The Role of Microfinance in Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Rural Rwanda

Karin Helwig, Clementine Hill-O'Connor, Michael Mikulewicz, Patrick Mugiraneza, Emanuella Christensen · 2020 · ResearchOnline (Glasgow Caledonian University)

Summary. Microloans from Urwego Bank help Rwandan farmers increase agricultural productivity and income by providing access to seeds and fertilizer, strengthening their ability to cope with climate impacts like drought and erratic rainfall. However, loans alone do not fund broader climate adaptations like irrigation or contour digging. While cooperatives and VSLAs create safety nets, they risk deepening socio-economic inequality. The bank's informal flexibility on repayment during poor harvests raises questions about long-term financial sustainability as climate impacts intensify.

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@article{helwig-2020-role-microfinance-climate-change-adaptation,
  title   = {The Role of Microfinance in Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Rural Rwanda},
  author  = {Karin Helwig and Clementine Hill-O'Connor and Michael Mikulewicz and Patrick Mugiraneza and Emanuella Christensen},
  journal = {ResearchOnline (Glasgow Caledonian University)},
  year    = {2020},
  url     = {https://researchonline.gcu.ac.uk/en/publications/4449e711-20f2-4759-a938-10414a493289}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Role of Microfinance in Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Rural Rwanda
AU  - Karin Helwig
AU  - Clementine Hill-O'Connor
AU  - Michael Mikulewicz
AU  - Patrick Mugiraneza
AU  - Emanuella Christensen
JO  - ResearchOnline (Glasgow Caledonian University)
PY  - 2020
UR  - https://researchonline.gcu.ac.uk/en/publications/4449e711-20f2-4759-a938-10414a493289
ER  - 

Details

Countries

Rwanda

Regions

Africa

Categories

funding, climate-and-environment, food-systems

Added

2026-04-28