Guidelines for microfinance impact assessments

The manual aims to provide:

• A guide to developing an action plan or scope of work for an Impact Assessment (IA);
• Assistance to those leading the assessment in thinking through the process;
• Help for those who have limited experience with IAs of microfinance programs;
• Instruction and educational value;
• A checklist of key steps that may be useful to more experienced managers and researchers.

It gives a general framework which includes stakeholders, MFI managers and donors in the planning stage. This determines the setting objectives, the applications of results and the focus of key research questions. Further stages are:

• Design which looks at the feasibility of putting key questions and conceptualizes expected changes. Attention should be given to methods of information gathering together with the analysis and indicators of impacts;
• Implementation gives attention to the logistics and human resources needed to conduct the research. Supervision of the process can smooth the translation of the design into action;
• Data analysis and report writing is guided by the clear and integrated presentation of outputs and results that are uncluttered by data and amplify discussion. Quantitative information should use averages, frequency counts, distributions and simple statistical tests. Qualitative information should be meaningful and focused to draw out strong themes and highlight exceptions;
• Findings and conclusions should be presented by impact assessment organizers yet might be enhanced by further inputs from stakeholders, MFI managers and donors;
• Final reports answer the questions from the planning and design stages and are substantiated by the methods and findings.