36 FINCA Fellows Assess Client Poverty in 15 Countries During Summer 2007

FINCA continues to play an active role in the development of microfinance industry best practice for social performance and cost-effective client assessment. FINCA’s summer 2007 research has been its most rigorous and far reaching to date, with 36 FINCA Research Fellows representing 18 universities conducting approximately 5,000 client assessments in 15 different impoverished countries: 11 with FINCA programs and four with partner microfinance institutions (MFIs). FINCA’s 2007 poverty research is made possible through the generous support of the Templeton Foundation. (Please see detailed overview for more information on FINCA's summer 2007 client assessment, including the methodology for the research.)

The findings from the FINCA Client Assessment Tool (FCAT) research will allow FINCA to accurately measure client poverty through a detailed picture of living standards and to better tailor our financial services products to meet client needs. The FCAT also measures clients’ business performance and their satisfaction with the microfinance services they are provided. The FCAT was tailored to local contexts and—where appropriate—included questions on client socio-economic conditions, such as nutrition, housing, education, and health (including maternal health).

Following a rigorous five-day training program in Washington, DC, the FINCA Fellows conducted the first round of five-week research assessments in 11 countries, of which six were FINCA programs: Ecuador, Haiti, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Uganda, and Zambia. The FCAT was also implemented with five partner MFIs in Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, Guatemala, and Mali. Second-round assessments began in July in FINCA programs in Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Malawi, Mexico and Russia. Several of these studies are still ongoing. FINCA Fellows are also conducting five additional weeks of assessment in Cambodia.

FINCA is currently reviewing the Fellows’ data and their reports to add greater depth of analysis on client poverty levels and other socio-economic indicators. Once finalized, FINCA will distribute the reports to each program and the data gathered in FINCA programs will be analyzed at regional- and network-wide levels to support the improvement of FINCA’s financial services to clients. FINCA will also share its findings with the Templeton Foundation.

Every summer, FINCA International sends a highly trained team of Research Fellows to the field to conduct research using the FINCA Client Assessment Tool. To apply for a Fellowship, please visit our Careers center. To learn more about the experiences of FINCA’s Fellows, who conduct poverty assessment research throughout the world, please contact Alison Boess.