Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

11-2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

International Relations

Reader 1

Professor Hilary Appel

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Abstract

Microfinance is a field of development, aimed at improving the financial situations of poor people, especially women, by offering them access to financial services they would normally be excluded from. Microfinance programs differ in size, scope, processes, and the types of services that they offer. Using the Indian state of Gujarat as a case study, this thesis compares two bank-based microfinance institutions: Mission Mangalam, a state government program with a large scope that prioritizes the credit-model, and SEWA Bank, a cooperative bank with a much smaller scope that prioritizes the savings-model. Drawing on interviews with SEWA leadership and government and academic reports on both organizations, the thesis evaluates the influence of financial literacy training, client evaluation mechanisms, and community intermediaries on the long-term financial stability of women in Gujarat. The thesis finds that SEWA Bank’s community-based, savings-led approach fosters more sustainable financial livelihoods than Mission Mangalam’s large-scale, credit-focused model.

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