Asset Development

One of the newest and most rapidly growing areas of social welfare policy is asset development. Self-employment strategies were identified early-on as a key asset-building policy, and the microenterprise field has been a key collaborator in the creation of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), as well as an advocate for broad implementation of this tool through tax policy. The availability of savings and other forms of equity will be key to the growth and success of microenterprises.

FIELD's work in this area has included:

• Compiling a set of resources devoted to strategies around integrating IDAs and savings products into microenterprise programs.
• Producing two issues in the FIELD Funder Guide Series on asset-building strategies being used by microenterprise programs:
  • Issue 12: Saving for Microenterprise Development, June 2008.
  • Issue 10: Microenterprise Programs as Asset Builders, June 2007.