Analysis of Client Assessment Data

This progress note examines the process that microfinance institutions (MFIs) work through to analyze client assessment data. It looks at:

• The changes, challenges and strategies of the Client Assessment (CA) process;
• The ways by which MFIs approach the development of their CA systems, the constraints and the motivating factors.

The note presents:

• Features of the Imp-Act program a global action-research program designed to improve the quality of microfinance services and their impact on poverty by developing impact assessment systems;
• The difficulties encountered in collecting and analyzing CA data;
• The types of data gathered quantitative and qualitative;
• The current practice of analyzing CA data;
• The various categories for data analysis.

The note recommends the following broad framework for analyzing client assessment data:

• Describe and assess findings;
• Analyze the data;
• Interpret the findings;
• Provide recommendations;
• Add values.

The note suggests that MFIs should keep data analysis and reporting simple. It concludes by providing guidelines for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.