Thesis (MDF)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / In the microfinance discourse, sustainability can relate to organisational, managerial and financial aspects. However, what is in vogue in mainstream analysis is the financial sustainability of MFIs throughout the world, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. What has attracted controversial debate on the self financial viability of MFIs is the extent they have maintained the balance between achieving substantial levels of profitability (through employing the institutionalist approach), and being agents of poverty-alleviation (through the welfarist approach). Analysing the mixed fortunes of the five MFIs in Mozambique between 2005 and 2009, this study explores the scope and patterns of outreach programmes as an essay in service-delivery by the MFIs, the repayment capacity of the different stripes of clients, the cost-control regime adopted by the MFIs and the ultimate variegated levels of success realised, and the challenges faced by the MFIs in different provinces.