Social performance assessment of microfinance – cost-effective or costly indulgence?
This article and the other articles in this edition originating from the ImpAct programme ask the question: is it cost-effective for MFIs (microfinance institutions) to measure the outreach and impact of their services upon their clients? Apart from fulfilling the social impact obligationsof their mission statements, the case studies indicate that social performance assessment (SPA) can steer changes in policy and practice that result in measurable financial benefits to the institution. This article discusses what is meant by SPA. It then sets out a costbenefit framework for
evaluating SPA. Costs per client served are also compared for the different MFIs. The main measurable financial benefits arose from faster growth and reduced client exit rates.
of their mission statements, the case studies indicate that social performance assessment (SPA) can steer changes in policy and practice that result in measurable financial benefits to the institution. This article discusses what is meant by SPA. It then sets out a costbenefit framework for
evaluating SPA. Costs per client served are also compared for the different MFIs. The main measurable financial benefits arose from faster growth and reduced client exit rates.
Understanding Social Performance: A ‘Practice Drift’ at the Frontline of Microfinance Institutions in Bangladesh
Maîtrot, Mathilde
Development and Change, Vol. 50 (2019), Iss. 3 P.623
https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12398 [Citations: 21]Monitoring the Diversity of the Poverty Outreach and Impact of Microfinance: A Comparison of Methods Using Data from Peru
Copestake, J.
Dawson, P.
Fanning, J.-P.
McKay, A.
Wright-Revolledo, K.
Development Policy Review, Vol. 23 (2005), Iss. 6 P.703
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.2005.00309.x [Citations: 52]Mainstreaming Microfinance: Social Performance Management or Mission Drift?
Copestake, James
World Development, Vol. 35 (2007), Iss. 10 P.1721
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2007.06.004 [Citations: 219]Sustainability index of micro finance institutions (MFIs) and contributory factors
Bhanot, Disha
Bapat, Varadraj
International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 42 (2015), Iss. 4 P.387
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-01-2014-0001 [Citations: 25]- Development impact bonds: learning from the Asháninka cocoa and coffee case in Peru
- Trade-off between outreach and sustainability of microfinance institutions: evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
- Value chain development for rural poverty reduction: A reality check and a warning
- Impact assessment of commodity standards: towards inclusive value chains
- What is cocoa sustainability? Mapping stakeholders’ socio-economic, environmental, and commercial constellations of priorities
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