January/February 2009: “MICROFINANCE INSIGHTS” MAGAZINE

HIP HIGHLIGHTS 3 WAYS TO GROW REVENUE FOR CORPORATES PARTNERING WITH MICROFINANCE GROUPS (MFI’S)

By R. Paul Herman and Tom Willis of HIP Investor Inc.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have a large customer base of 100 million reliable entrepreneurs seeking to build the health and wealth of their family. These citizens also desire a cleaner environment and equal opportunities. By comparison, the 50 largest global companies comprise about 20 million workers. For forward-thinking MNCs partnerships with MFIs offer the opportunity to meet these “human needs” by generating both positive “human impact + profit” – or what we call “HIP”.

How does a Corporation Become More HIP ? By partnering with MFIs (microfinance institutions), there are three ways to be HIP: generating results for the top-line and bottom-line, as well as society:

1. Encourage products that make money for micro-entrepreneurs too.

2. Tap micro-entrepreneurs to be leaders of sales networks.

3. Collect information about group demand – and purchasing power.

READ THE FULL FEATURE, AND DETAILED CASE STUDIES OF
HOW TO BUILD PROFIT – AND HUMAN IMPACT