CENTRE FOR SELF-HELP DEVELOPMENT

Institute of micro-finance and cooperative development.

CSD initiates Rapid Assessment on Impact of Earthquake on Microfinance

On April 25, 2015, Nepal faced a massive devastation of lives and properties due to the occurrence of 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal. It affected each and every sector. A mega earthquake of this scale with continuous aftershocks till date has affected people physically, psychologically and financially. In this context CSD put an effort to start a rapid assessment of the impact of the earthquake on microfinance sector. The assessment has been planned to be performed in most affected districts of Nepal. The purpose of the assessment is mainly to measure the effects of earthquake on MFIs and their members. The main objective is to find out status of MFIs and their members after the earthquake, how they are coping with the present situation, what the demands of members are and what might be the strategies to be followed in order to bring back normalcy in MF operation and in the lives of their clients, what new products to be designed that will benefit the clients and what could be the repercussion if clients needs are not addressed on time.

The team of four officials of CSD Mr. Satish Shrestha, Ms. Stephaniema Rana, Ms. Abhilasha Poudel and Ms. Chetana Panthi has been given assignment to initiate the assessment as soon as possible. They first did a pilot test in the Lele are under the Lele branch office of Swabalamban Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd. The first phase of the assessment was conducted in Sindhupalchok district. The team also plans to conduct the assessment in other severely affected districts very soon.

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