On the campaign trail, Barack Obama promised to invest more in microfinance, small loans given to small businesses to help jump-start industry in developing countries.
 
We found a few instances where Obama has advanced his pledge.
 
First, world leaders attending the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation, including Obama, agreed to support and develop small and medium enterprises in the APEC region, according to a Nov. 15, 2009, press release on the White House Web site.
 
On Nov. 23, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, an independent government organization tasked with attracting private investment to developing countries, announced it approved $125 million for a microfinance growth fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. The fund was established by Obama in April, while meeting with South American leaders.
 
On Nov. 30, OPIC announced a $25 million loan to ProCredit Holding, a lending institution, specifically for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
 
So, Obama has signaled support for the microloans he talked about on the campaign trail, and he has backed up the promise so far with symbolic agreements and funding. We'll wait to see if he comes through on his promise to create regional "SME Universities" and authorize more substantial funding. But the administration has done enough so far to earn an In the Works.