CIAO DATE: 12/2011
October 2011
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Though microfinance is championed in “typical” underdeveloped societies, its appropriateness for societies in the wake of conflict is not certain. Through in-depth field interviews and subsequent narrative analysis, this essay details lived realities of microfinance in Juba, South Sudan since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement1. It describes how repatriates navigate the complex new economy, credit, and income opportunities to secure livelihoods after war. It finds that microfinance in Juba does serve some worthwhile ends in the post-conflict economy, which, however, complicate the industry’s success narratives.
Resource link: Microfinance on the Ground in Post-Conflict Juba, South Sudan [PDF] - 148K