Microfinance Revisited

Well, I think I have my research subject nailed down! I was fortunate enough to have met Dr. Levin, a methodology specialist, who holds one on one sessions with students writing their dissertations. He recommended his book (obviously) but it ended up being a great help in nailing down the scope and extent of my research topic... Here goes (make sure you have had your coffee this morning before reading this part):

"Based on the interviews I will be conducting in London, UK from November 5th to November 19th, I wish to learn whether the interest by private investors and specialized equity funds in providing additional funds to microfinance institutions has resulted in an increased outreach to the poor due to the increased access to funds to MFI’s or has it resulted in a reduction in clients served due to the profitability and sustainability covenants imposed by this additional capital."

Okay, now that we have finished with the scope of the research (and the research question), we can get to work. I will be attending a conference on November 2nd organized by the Microfinance Club of London, a groupment of who's who in microfinance here in the UK. If I can't find relevant contacts here, I probably should give up. But I know that at least the UN representative of the 2005 Year of MicroCredit as well as the global director of Microfinance at Citigroup will be there so they will probably send me in the right direction if I can approach them.

My supervisor is enthusiastic about my research topic and very supportive. Maybe it's because he's a Jesuit priest as well as an accounting professor, but I really feel at ease with him. He provides me with very good suggestions and really is interested in what I am doing. I am certain I made the right decision in choosing him for supervisor which is reassuring. The only weird thing is I call him "Father" when I meet him during our weekly meetings instead of "Dr..." but it seems to clear the air a lot which is quite nice. There is no presumption and we talk like equals which is also very nice.

Okay, I should probably eat breakfast (yes, it is 10:00 AM on a Friday morning... I should be at work by now... but I'm a student! Lovin' it!).