allow households to save small amounts of money to meet unexpected expenses and plan for future investments such as education and old age. Source: International Year of Microcredit 2005