Performance Measurement Framework for Business Development Services: Sustainability & Cost-Effectiveness Assessment Guide

How to conduct assessment of sustainability and cost-effectiveness?

This guide to assessing sustainability and cost-effectiveness in Business Development Services (BDS) programs is part of a global initiative to explore valid, practical, and useful performance indicators for BDS programs. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) field research guides on Impact and Market Development Assessment. It focuses on the assessment of sustainable BDS suppliers and the cost-effectiveness of BDS programs.

The guide proposes a set of indicators for measuring:

Sustainability:
- BDS supplier financial sustainability;
- BDS contribution margin;
- BDS viability.
Cost-effectiveness:
- Cost per client;
- Cost per supplier;
- Cost per business "using" and "benefiting" from the service.

The guide concludes with an outline for the PMF field research sustainability and cost-effectiveness report.

About this Publication

By McVay, M.

Published

April 2001

The Impact of the Crisis on Microfinance Institutions: Analyses and Perspectives

This publication presents the survey results for 40 MFIs around the world during three waves (May, July and December 2020), analyzing the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the institutions. All MFIs and their clients saw their activities severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By ADA, By Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation, By Inpulse

Paper July 2021

Global Microfinance Recovery Continues, Especially in Africa, but Pandemic’s Long-term Impact Remains Uncertain

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are starting to recover, particularly in Africa, and some have managed the crisis better than expected so far. However, the recovery remains fragile.

By CGAP, By Symbiotics SA

Data July 2021