Measuring Outreach Conceptual Workshop Proceedings 22-23 January 2004

This document presents the conceptual framework that will guide the Measuring Outreach of MFIs research topic under the Accelerated Micro-enterprise Advancement Project (AMAP) Knowledge Generation task order.

The Measuring Outreach project:

• Aims to develop a standardized set of easy-to-collect and useful social return indicators;
• Defines social returns within the cost-benefit framework;
• Analyzes this framework through six dimensions of outreach - cost, worth, scope, breadth, depth and length;
• Collaborates with the Microfinance Information Exchange (the MIX), on indicator development;
• Aims to promote the establishment of social return benchmarks as measured by performance on the outreach indicators.

The paper highlights the importance of fulfilling project objectives, as follows:

• To serve as a catalyst to increase the supply of socially responsible investment (SRI);
• To advance knowledge and practice in social return measurement (SRM);
• To arm MFIs with tools to lay claim to social benefit creation in measurable ways and thus assert their net contribution to social well-being.

The paper presents the following objectives of the conceptual workshop:

• Reviewing literature and examining alternative conceptual approaches to outreach and SRM;
• Agreeing on a workable conceptual framework;
• Developing a specific research plan.

The paper concludes by outlining the following findings of the workshop:

• The cost-benefit framework was the most useful one for measuring social return;
• The six dimensions of outreach had the greatest potential for developing a set of standardized indicators.