Assumptions about Microenterprise Lending as a Precondition for Development: A Critical Review

There exists a current debate on whether provision of microenterprise credit to the poor could change the social equation and conditions in which the poor live. Proponents of microenterprise lending argue that targeted credit is a mechanism for poverty eradication, enhancing the poor people\'s existing socio-economic conditions and changing the relations between gender and class. However, critics argue that while a marginal increase in income and assets can enhance the well-being and socio-economic security of the poor, the increase may be too little to affect the pervasively entrenched political and economic relations. Literature tends to report positive impacts of microenterprise lending on the poor, creating the belief that it is a necessary condition for economic development. This article identifies the five assumptions inherent in the arguments in favour of microenterprise detriments development by exploring its possible benefits and detriments. The article argues that empowering the poor and attaining social and economic development requires more than provision of microenterprise loans. It calls for a holistic development strategies and other comprehensive programmes that address the Poor\'s lack of access to and control of productive resources, difficulties in accessing labour opportunities, formal education and work skills, and the gender disparities in developing countries. EASSRR Vol. 24 (1) 2008: pp. 109-13

Institutions, resources, and organizational effectiveness in Africa

© The Academy of Management Perspectives. While management research has made significant progress in globalizing its reach, African organizations have remained a missing link. We argue that Africa-focused management research may address the major problem of organizational effectiveness through work on the two major theoretical building blocks: institutions and resources. Building a model of organizational effectiveness in Africa, this article discusses the interactive processes within each of the two building blocks and the transformational mechanisms that link each theory and organizational effectiveness in the African context

The tale of TILs in breast cancer: A report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC