Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 2.djvu/200

 114 STAT. 1082 PUBLIC LAW 106-309—OCT. 17, 2000 (5) to encourage the United States Agency for International Development to coordinate microfinance policy, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State, and to provide global leadership among bilateral and multilateral donors in promoting microenterprise for the poorest of the poor. 22 USC 2151f SEC. 104, DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.— The term "business development services" means support for the growth of microenterprises through training, technical assistance, marketing assistance, improved production technologies, and other services. (2) MICROENTERPRISE INSTITUTION.— The term "microenterprise institution" means an institution that provides services, including microfinance, training, or business development services, for microentrepreneurs. (3) MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION. —The term "microfinance institution" means an institution that directly provides, or works to expand, the availability of credit, savings, and other financial services to microentrepreneurs. (4) PRACTITIONER INSTITUTION.— The term "practitioner institution" means any institution that provides services, including microfinance, training, or business development services, for microentrepreneurs, or provides assistance to microenterprise institutions. SEC. 105. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE. Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 22 USC 2152a. "SEC. 131. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ASSISTANCE. "(a) FINDINGS AND POLICY.— Congress finds and declares that— "(1) the development of microenterprise is a vital factor in the stable growth of developing countries and in the development of free, open, and equitable international economic systems; "(2) it is therefore in the best interest of the United States to assist the development of microenterprises in developing countries; and "(3) the support of microenterprise can be served by programs providing credit, savings, training, technical assistance, and business development services. "(b) AUTHORIZATION. — President. "(1) IN GENERAL. —In carrying out this part, the President is authorized to provide grant assistance for programs to increase the availability of credit and other services to microenterprises lacking full access to capital training, technical assistance, and business development services, through— "(A) grants to microfinance institutions for the purpose of expanding the availability of credit, savings, and other financial services to microentrepreneurs; "(B) grants to microenterprise institutions for the purpose of training, technical assistance, and business development services for microenterprises to enable them to make

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