1. CGAP Microfinance Photography Exhibition For the past two years, The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) has invited photographers to share their vision of microfinance. This exhibition presents the best of the entries to the CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest. The contest has drawn more than 1500 entries from over 60 countries. Citi is pleased to share this exhibition with you as part of our commitment to raise awareness around microfinance. We hope you enjoy these vibrant images of microentrepreneurs from around the world. World Bank Group

2. Tapas Banerjee, India Muslim Women Gather Together to Stitch Clothes and Embroider. Birbhum, West Bengal. Microfinance services enable these women to purchase cloth, thread and other materials they need to support their microenterprise.

3. Vikram Joy, India Quilt Maker. Chandigarh, India. This photograph was taken during the winter season when quilt-making is at its peak in India. Women, mostly from rural areas, come to the cities to beat cotton out under the sun and use it to fill quilts.

4. Diane Bondareff, USA Womens World Banking Client of Womens World Banking Network Member FWWB. Ahmedabad, India.

5. Michael Foley, USA The World Bank Broom Maker. Village of Sri, Nissankamallapura, Polonnaruwa District, North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Widow and mother of three, found herself unable to support her family, the Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Gemi Diriya Project gave her hope. She now runs a cooperative with nine women manufacturing brooms for local markets.

6. Michael Foley, USA The World Bank Getting a Hair Cut. Village in Jamalpur Province, Bangladesh. This barber received a $34 grant to set up a sustainable business and a source of non-farm income: a hairdressing shop.

7. Nicolas Peña, USA Trimaran Advisors Mobile Phones Are Leading the Way. Tangail, Bangladesh. From Bangladesh to India, from Sudan to Colombia, more than 3.3 billion cell phones have come into use over the last quarter century, with more users in the developing world than in the West.

8. Romuald Blaise Gnacadja, Benin Multi-Services Techniques Men in wheelchairs tend their crop. Bohicon, Zou, Benin.

9. Corjan Rink, the Netherlands Woord en Daad Holland Vessels. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thousands of people have died because of water contaminated by arsenic. The Christian Service Society, partner organisation of Woord en Daad Holland, is supporting a microfinance project for the construction of a water purification system.

10. Paul Snijders, the Netherlands The Produce Market. Chichicastenango, Guatemala Microentreprenuers thrive in the vibrant colours and movement in this marketplace.

11. Rolando Villanueva, Angola KixiCrédito The Transaction. Kampala, Uganda. Nakasero Market, located in the heart of Kampalas commercial district, is one of Ugandas famous farmers markets, where goods are sold in bulk and retail.

12. Rohanna Mertens, USA ACCIÓN International Soap Maker. Azové, Benin.

13. Rohanna Mertens, USA ACCIÓN International Clara Hernández and Her Husband, Marcelino, in their Vegetable Store. Xoxtla, Mexico. Marcelino had just lost his job at a local factory. The couple decided to start their own business. They found they needed capital to expand and buy more produce. Clara applied for and received a $250 loan from Compartamos in Mexico.

14. Pit Buehler, Switzerland Top Down. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Microfinance is often described as the bottom up alternative to top down aid. In the early start-up phase, microfinance institutions often require subsidy. But over time, they are able to cover their business costs.

15. Pauline Häbel, Germany GTZ Motorbike Repair. Banda Aceh/Aceh Besar, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The motorbike repair shop, Asia Baru, is a very lucrative business in Banda Aceh. It is supported by the local Bank Perkreditan Rakyat (BPR) or Peoples Credit Bank, a microfinance institution.

16. Tyler Woolstenhulme, USA Eagle Condor Humanitarian, FINCA International Window of Opportunity. Chiclayo, Peru. Seen through the gate of a small elementary school in Chiclayo, Peru, a mother and daughter prepare their food stand hoping for a day full of visitors.

17. Dana Whitaker, USA Dana E. Whitaker, Opening Eyes Yang Hengbian Harvests Mushrooms. Nanzhao County, Henan Province, China.

18. Dave and Kend ra Larson, USA HOPE International Fishermen. Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan fishermen use loans and savings services to help them in their fishing enterprises. Their success can lead to success for their customers who are able to build and maintain their stalls and vehicles to transport goods.

19. Dave and Kend ra Larson, USA HOPE International Woman in Burka. Afghanistan. Could access to finance be one small step to freeing this woman and millions of others like her from the grips of poverty? Microfinance reaches 66 per cent of women across the world.

