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David Cracknell explores the issue of rural development in a context where the Internet is becoming such a powerful tool for enhancing communication possibilities. What, he asks, can be done to ensure that those without computers and electricity do not get left behind?
Forget cloning sheep, cloning the Grameen Bank has always preoccupied microenterprise practitoners much more. While some have doubted that it could be replicated, others have argued that it could and case-studies of replications in Nepal, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Vietnam provide evidence for the latter. Not that this will convince everyone, and it is suggested that it may be premature to abandon all cynicism and define exactly what is meant by 'the essential Grameen'.
A Sporting Chance for Children - looks at the increasing calls against child labour in smaller enterprises. These sort of labour, together with home child labour, is notoriously difficult to monitor. The solutions are not immediately apparent and consumer boycotts could have perverse effects on the very people they are aimed to help if children get pushed into ever more dangerous and marginalised work.
The ILO (International Labour Organisation) has just produced some pertinent reports, videos, and books available in English, French and Spanish.
Here to Stay? looks at the problems faced by many immigrant traders in Johannesburg, South Africa. If facing wild animals on the way was not enough, street traders who have entered the country from Zimbabwe and other countries are finding hostility on the streets from South African traders. It is a difficult situation - with unemployment rates of around 35 percent, many are jealously guarding what they see as their territory, but many observers are calling for greater tolerance on the part of South Africans. Read South African Hawkers Face Wrath.
Informal Sector associations are examined by Hans Haan, and, he argues, while they are not generally created specifically for the purpose of technology transfer, there are a multitude of ways in which they can be instrumental in that role, to make informal enterprises more dynamic.
The findings from a new book on networks
Journal Watch summarises several new articles including one that looks at women in credit schemes who appear to be more likely to use family planning. Sorting out the mechanisms isn=t as simple as it may appear. Are these women a selected group anyway? What is the role of empowerment? - it seems that the effects of credit programs are not attenuated when variables for empowerment are added, but there remain unanswered issues... Risky Business - one new journal article gives plenty of pointers for reducing the myriad of risks faced in rural credit. Credit risks seems to preoccupy most institutions, and several ways of addressing these are suggested... Do informal financial markets represent the problem of market fragmentation, or are they the solution to it? Financial repression or imperfect information -two very different paradigms that in turn give different answers... Plus, another article in the journal literature is concerned with getting to grips with the issue of whether microfinance in Africa the problem rather than the solution and seeks to critically reflect on the 'uncritical enthusiasm behind the proselytizing'.
Noticboard gives notice of a talk by Sam Daley Harris from RESULTS, new output from CGAP (The Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest), and Countdown 2005 a new newsletter from the Microcredit campaign available in English, French and Spanish.
A Microenterprise News Discount Coupon is included with this issue which permits a discount on a new publication.
For more information about Microenterprise News, contact Gwenda Brophy, Editor, 6 Mosslea Road, Bromley Kent BR2 9PS, UK. Tel/Fax 0181 460 2280. email<mentnews@netcomuk.co.uk> or <gbrophy@netcomuk.co.uk>