MicroStart Morocco Programme Document

This paper discusses the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP) project, MicroStart, devised as a pilot program to build the capacity of local organizations to initiate or expand existing microfinance activities. The paper focuses specially on the features of this project in Morocco.

As per the paper, MicroStart will achieve its aim through:

• Building the capacity of 5 - 10 local organizations to provide microfinance services to economically active poor clients on an operationally sustainable basis;
• Building the capacity of a local technical service provider to provide ongoing technical assistance;
• Developing the structures to support these organizations over the long term;
• Contributing to local and global knowledge of the impact of microfinance on clients and how to build the capacity of young organizations.

Discussing in detail the various aspects of Microstart in Morocco, the paper highlights the key features of the MicroStart program:

• Aim: To enhance the access of low-income micro entrepreneurs, especially women, to financial services in order to expand their business, increase their income and augment employment;
• Strategy: Advocacy, capacity building, generalizing program approach, promoting participatory development, strengthening co-ordination, improved monitoring and evaluation systems and resource realization;
• Priority areas:
  • Promotion of an enabling environment for poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods;
  • Protection of the environment and management of natural resources;
  • Modernization of public administration and governance.

The paper concludes by stressing the need for an appropriate system to collect and analyze data that would help derive lessons about the efficacy of such a project at the national and global levels.