Network of some 35 national policy institutions, commercial banks and NGOs from nine countries in Asia – namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Its objective is to link microfinance with the financial system. It pursues this objective through research, advocacy, policy dialogue, information sharing and capacity building.
The BWTP Network arose out of the Banking with the Poor project of the Foundation for Development Cooperation. The Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation based in Brisbane, Australia, whose aim is to strengthen international cooperation and development, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The Banking with the Poor project is aimed at exploring, demonstrating and publicising the potential for increased access to credit for the poor on a sound commercial basis. The essence of Banking with the Poor is to establish linkages between commercial banks on the one hand, and non-government organisations (NGOs) and self-help groups (SHGs) of the poor on the other.
WWW site provides details of the structure and governance of the Network, its members and associates, listings of publications (many in full text) and newsletters, links to member’s websites and key microfinance sites, and contact details.