MICRA Model

This paper describes the mission and activities of Microfinance Innovation Center for Resources and Alternatives (MICRA), an Indonesian foundation.

MICRA’s mission is to build institutional strength and improve outreach of the Indonesian microfinance sector. Its technical units offer services that include:

• Ratings and appraisals of MFIs;
• Technical assistance in terms of training and consulting;
• Research and innovation addressing critical development needs of Indonesia’s microfinance sector;
• Networking to promote transparency, best practice information dissemination and lateral learning;
• Financial services to facilitate finance for bankable MFIs;
• Management information systems (MIS) for MFIs.

MICRA faces challenges in institutional development, building a sustainable market, and balancing between its mission and the financial sustainability of the institution.