An examination of the socio-economic implications of microfinance programs: An alternative approach in Nepal

In Nepal, development planning was started with the implementation of the First Five-Year Plan in 1956. Despite experiencing improvements, Nepal still remains one of the poorest countries in the world with a human development ranking of 129 out of 167 countries (UNDP 2001). Since the installation of a multi-party democracy in 1990, the Eighth (1992-97) and Ninth (1997-2002) Five-Year Plans have shifted policy towards liberalisation of the economy and decentralisation of power to try and promote development. In particular poverty alleviation has been the major focus of these two plans, with a wide range of policies being instituted to try to improve the situation of the poor.