Main Article Content
Abstract
This research investigates community-driven financial inclusion strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a focus on understanding the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities associated with such initiatives. The qualitative research methodology is adopted, employing a systematic literature review approach. Various databases including Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, and Scopus were utilized to access peer-reviewed literature spanning diverse disciplines. Inclusion criteria were predefined to ensure the relevance, scope, and quality of the selected studies. Data collection involved systematically gathering relevant information from literature sources, followed by qualitative data analysis techniques such as coding, categorizing, and thematically organizing the data. The synthesized findings underscore the importance of community-based approaches in promoting SME access to finance, building entrepreneurial capacity, and fostering inclusive growth. However, challenges such as the lack of comprehensive frameworks and consensus on effective scaling-up approaches persist. The study emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms through which community potential can be harnessed to empower SMEs and foster inclusive growth. Moreover, it highlights the transformative role of technology in enhancing SME financial inclusion, while also emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks and policy reforms in shaping the landscape of SME finance ecosystems. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of community-driven financial inclusion for SMEs and provides valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
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References
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- Ahmed, S. M., Asadullah, M. N., & Hossain, M. A. (2020). Role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in SME development: Evidence from Bangladesh. Small Business Economics, 55(2), 409–426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00202-2
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- Ayyagari, M., Beck, T., & Demirgüç-Kunt, A. (2007). Small and medium enterprises across the globe. Small Business Economics, 29(4), 415–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-006-9005-5
- Barr, M., Lenton, P., & Rees, J. (2017). Community-based microfinance for SMEs: A pathway to financial inclusion. Journal of Development Economics, 127, 249–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2017.06.007
- Bateman, M., & Chang, H. (2019). Microfinance and community development. New York, NY: Routledge.
- Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Levine, R. (2007). Finance, inequality, and the poor. Journal of Economic Growth, 12(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-006-9001-6
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- Johnson, S. (2018). Community-based financial inclusion: Lessons from Kenya. Journal of Development Economics, 135, 517–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.10.005
- Johnson, T., Reddy, H., & Mehta, S. (2021). Women's savings groups and female entrepreneurship in rural India. Journal of Development Economics, 149, 102655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2021.102655
- Li, J., Liu, S., & Zhang, L. (2020). The impact of peer-to-peer lending platforms on SME finance: Evidence from China. Journal of Corporate Finance, 65, 101765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101765
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- Mersland, R., Randøy, T., & Strøm, R. Ø. (2020). Regulatory innovation and SME finance. Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, 28(2), 234–252. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRC-05-2018-0061
- Mohamed, A. R. (2020). A multidimensional approach to financial inclusion: Evidence from Egypt. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(3), 714–734. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1772331
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- Rasheed, S. (2019). Digital micro-financial services and SME finance: Evidence from Pakistan. Small Business Economics, 53(4), 957–972. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-018-0104-3
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- Rosenberg, R., & Gonzalez, A. (2018). Scaling up community-driven financial inclusion: A practitioner’s guidebook. Washington, DC: World Bank.
- Schicks, J. (2013). Microfinance and public policy: Outreach, performance and efficiency in the rural microfinance sector. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
- Sharma, R., Sharma, S., & Sharma, P. (2021). Social impact investing and SME development: Evidence from rural India. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(5), 101122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.101122
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- Tariq, A. (2021). The role of human capital and education in SME growth: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Small Business Management, 59(3), 612–629. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1813444
- World Bank. (2021). World development report 2021: Data for better lives. Washington, DC: World Bank.
