1. The self help group bank linkage programme -- 2. Impact assessment methodologies and study design -- 3. Reducing poverty and vulnerability -- 4. Asset creation -- 5. Empowering women -- 6. Building human capital through training -- 7. Achieving impact and meeting challenges.

We evaluate the effect of delivery mechanisms for training provided by facilitators of self help groups (SHGs). Indian SHGs are unique in that they are mainly NGO-formed microfinance groups but later funded by commercial banks. We correct for both membership and training endogeneity. Training...

In recent years growing competition in the microfinance industry has been censured for multiple borrowing, default crises, high interest rates and coercive recovery of loans. Using the Boone indicator as a measure for competition, our paper investigates the impact of competition on microfinance...