A/RES/52/194
Page 2
Noting that the qualitative and quantitative development of microcredit institutions and their capacity
to reach the marginalized groups requires the provision of an enabling environment, including a policy
framework for the financial sector, as well as linkages to the formal financial sector,
Bearing in mind the importance of microfinance instruments such as credit, savings and related business
services in providing access to capital for people living in poverty,
Noting that the provision of finance to microcredit institutions should be commensurate with their
absorptive capacity and that efforts should be made to strengthen and enhance that capacity,
Noting also the positive references in support of the role of microcredit contained in the final documents
of the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7
and 8 April 1997,2 the Ninth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, held at Male
from 12 to 14 May 1997,3 the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African
Unity at its thirty-third ordinary session, held at Harare from 2 to 4 June 1997,4 the substantive session of
1997 of the Economic and Social Council, held at Geneva from 30 June to 25 July 1997,5 and the meeting
of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, held at Edinburgh from 24 to 27 October 1997, as well as the
statement on economic and financial issues of the Group of Seven, issued at Denver, United States of
America, on 21 June 1997,
1. Welcomes the launching of different microcredit initiatives in recent years, and acknowledges their
important contribution to the eradication of poverty, empowerment of women and social upliftment;
2. Also welcomes the outcome of the Microcredit Summit, held in Washington, D.C., from 2 to 4
February 1997, which, through its Declaration and Plan of Action,6 endorsed a global campaign to reach 100
million of the world's poorest families, especially women of those families, with credit for self-employment
and other financial and business services, by the year 2005;
3. Notes with satisfaction that, as called for in Assembly resolution 51/178 of 16 December 1996,
many United Nations agencies and the World Bank actively participated in the Summit and thus contributed
to its successful outcome;
4. Takes note of the Declaration and Plan of Action of the Microcredit Summit,6 the communiqué7
issued by the Council of Heads of State and Government at the Summit, and messages to the Summit from
the Chairman of the Group of 77 and China8 and from the Secretary-General;9
2
A/51/912-S/1997/406, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-second Year,
Supplement for July, August and September 1997, document S/1997/406.
3
A/52/222, annex.
4
A/52/465, annex II.
5
Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 1 (E/1997/97).
6
A/52/113, annex I.
7
Ibid., annex II.
8
Ibid., annex III.
9
Ibid., annex IV.
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