ABSTRACT
Akhuwat's stated mission is to "alleviate poverty by empowering socially and economically marginalized families through interest free microfinance and by harnessing entrepreneurial potential, capacity building and social guidance." This chapter explores how successful the organization has been in attaining this mission statement based on survey responses, macro impacts of the organization and loan case histories. Akhuwat's lending and economic philosophy indicates faith in the competitive market system, one free of market power on the buying and selling side. Akhuwat encourages self-sufficiency via entrepreneurship and trade by encouraging self-employment for the very poor without jobs. The micro-businesses that Akhuwat has supported to date include various kinds of shops and self-employment including vending. The ultimate success for Akhuwat is not only sustained self-employment but also expansion to the point that the micro-business starts creating jobs for others. While Akhuwat hopes to support businesses that will thrive and create jobs in the future, at this moment it is mostly supporting self-employment.
