Ressources

Summary of an Oct 2016 Outcomes Working Group session in which FINCA shared its approach to generating credible data that is useful for decision-making on a limited budget. FINCA includes outcomes data in its quarterly MFI mission monitoring dashboard, which includes
targets and achievements for depth of outreach (including female managed enterprises) as well as
predicted outcomes on key business indicators. FINCA uses a predictive model based on a small number
of selected indicators and enterprise segmentation and a small sample of clients quarterly to track quarterly in between larger data collection efforts every 3-5 years.

These guidelines for integrating outcomes measurement, analysis, and reporting into the operations of microfinance investors, asset managers, and other funders (hereinafter "guidelines") are the result of the work of the e-MFP Social Performance Outcomes Action Group, a collaborative effort of a group of responsible investors and other stakeholders that was created as a result of a partnership between the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) and the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP). The work on the guidelines has been coordinated by the SPTF Outcomes Working Group in parallel with the development of three resources for financial service providers (FSPs): 1) a "making the case" brief that describes how outcomes data are useful and even essential to an FSP's financial and social performance; 2) "how-to" guidelines for FSPs that describe ten steps for implementing strong outcomes management; and 3) a harmonized menu of key outcome indicators.

Example of an SPM dashboard used by KASHF Foundation

This manual offers practical, detailed, step-by-step guidance to interested and committed organizations willing to invest staff time and a moderate amount of financial
resources to gain a deeper understanding of their programs. It offerspractice tools for mid-range impact assessment including: • Detailed guidance—written by and for practitioners—for planning and implementing impact assessments and for analyzing all data generated; • A coherent set of quantitative and qualitative tools that address the most common hypotheses that undergird microfinance programs; • Clear explanations of indicators and measures used, along with supplementary discussions of additional sets of potential interest to individual users, and • Methods that provide information on impact and client satisfaction and that result in specific feedback for program improvement.