ABSTRACT
Under what conditions can microfinance reasonably be expected to succeed? This chapter focuses on an NGO-operated microfinance project targeting indigenous Orang Asli women of Malaysia. CARE — the acronym comes from the English translation of Persatuan Pembantuan Kristian Malaysia, Malaysian Christian Association for Relief — is a Christian aid organization operating various types of relief programme, including microfinance (MF) and income-generating projects (IGP). CARE's Rural Development Services Project (RDSP) provides IGP and MF services to economically marginalized groups in rural areas. The specific focus of this chapter is the work of CARE/RDSP among the Semai, who form part of the indigenous (Orang Asli) population of peninsular Malaysia. 1 During 2003, we visited seven village sites in the state of Perak and conducted interviews with 43 members of CARE/RDSP’s microfinance project. 2 The aim of these interviews was to generate data on the effects of microfinance on indigenous populations, and on women in particular. 3
