¹United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Regional Centre, Europe and the CIS, Grosslingova 35, 81109 Bratislava, Slovak Republic. E-mail: andrey.ivanov@undp.org or sanjar.tursaliev@undp.org

Abstract

The conventional wisdom suggests that vulnerable groups such as the Roma can benefit from microfinance institution (MFI) services, particularly microlending. However, experience from the region is mixed; there are only few examples of successful microlending schemes targeting the Roma. Based on examples from UNDP projects in the region and data from a recent household survey conducted among vulnerable groups in Southeastern Europe by UNDP and GALLUP International, it describes the problems associated with microlending to the Roma and suggests ways to address them.