Attitudinal Dynamics for the Rural Poor toward Participation in MFIs in Bangladesh: Implications for Islamic MFIs

Abstract

The central focus of this study is to explore the attitudes of the rural poor toward participation in MFIs in Bangladesh and examine the effects of development interventions on the livelihoods of local people. The study also highlights the implication of the results for the Islamic microfinance programs as an alternative to conventional MFIs in Bangladesh. In so doing, the study follows the modified TRA framework in analyzing the issues and in looking at how the rural poor in Bangladesh struggle to make a better living using their labor, scanty resources, traditional skills and small capital raised form loans in existing socio-cultural networks of relationships. Specifically, how do lack of education, individual preference, religious values, spousal dislike as female head of household, resource insufficiency and ill-health affect individual attitude toward participation in MFIs? The study uses SEM for analyzing data (n=140) collected from the participating rural poor across Bangladesh. The results suggest that at least four of the attitudinal variables affect the rural poor participation in negative way which implies to explore the possible alternative to the conventional Grameen-style microfinance approach. Based on performance evidence, the study recommends the Islamic microfinance programs as the best option to adopt in order to alleviate rural poverty and improve the living standards of the rural people.

Keywords: Participation, Rural Poor, Poverty alleviation, Attitude, MFIs, IMFs