An Inquiry into the Sources of Funding for Qard Hasan Based MFIs: A Case Study of Akhuwat

In the last several years, there have been mixed views on the economic and social impacts of microfinance. To respond to some of the criticisms facing the microfinance industry, some microfinance practitioners are experimenting with new alternative lending models and management frameworks. One of these models that has recently gained increasing attention among economists and practitioners is qard hasan based microfinance. We take a close look at Akhuwat, a qard hasan based MFI offering interest-free microcredits to the poor, focusing on its sources of financing.