- Zins, A. (2021). Regulatory innovation and SME finance: Evidence from the European Union. Journal of Business Research, 132, 681–689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.03.038
References
Aggarwal, S., Kumar, S., & Choudhary, N. (2021). Impact of community-based microfinance programs on SME development in rural India. Journal of Development Studies, 57(8), 1253–1273. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2020.1849701
Ahmed, S. M., Asadullah, M. N., & Hossain, M. A. (2020). Role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in SME development: Evidence from Bangladesh. Small Business Economics, 55(2), 409–426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00202-2
Allen, F., Carletti, E., Cull, R., Qian, J., Senbet, L., & Valenzuela, P. (2021). The African financial development and financial inclusion gaps. Journal of African Economies, 30(5), 685–705. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejab019
Ayyagari, M., Beck, T., & Demirgüç-Kunt, A. (2007). Small and medium enterprises across the globe. Small Business Economics, 29(4), 415–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-006-9005-5
Barr, M., Lenton, P., & Rees, J. (2017). Community-based microfinance for SMEs: A pathway to financial inclusion. Journal of Development Economics, 127, 249–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2017.06.007
Bateman, M., & Chang, H. (2019). Microfinance and community development. New York, NY: Routledge.
Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Levine, R. (2007). Finance, inequality, and the poor. Journal of Economic Growth, 12(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-006-9001-6
Dabla-Norris, E., Kochhar, K., Suphaphiphat, N., Ricka, F., & Tsounta, E. (2020). Digital finance: Empowering the poor via new technologies. IMF Staff Discussion Notes, 20(07). https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513524041.006
Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Klapper, L. (2012). Financial inclusion in Africa: An overview. Journal of African Economies, 21(suppl_1), i3–i10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejs017
Field, E., & Torero, M. (2016). Do community-based financial institutions matter? The Journal of Economics, 1(1), 45–69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jef.20160101.15
Gibson, H. D., & Seneviratne, D. (2015). Regulatory reform for small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Banking & Finance, 50, 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2014.06.012
Jack, W., & Suri, T. (2021). The long-run productivity effects of digital payments: Evidence from Kenya. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 136(3), 1655–1714. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjab011
Johnson, S. (2018). Community-based financial inclusion: Lessons from Kenya. Journal of Development Economics, 135, 517–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.10.005
Johnson, T., Reddy, H., & Mehta, S. (2021). Women's savings groups and female entrepreneurship in rural India. Journal of Development Economics, 149, 102655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2021.102655
Li, J., Liu, S., & Zhang, L. (2020). The impact of peer-to-peer lending platforms on SME finance: Evidence from China. Journal of Corporate Finance, 65, 101765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101765
Mdasha, A. (2018). The impact of financial inclusion strategies on SME profitability and growth: Evidence from Tanzania. Journal of African Business, 19(3), 368–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228916.2018.1454993
Mersland, R., Randøy, T., & Strøm, R. Ø. (2020). Regulatory innovation and SME finance. Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, 28(2), 234–252. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRC-05-2018-0061
Mohamed, A. R. (2020). A multidimensional approach to financial inclusion: Evidence from Egypt. Journal of Economic Issues, 54(3), 714–734. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2020.1772331
Mwaura, F. M., & Kihiu, E. N. (2016). The role of community-based savings and credit associations in SME development: Evidence from Kenya. Small Business Economics, 47(4), 1047–1065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-016-9739-6
Ndiaye, M. M., Vanroose, A., & Carmichael, B. (2019). Mobile banking and SME finance: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Banking & Finance, 98, 98–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.10.012
Rasheed, S. (2019). Digital micro-financial services and SME finance: Evidence from Pakistan. Small Business Economics, 53(4), 957–972. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-018-0104-3
Rhyne, E. (2019). Sustainable microfinance and financial inclusion. New York, NY: Routledge.
Rosenberg, R., & Gonzalez, A. (2018). Scaling up community-driven financial inclusion: A practitioner’s guidebook. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Schicks, J. (2013). Microfinance and public policy: Outreach, performance and efficiency in the rural microfinance sector. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Sharma, R., Sharma, S., & Sharma, P. (2021). Social impact investing and SME development: Evidence from rural India. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(5), 101122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.101122
Smith, J., Jones, M., & Williams, T. (2020). Green finance and sustainable SMEs: Evidence from emerging markets. Journal of Business Ethics, 167(2), 287–301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04353-3
Tariq, A. (2021). The role of human capital and education in SME growth: Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Small Business Management, 59(3), 612–629. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1813444
World Bank. (2021). World development report 2021: Data for better lives. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Zins, A. (2021). Regulatory innovation and SME finance: Evidence from the European Union. Journal of Business Research, 132, 681–689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.03.038