The emergence of micro-moneylenders reminds us that the story may not be so simple, and that high repayment rates may mask other, less appealing, truths.
At its outset, microfinance was created for two primary reasons. First, it was developed to fight local moneylenders who charged exorbitant rates. Second, it was designed to help disenfranchised individuals climb rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. In the future, practitioners should keep both of these guiding principles at the forefront. Those who do will be the ones to truly benefit the women of our hypothetical village.