Grameen Foundation : Where we work : South Asia : Pakistan : Kashf Foundation
Kashf Foundation
| Status snapshot as of March 2008 | |
| Active clients | 312,439 |
| Loan portfolio (USD) | $47,586,526 |
| Portfolio At Risk >30 days* | 0.4% |
| * Value of all loans outstanding that have one or more installments past due more than 30 days | |
Drawing inspiration from the Grameen Bank model, Kashf Foundation is a microfinance organization based in Lahore, Pakistan that is committed to providing “cost-effective and quality microfinance services to poor women…in order to enhance their role in economic and social decision-making.” The foundation began providing microloans in 1996 in the urban slums of Lahore, Pakistan, as well as in surrounding rural areas.
Kashf Foundation was the first specialized microfinance institution in Pakistan. Over the years, it has built a reputation for professionally delivering financial services to the poor. It is one of the few financially sustainably run microfinance programs in Pakistan.
Outreach:
Kashf has experienced rapid growth since its origin while maintaining good portfolio quality. Since 2005, Kashf has launched another rapid expansion phase and crossed the 100,000 client mark in September 2006. By 2009, Kashf aims to reach 500,000 clients.
Click to read a Client Profile
Grameen Foundation support:
Grameen Foundation has supported Kashf in developing its business plan and growth projections, and in providing technical expertise. We have provided more than $380,000 in direct funding for loan capital to support ongoing operations and to finance the expansion of new branches.
Impact:
An impact assessment study conducted at Kashf Foundation by independent consultants in 2004 showed that:
- Kashf Foundation clients move far quickly up the household income scale than non-clients.
- Over the course of a year, approximately 32 percent of Kashf Foundation’s clients crossed the poverty line as compared to almost no change for non-clients.
- Though the pattern of illness was similar in clients and non-clients, Kashf Foundation clients spent considerably more on medical care than did non-clients.
- Kashf featured in the South Asia Update
Awards:
The Kashf Foundation has received numerous awards for its efforts to alleviate poverty.
- In September 2005, Kashf Foundation received the AGFUND (The Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations) International Prize.
- In August 2005, the MIX Market, a global platform for information on MFIs, awarded Kashf a five-diamond rating for exemplary transparency. This status reflects the quantity and quality of information disclosed to the public about Kashf’s operations.
- Kashf won the 2003-2004 Schwab Foundation Award.
- In April 2002 Kashf was awarded the GF-USA Pioneer Award, which recognizes programs that successfully bring poverty-focused microcredit to a new an/or uniquely challenging environment.
Learn more at: www.kashf.org
Grameen Foundation : Where we work : South Asia : Pakistan : Kashf Foundation
Grameen Foundation uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world's poorest people. With tiny loans and financial services, we help the poor, mostly women, start businesses and escape poverty. Our global network of 55 microfinance institution (MFI) partners including our Growth Guarantee partners has touched more than 34 million people in 24 countries. In addition, we introduced and now sustain technology initiatives (Mifos and Village Phone) in Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, bringing our total country outreach to 28.
+1-202-628-3560 www.grameenfoundation.org
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