A/RES/63/229
Welcoming the efforts made in the field of property rights, and noting that an
enabling environment at all levels, including transparent regulatory systems and
competitive markets, fosters the mobilization of resources and access to finance for
people living in poverty,
Noting with appreciation the contribution of awards and prizes to increasing
the visibility and awareness of the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in
the eradication of poverty, most notably the awarding of the 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 1
0F
2.
Welcomes the successful observance of the International Year of
Microcredit, 2005, which constituted a special occasion to raise awareness and share
best practices and lessons learned on microcredit and microfinance;
Recognizes that access to microfinance and microcredit can contribute to
3.
the achievement of the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and
summits in the economic and social fields, including those contained in the United
Nations Millennium Declaration, 2 in particular the goals relating to poverty
eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women;
1F
4.
Underlines the need for greater access to microfinance, including
microcredit, in developing countries, in particular for small farmers, which can
contribute to increased agricultural productivity and rural development;
Also underlines the importance of strengthening domestic financial
5.
sectors as a source of capital by making them inclusive, thus expanding access to
financial services;
Recognizes that microfinance has experienced tremendous growth in the
6.
number of people served and the diversity of financial services offered, and that,
along with the growth in numbers served as well as products and services offered,
there has also been a large increase in the number of public and private
microfinance providers, all of which share the common characteristic of providing
financial services to poor and socio-economically vulnerable people, as well as
micro-entrepreneurs who would not normally be served, or are underserved, by
traditional financial institutions;
Notes that, despite progress, there is still lack of relevant statistical data
7.
on inclusive financial sectors, in particular microcredit and microfinance
programmes, in particular at the national and regional levels, and in this regard
invites the international community, in particular the donor community, to support
developing countries in collecting and preserving necessary statistical data and
information on this issue, specifically on defining and measuring access to financial
services and products at the country level and measuring the type, quality and usage
of such services and products over time;
Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant
8.
stakeholders to fully maximize the role of microfinance instruments, including
microcredit for poverty eradication and especially for the empowerment of women
and rural populations, and to ensure that best practices in the microfinance sector
are widely disseminated;
_______________
1
2
2
A/63/159.
See resolution 55/2.