Microfinance for Decent Work – Enhancing the Impact of Microfinance: Evidence from an Action Research Programme

With the support from the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched an action research programme to assess if MFIs could use their relationship with entrepreneurs to target decent work deficits and improve the plight of workers in the informal economy. This paper summarizes the findings from the Microfinance for Decent Work research programme. The primary target audience are MFI managers who will hopefully be inspired by their colleagues’ ingenuity, educated about the impact of innovative approaches, and informed about the challenges of conducting action research. Other microfinance actors, including networks and associations, investors and funders, regulators and policymakers, academics and anyone interested in the social performance of microfinance will also find this paper informative.