This paper presents a case study of a rural credit program sponsored by the
Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance (OUA) in Mali, West Africa. Ethnographic methods are
employed to determine the outreach, impact, and sustainability of the program.
Findings indicate that program specifications increasingly limit participation to an
established and primarily male clientele. Both male and female borrowers reported
higher earnings and greater contribution to household expenses; however, access to
credit for women is not associated with improved status. The prospect for
administrative and financial sustainability of the program is undermined by a weak
and ineffective educational component.
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