20. Céline Ferré, France UC Berkeley Women Talking. Bah Ha, Vietnam. These two women meet at a weekly market in Northern Vietnam after selling their crops. Many poor people in Vietnam get loans to breed chickens and ducks, process garments or develop other small businesses.

21. Boaz Rott em, China Boazimages Backyard Business. Gambella, Western Ethiopia. Mazarat, a housewife in Gambella, Western Ethiopia, brews coffee in her backyard to create an income for her household. Mazarat says her microbusiness allows her to make some money that she uses to feed and clothe her children and to pay for their education.

22. Fernando Decillis, USA Plaza Bolívar. Bogotá, Colombia. In Bogotá, many street kids make a living from tourists. These coins are payment for giving directions.

23. Ron Londen, USA Journey Group (for Opportunity International) Susu Collector. Accra, Ghana. Unlike conventional loan officers, who hold weekly meetings for clients to conduct training and collect loan payments, Gaeten goes to where the clients work, making it more convenient and cost-effective for them to make payments.

24. Jean-Bast ien Lagrange, France Indian lassi Vendor. Varanasi, India. Microfinance often helps small, informal businesses, including street vendors.

25. Christopher Burns, USA Salt Pans. Urubamba, Peru. The salt pans near Urubamba, Peru, were built by the Inca more than six centuries ago. They are now run by a local cooperative.

26. Sultan Huss ein Ali, Iraq Access Credits Service Initiative, CHF International Making a Kiln from Mud. Al-Kufa, Najaf, Iraq. Like his ancestors before him, this Iraqi man is building a kiln from mud. He is supported by Access Credits Service Initiative, a programme of CHF International, Iraq.

27. Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, Bangladesh Dhaka Film School Farmer Fixing Paddy Plants. Garo Hills, Sherpur, Bangladesh.

28. Aizada Subanbekova, Kyrgyzstan Bai Tushum and Partners Diligent Sheep Breeder. Kyrgyzstan.

29. Syed Tahir Jamal, Pakist an Tahir Photografics Studio Union Engineers. Lahore, Pakistan. Union engineers at Khalil Autoparts pose in front of their new machine, which was provided by the Financial Deepening Challenge Fund, a DFID programme.

30. Romuald Blaise Gnacadja, Benin Multi-Services Techniques A group of women specialising in cake-making. Bohicon, Zou, Benin.

31. Michael Foley, USA The World Bank Fishing in the Paddy. Jamalpur Province, Bangladesh.

32. Ron Londen, USA Journey Group (for Opportunity International) Gina Panuela Tends to Her Weaving Loom. Salngan Village, the Philippines.

33. Ru fat Abas, Azerbaijan Azeri Star Microfinance LL C A Beekeeper Tends His Hive. Samukh District, Azerbaijan.

34. Romain Joly, France Mohamed Khalfaoui Sells Jewels in Markets. Morocco.

35. Fernando Decillis, USA La Candelaria. Bogotá, Colombia. These stores can be both clients of microfinance and agents for banks and other financial services in their communities.

36. Dana Whitaker, USA Dana E. Whitaker, Opening Eyes, Ghana. A Maize Merchant Keeps Her Child Close.

37. Anders Gunnartz, Sweden Tara Banu Milking a Cow. Bashuakhula, Bangladesh. Tara Banu is a farmer and shopkeeper in the village of Bashuakhula. She has been a Grameen Bank customer since 1993.

38. John Seegers, the Netherlands Coffee Farmer. El Ermitaño, Honduras. La Central de Cooperativas Cafetaleras de Honduras, the largest cooperative of coffee farmers in Honduras, provides microcredit and saving services to farmers.

39. Srinivasa Rao Allamsetty, India Hema Advertising (India) Private Limited, India Basket Weaver. Andhra Pradesh, India. Basket weaving is a typical microbusiness for poor women in India.

40. Srinivasa Rao Allamsetty, India Hema Advertising (India) Private Limited, India Bringing Fresh Fish to Market. Andhra Pradesh, India.

41. Srinivasa Rao Allamsetty, India Hema Advertising (India) Private Limited, India On Her Way. Andhra Pradesh, India. Transportation and infrastructure are important for many microentrepreneurs.

42. Srinivasa Rao Allamsetty, India Hema Advertising (India) Private Limited, India Industry. Andhra Pradesh, India. Many women turn to textiles to support their families.