Abstract:
Microfinance has been heralded by many as the magic bullet, able to empower marginalized populations
by investing into their agency. It has been growing at an average rate of about 40%, and providers
have shown interest in reducing HIV prevalence and promoting health educational attainment among
beneficiaries’ children especially among women who are vulnerable in most societies. Advocates of
microfinance interventions have often stated it aims at improving lives by enabling clients to launch and
nurture their own small businesses and enterprises so that they can become independent and improve
their livelihoods. However, complementary to microfinance strategy is to assist clients in generating
income and growing assets from the impact of crises events such as HIV and related diseases such as
malaria and tuberculosis. Sub-Saharan Africa as compared to the rest of the world faces a serious HIV
epidemic and the poor in general and women in particular are mostly at risk. This group of people is also
the target for microfinance initiatives. The study reviews some theoretical and empirical literature about
poverty, HIV and microfinance. The chapter establishes the fact that if microfinance can reduce poverty
then it could also be used as a tool for preventing HIV infection. Policy recommendation that will enable
microfinance institutions to contribute to the prevention of HIV, and its related diseases are offered
