This thesis specifically investigates the investment strategy of microfinance investment funds from contextual data, employing a qualitative content analysis approach. Written information from 84 microfinance fund websites has been used as secondary sources, in order to search for the particular components contributing to the formulation of a well-designed investment strategy, and to answer to the main research question of this thesis. The main research question is “how are investment strategies of microfinance funds designed?” Ten sub-questions was raised after reviewing literature to answer this research question. This study examines only the information that microfinance investment funds are willing to inform to relevant parties regarding to their perspective and investment conditions in microfinance, and the scope does not extend to investors and microfinance institutions aspects. It is found the investment strategy of the fund is designed by including of a number of specific components such as investment objectives, selection criteria for eligible investments, investment sectors, investment instruments and their terms, funding structure, geographical distribution, risk, return, hedging, leverage, exit strategies, and investment selection procedures. The study’s findings suggest future research employing broader data sources, in particular to examine both investors and the microfinance institution sides, in order to obtain an effective investment strategy that is well matched with all relevant parties’ preferences. Subsequently, an evaluation of the impact of this strategy on investment decision should also be studied.
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