The role of microfinance institutions in advancing smallholder resilience and food security under a climate changed present and future
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Issue Date
2018-04-14
Editor
Authors
Tompkins, Maggie
License
Subject
Climate Change
Food Security
Microfinance
Resilience
Smallholder Farmers
Food Security
Microfinance
Resilience
Smallholder Farmers
Abstract
This thesis investigates the organizational design and program outputs of 162 microfinance institutions (MFIs) within 20 nations at-risk of food insecurity. The study involved a cross-examination of microfinance institutions at a national and regional level across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Economic and physical access to sufficient and safe food is a condition which is being threatened for many developing nations and is projected to be exacerbated by a persistently changing climate. This is a particular issue for smallholder farmers, a highly vulnerable population. This study reveals the readiness of MFIs to address the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to heightened environmental risks. It brings into question the governance models of MFIs through an analysis of key governance, social, and financial indicators in the performance of MFIs. This study highlights the need for an exploratory research process focused on investigating whether MFIs are effectively addressing the risk of a changing climate while contributing to local capacity building.