All ILO Newsroom content

September 2012

1. 

   Social finance

   Giving banks a good name

   19 September 2012

   Is it possible for banks to devote themselves to the financial welfare of workers and still survive financial crises? The ILO looks at the Rokin Bank, a union-led cooperative in Japan.

June 2012

1. 

   Article

   Microinsurance: A good tool but a tough sell

   29 June 2012

   Microinsurance can play a key role in alleviating poverty and has expanded dramatically over recent years. But as a recent ILO study explains, it takes more than a good idea to sell a product.

November 2007

1. 

   Article

   How microfinance institutions can finance lasting social change

   21 November 2007

   An estimated US$4 billion is invested annually in microfinance around the world. But while microfinance institutions must have strong business models in order to survive, they face the challenge of making profits while creating lasting social change. A new ILO study provides practitioners and donors with guidance on how to deal with the issue of balancing business and poverty reduction by defining criteria for supporting microfinance institutions.