Adoption Of Digital Platforms Helped Sustain, Expand Microfinance Activities Since COVID-19 – Yunus

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram
 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) — The adoption of digital platforms has not only sustained but also expanded microfinance operations since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Grameen Bank founder Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus.

Yunus, who is also the Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, said the transition to digital systems was not planned but rather a response to restrictions during the pandemic.

Grameen Bank’s weekly gatherings for loan payments, applications and group support became impossible to hold in person.

“It was not planned that way. COVID-19 forced us to move online. So, borrowers began using phones and digital transfers for repayments, while weekly group discussions shifted to Zoom,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at the end of this three-day official visit to Malaysia.

The interview was led by Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, together with Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping and Assistant Editor of Bernama Economic Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was here between Aug 11 and 13 on the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The shift worked so well that even after the pandemic ended, borrowers and staff did not return fully to physical meetings, said Yunus.

He cited discovering how a Grameen staff member responsible for loan collections was based in Norway, yet continued to work seamlessly through online platforms.

“It amazed me that everything was done virtually, but still very complete and effective,” he said.

Founded in 1983, Grameen Bank pioneered collateral-free microcredit to empower the poor, particularly women, and today serves more than nine million borrowers in Bangladesh. Its digital adoption, Yunus noted, is now inspiring other microcredit programmes worldwide.

Malaysia was among the first to adopt the Grameen model through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) in 1987, which continues to provide small-scale financing to low-income households.

“It (digitalisation) came to us automatically, imposed by nature and now other programmes in microcredit are adopting what has been done,” the 85-year-old economist and social entrepreneur added.

-- BERNAMA