Microfinance Initiatives: FINCA

FINCA Client Assessment Tool (FCAT)

FINCA's Client Assessment Tool (FCAT) is a comprehensive, open-source tool that has been implemented in 25 countries across five regions. The FCAT employs a set of 13 individual screens to record income sources and dependents (2 screens), monthly household expenditures (9 screens), and daily per capita expenditures and poverty levels (2 screens) that collectively document expenditures on the six social metrics of household food security, health care, housing, education, empowerment, and social capital.

The FCAT methodology provides every client an equal probability of being surveyed and utilizes a "two stage cluster sampling approach" to ensure practicality. The FCAT is recorded using Personal Digital Assistant devices (PDAs) to increase accuracy in reporting. The FCAT assessment is an integral component in FINCA's Social Performance Management structure.

For more information, go to www.villagebanking.org or www.seepnetwork.org/content/article/detail/3121 or contact Katie Torrington at KTorrington@villagebanking.org.