Impact Assessment

Key reading

• Barnes, C. and C.Sebstad: Guidelines for microfinance impact assessments, AIMS, 2000.
• Hulme, D.: Impact Assessment methodologies for microfinance: a review, Washington, D.C.: AIMS, 1997.
• Imp-Act: QUIP, Understanding clients through in-depth interviews, Imp-Act Practice Note no. 2, 2004
• Imp-Act: Using Surveys effectively,  Imp-Act Practice Note no.4, 2005
• Microfinance Opportunities and MicroSave, Listening to Clients (2005).
• MicroSave: MicroSave toolkits: Focus Group discussions, Participatory Rapid Appraisals and Market Research for Microfinance
• Nelson, C (ed.): Learning from clients: assessment tools for microfinance practitioners, Chapter 2, Washington DC: SEEP/AIMS, 2000.
• Pawlak, K and Matul M: Improving cost-effectiveness of exploratory practitioner-led research: key factors to consider when selecting tools, MFC Spotlight Note no.3, Warsaw: MFC, 2003.
• Pawlak, K and M. Matul: Realising mission objectives: A promising approach to measuring the social performance of microfinance institutions, MFC Spotlight Note no.5, 2003.
• Simanowitz, A: From event to process: current trends in microfinance impact assessment, Imp-Act, 2001.

Further reading

• Anyango E., Sebstad J.and Cohen,M.: MicroSave Briefing note no.5: Assessment of the Use and Impact of MicroSave’s Market Research for Microfinance Toolkit, 2002.
• Chen, M.: A guide for assessing the impact of microenterprise services at the individual level, Washington DC: AIMS, 1997.
• Chen, M. and E. Dunn: Household economic portfolios, Washington DC: AIMS, 1996.
• Copestake, J.: Horizontal networks and microfinance impact assessment, Imp-Act working paper no.5, Brighton, Imp-Act, 2002.
• Copestake, J., Johnson. S. & Wright, K.: Impact Assessment of Microfinance: Towards a new Protocol for Collection of Analysis of Qualitative Data, Imp-Act Working Paper no.7, 2002
• Dunn, E and JG Arbuckle Jr: Technical note on the relationship between market research and impact assessment in microfinance, Section One, Washington DC: AIMS, 1999.
• Hishigsuren, G: Mission-based social performance assessment: ASA India, SEEP Network AGM presentation, 2004.
• Imp-Act resources website for resources listed by categories: quantitative tools, qualitative tools, participatory tools.
• Matin, I. & Zohir, S: Wider Impacts of Microfinance Institutions: towards defining the scope and methodology, Imp-Act Thematic Group report, 2002.
• Matul M, Szubert D, Vardanyan G, Lalayan M & Pawlak K: Institutionalising market intelligence: an important step to becoming a client-focused MFI, MFC Spotlight Note no.14, 2005.
• Matul, M, Szubert D, Vardanyan G, Lalayan M & Tomilova O: Entering new markets: how market research can inform product development, based on a case study of MDF-Kamurj, Armenia, MFC Spotlight Note no.13, 2005.
• Mayoux, L: How do we find out? Issues in collecting information, Manchester: EDIAIS, 2002.
• Mayoux, L: Microfinance and the empowerment of women: a review of the key issues, Geneva: International Labour Office Social Finance Unit (Copyright International Labour Organisation), 2000.
• Mayoux, L: Thinking it through: using diagrams in impact assessment (overview), Manchester: EDIAIS, 2003.
• Mayoux, L: Whom do we talk to? Issues in sampling, Manchester: EDIAIS, 2001.
• McGregor, J. A. et al.: How can impact assessment take into account wider social and economic impacts? Imp-Act Working Paper no.3, June 2000.
• Noponen, H.: The Internal Learning System: Assessing Impact, Addressing Participant and Program Learning Needs, PRADAN, India, 2002.
• Simanowitz, A. with contributions from Johnson, S. & Gaventa, J.: How can IA be made more participatory? Imp-Act Working Paper no.2, June 2000.
• Simanowitz, A. and Walter, A.: Ensuring Impact, Imp-Act Occasional Paper no. 3, 2002.