A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR
Muhota wa Kimotho has a Masters and PhD in Economic Development and Banking from the
University of California, Los Angeles, and holds additional diplomas in Economic Development,
Advanced Credit Analysis, and Banking and Finance from various institutions in the U.S., the U.K.
and Europe. He was a lecturer in Economics, Finance, Money and Banking at the University of
Nairobi, and for 25 years worked for the London-based National Grindlays Bank/Kenya
Commercial Bank Group, eventually serving as Director of the Credit, Business Advisory, and
Legal Services departments. In May 2001, Mr. Kimotho joined Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as
a Senior Technical Advisor for Microfinance, and in 2002 become the CRS Microfinance Regional
Technical Advisor for South East Asia and the Pacific region. Currently he works for UNDP as its
Policy and Technical Advisor for Microfinance and Small and Medium Enterprise Development,
seconded as an Advisor to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mr. Kimotho is a member of the Financial
Executive Networking Group (FENG), and another writing of his has appeared on the CGAP
Microfinance Gateway.
A
BOUT THE
P
UBLISHERS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), founded in 1943, assists the poor and disadvantaged outside the
United States. CRS works to alleviate human suffering, promotes the development of people,
and fosters charity, justice, and human dignity in the world. CRS assists the poor solely on the
basis of need, not creed, race or nationality, and maintains strict standards of efficiency and
accountability. CRS currently operates in 99 countries and territories.
CRS Microfinance focuses its services on the poorest clients and on strengthening its partner
organizations that serve them. Its goal is to provide the self-employed poor, especially women,
with access to reliable and permanent financial services. As of December 2004, CRS reaches
over 850,000 microfinance clients in 29 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin
America and the Caribbean.
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
Catholic Relief Services Microfinance gratefully acknowledges the support of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) BHR/PVC in the publication and distribution of this
study under CRS/USAID Matching Grant FAO-A-00-99-00054-00. The views expressed in this
case study are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of USAID or CRS.
Readers may copy, translate or adapt this book for non-profit use—provided that such copies,
translations or adaptations are distributed free or at cost. Please give appropriate citation credit
to the author, Catholic Relief Services. Comments are welcomed and may be addressed to CRS
Version 1.01
Distributed by:
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
209 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
www.crs.org
©2005 Catholic Relief Services
Cover photo: Mary Courtney
Ms. Eam Chreb, with a bicycle she purchased with a CRS microfinance loan from Thaneakea
Phum Cambodia to expand her business opportunities.
Final Editor: Ericka Reagor