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Afghanistan:
Country Overview |
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Afghanistan's economy is recovering from decades of
conflict that devastated the economy and rural
livelihoods. Afghanistan is emerging after nearly
decades of war that has ravaged the country’s economy
and infrastructure. There is now a cogent and coherent
response from the government of Afghanistan, with
assistance from the international donor community, to
rebuild the country and the lives of the people. Real
GDP growth exceeded 7% in 2007. Despite the progress of
the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor,
landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid,
agriculture, and trade with neighboring countries. Much
of the population continues to suffer from shortages of
housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and
jobs.
Currently, it is estimated that as much as 90% of the
economy is being financed by informal money lenders. A
large number of the rural poor are indebted to poppy
dealers, thus furthering the vicious cycle of growing
poppy and producing derivative drugs in the country.
International development agencies estimate that it will
probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing
donor aid and attention to significantly raise
Afghanistan's living standards from its current level,
among the lowest in the world. Microfinance has been
highlighted as one of the possible mechanisms through
which this can be achieved |
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Figures in million
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Population Demographics |
Microfinance Demographics |
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Country |
Total
Population |
Below
Poverty
Line (%) |
Rural
(%) |
Urban
(%) |
Estimated
# MF
Clients |
Currently
Served |
Served
(%) |
|
Afghanistan |
28 |
53.00 |
71.10 |
25.90 |
3.38 |
0.37 |
11 |
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Status of ASA
International (ASAI) in Afghanistan: ASA
International establishes a non depository MFI
namely ‘ASA Afghanistan Ltd’ in 2008 and started
lending operation in March 2009.
Operational
Coverage: At present ASA Afghanistan
established two branches in Kabul city. The plan is
gradual expansion to Majar-e-Sharif and North West
of the country. All other suitable location will
come under consideration depending on the law and
order situation. |
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Main
Product and Feature
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Context |
Small / General Loan |
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Loan Ceiling (1st
loan) |
Afn 10,000-12,000/
USD 190-230 |
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Increased in later Ceiling |
Up to Afn 4,000/USD
76 |
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Insurance/Loan Processing Fees |
n/a |
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No. of Installments
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10 |
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Loan Duration/ Period |
10
Months |
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Processing Time for 1st
Loan |
2 Week |
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Grace Period |
1
Weeks |
Source of Fund:
Shareholder’s equity, Third Party Debt
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Performance
(Lending Started in March 2009) |
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Particular |
Up to December 2009 |
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No. of Borrowers |
4,107 |
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No. of Loan Officer |
28 |
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No. of Borrowers per Loan Officer |
147 |
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Loan Outstanding (Principal) U$$ |
590,636 |
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Avg. Outstanding per Borrower (U$$) |
144 |
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Portfolio per Loan Officer (U$$) |
21,094 |
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Contact:
afghanistan@asa-international.com
Phone: +930794981397
Head Office: House no 384, 11 street
Qulahe-Fatallah, Pai- Kobi Nasor, Kabul, Afghanistan
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