Microfinance in Uzbekistan : market overview and impact assessment needs

Abstract

Microfinance has a strong footing in Uzbekistan, the most populous country in the Central Asian region with a large fraction of inhabitants living in rural areas. Considered one of the key means of alleviating poverty and generating employment, the Uzbek government gave priority to microfinance initiatives, which resulted in the adoption of several microfinance laws. This paper provides an overview of the microfinance market as it has evolved in Uzbekistan, and calls for more comprehensive types of impact evaluation surveys that could benefit further market development.