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Efforts to eliminate poverty and breaches between rich and poor have classically involved donations, grants or sponsorships. Microfinance proposes a new business structure to create value while aiming at poverty reduction and reaching the unbanked population in different parts of the world. But can Microfinance Institutions be profitable and sustainable? This Bachelor-Thesis aims to answer this question, making of this an interesting analysis of the development of Microfinance to grow to what it is today and of all aspects of their business Model.

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Born in Ecuador, Maria Chauvin saw first-hand the reality of inequality and the consequences of lack of access to financial products for the poor.Her studies in International Business at the HTW of Saarland together with her intership at the ProCredit Bank in Ecuador gave her insight into the world of Microfinance and inspired this dissertation.

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