Kinks in the links : financial intermediation for Africa"s poor

It also explores the policy implications of the findings of these studies. The report concludes that it is necessary to build on existing foundations and enhance the quality and quantity of financial intermediation for sub-Saharan Africa"s poor. There is considerable scope for providing the poor with more and better choices, and for enabling them to benefit from healthy competition for their business. This can best be achieved by helping: (1) semi-formal microfinance organizations scale up and graduate to the status of regulated financial institutions; and (2) commercial banks scale down to include microfinance in their portfolio of products and delivery systems. (Author abstract, modified)