The socio-economic context in Haiti is characterized by political stability and improved security, leading to a resurgence of economic activities. However, the performance of some microfinance institutions (MFIs) has been affected indirectly by problems experienced by clients at the customs service. Additionally, certain sectors have reported a decline in sales due to the growth of the telecommunications sector, particularly mobile phone services. Some segments of the population have preferred to purchase mobile phone cards over food products.
Despite this, the overall improvement in the socio-economic situation has encouraged some members to open new service points, resulting in positive effects on the portfolio volume and client base. However, this has also led to negative financial repercussions, including a decrease in the self-sufficiency rate due to increased operational costs associated with opening new branches.
The number of clients as of September 30, 2007, is 90,270, with 82% being women. Compared to the previous period, the number of clients has increased by 3% for the six MFIs. Some members have prioritized client radiation and debt recovery, which explains the low growth rate.
The total portfolio is 1.4 billion gourdes, with 27% considered as loans to the poor, amounting to 392,302,408 gourdes. The portfolio has grown by 5%, with a stronger variation in loans to the poor, at 19%. Several MFIs have focused on stabilizing the portfolio and managing arrears, while others have cited the start of the school year and seasonal activities as reasons for their low performance.
The savings capture has increased by 52% based on information received from three institutions offering this service. The operations of the MFIs primarily affect the urban world, with 32% of operations taking place in rural areas, 43% in provincial cities, and 25% in Port-au-Prince.
The number of service points has increased by 9% to 73, with a 4% increase in Port-au-Prince and an 8% increase in provincial cities. In rural areas, the situation remains unchanged.
The portfolio at risk (PAR) over 30 days is 7%, which is still above the acceptable threshold despite measures taken by some members to improve their portfolio, such as aggressive debt recovery campaigns and client radiation.
The indicators of operational self-sufficiency and financial self-sufficiency show a certain level of financial stability among the MFIs, despite a decrease in self-sufficiency due to increased operational costs. Some MFIs have increased provisions for doubtful claims, affecting their results for the period. Three out of six operators have achieved operational and financial self-sufficiency, with a mean of 128% for the first indicator and 97% for the second.
During the period, only one new product was created, launched by Micro Crédit National (MCN). However, no details are available about this product, except that it is a tailored product with minimal requirements for guarantees and has had a positive impact on the operator’s portfolio.
The total number of clients with loans has increased by 3%, with a 33.60% increase in the number of female clients and a 20.10% increase in the number of male clients. In rural areas, the number of clients with loans has decreased by 23.61%, while in provincial cities, it has decreased by 4.77%. In Port-au-Prince, the number of clients with loans has increased by 8.37%.
The total amount of deposits has increased by 52%, with a 166.20% increase in deposits by women and a 14.28% decrease in deposits by men. The number of new products launched is 1, and the number of clients benefiting from these products is 3,064.