[article regularly updated]   Last year’s BWC results are here for you to consult. The participants, assisted by MFC team, have done a tremendous job to adapt the Campaign to the pandemic reality. General outreach of the Campaign in 2020 You surely are curious of the overall outreach of #Borrow Wisely last year. The figures are terrific: overall BWC partners ...

Borrow Wisely Campaign is almost here – the 7th edition is starting on the very first day of October! This year the format will be modified due to the pandemic restrictions. But that does not mean the Campaign will have a lesser impact. Just the contrary: our aim is to take advantage of  the power of online communication as much ...

‘Are you kidding me? This is unbelievable! A financial institution that is taking care of me and my budget? From the bottom of my heart, thank you and MFC for this kind of support!’ A MI-BOSPO client Throughout October, 24 different financial institutions took part in the MFC’s fifth annual Borrow Wisely Campaign. Borrowers from 16 countries in Europe and Central Asia ...

Microfinance in Europe. Social Performance Management Report  The Report presents current state of social performance practices of European microfinance sector in implementing SPM. The main achievements of the sector are positive contribution to sustainability of microbusinesses and support to excluded segments of population. The biggest challenges industry faces are setting S.M.A.R.T. goals during SPM implementation and providing non-financial services as ...

  MFC Policy Paper No.5: Demystifying the role of microfinance in job creation The paper discusses the role of microfinance in job creation through self-employment and microenterprise. Despite high expectations, in general microenterprises have a limited however socially important contribution to job creation. It is necessary to distinguish between growth-oriented young firms that have a potential to create jobs and ...

Please take part in our annual barometer survey and let us know about your experience using EU programs and instruments, as well as about over-indebtedness issues in your country. Find out more here

The paper “Are Microfinance Borrowers in Lebanon Over-Indebted?” presents the results of the research study  that aimed to provide empirical evidence that would confirm or refute indications of cross- and over-indebtedness in Lebanon, to analyze the causes of potential cross- or over-indebtedness, and to formulate recommendations on how  to  address  these. The study was commissioned by  the SANAD Fund for ...

The European Quality of Life Survey (2016) shows the improving trend in the incidence of arrears on various types of dues among European households. Still, the utility bills are the largest burden, with 11% of adults in the EU-28 making late payments. Low-income people are most severely affected. Twice as many low-income people are overdue on each type of payment, ...

According to Eurostat data, the level of over-indebtedness (measured by the incidence of arrears on mortgage, rent, utility bills or hire purchase) decreased in 2016 in most EU countries. Please read our latest release with more information about this trend.   Download “Over-indebtedness trends in Europe”

The Working Paper “Indicators to monitor over-indebtedness” is a result of the work of the EFIN Working Group on Over-indebtedness coordinated by MFC. It proposes the indicators to monitor the current indebtedness levels, maps potential data sources and stresses the importance of good quality data. It also offers the ways forward to improve monitoring in the short-, medium- and long-term perspective. ...