Paper

Assessing The Social Performance of Microfinance Using the QUIP: Findings from Huancayo, Chimbote and Cajamarca, Peru

How can microfinance practitioners monitor their contribution to poverty alleviation?
Download 21 pages

This paper draws upon a series of studies of village banking programs in Peru to argue in favor of using a qualitative in-depth individual interview protocol (QUIP) to reveal and analyze diverse impact. The paper presents the following details about QUIP:

  • It was developed for practitioners who wanted to monitor their social performance using qualitative methods in a cost-effective, timely and reliable way;
  • It was designed as a qualitative protocol that practitioners themselves could use;
  • It aimed to help managers tailor their programs, services and products to maximize the impact of their organization on poverty reduction.

The paper discusses:

  • The background and aim of the studies;
  • The methodology - the manner in which the interviews were conducted;
  • The research areas - the three provinces in Peru;
  • The profile of organizations and the services they offered;
  • Client profiles.

The paper discusses findings about:

  • Business profitability after the baseline survey;
  • The use of credit;
  • Reasons for client exit;
  • Group dynamics;
  • Impact on household well-being.

It concludes that:

  • Those least able to benefit from the programs were women with dependent children;
  • Clients exited the program due to their own/relatives' ill-health;
  • Kinship obligations and the highly gendered dimension of health-care prevented them from using loans for their own businesses;
  • Conflict within groups was another major reason for exit.

About this Publication

By Revolledo-Wright, K.
Published