94 colgan and Kolínský encouraged to support one another and, in the case one group member is unable to pay, the entire group is denied access to further funds. Exceptions are made in extreme circumstances but in general the groups are encouraged to provide financial aid to struggling members.6 The programme was initially focused solely on women, however, recently the remit has been extended to include males. It is also worth noting that the programme includes near-by communities up to 5 km outside the camps. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and the exclusion of local Nepalese settlements could have created tension. As it is, relations between the camps and the locals are quite amicable.7 Despite the precarious nature of its clientele, the BRWF has been remarkably successful, boasting repayment rates of over 91% throughout its operation. Examples of successful enterprises are barbershops, snack stands, and handicraft production. The high repayment rate is particularly surprising given that the programme focuses on the most impoverished households. In order to participate in the programme, households must meet certain eligibility criteria, which limits access to more well-off households. Single-headed families, children-headed families, the elderly, those who suffer from chronic illness, and large families are all examples of households which meet the eligibility criteria.8 5 Other Prospective Contexts: Stateless Roma and the Bidoon For the most part, the conditions in Nepal are highly suited to the application of a microfinance programme. However, the potential for microfinance to help alleviate the poverty induced by statelessness can be applied to a number of other cases. For example, European Roma could benefit from microfinance. In Serbia, the country with the largest stateless Roma population in Europe, they cannot be formally employed nor are they eligible for social support. Their options are thus reduced to seasonal or informal jobs, collecting scrap materials, or living off social assistance of those members of their families who are eligible for it.9 These limitations result in prevailing poverty. 75% of Serbian stateless cannot 6 7 8 9 Interview with Mr. Nar Bahadur Subedi of the BRWF (19 August 2013). Ibid. Ibid. Interview with Ms. Milijana Trifković of Praxis, a Serbian NGO focused on human rights (30 July 2013). tilburg law review 19 (2014) 90-97