Transparency

Measuring Changes in Client Lives through Microfinance

May 9, 2011

This Brief looks at the monitoring and assessment tools the microfinance industry uses to measure elements of social performance such as client poverty levels.

Due Diligence Guidelines for the Review of Microcredit Loan Portfolios

December 16, 2009

These guidelines help analysts evaluate the accuracy of accounting and performance reports about an MFI's portfolio, and the MFI’s compliance with its own portfolio management policies.

AML/CFT: Strengthening Financial Inclusion and Integrity

September 9, 2009

Over the past 30 years, access to formal financial services for the poor has increased dramatically. However, efforts to reduce criminal activity threaten to slow the pace of progress.

Measuring Results of Microfinance Institutions

July 27, 2009

This Technical Guide is for funding agency staff who design or monitor projects that finance microfinance institutions or community-managed loan funds.

SmartAid for Microfinance Index 2009

February 27, 2009

SmartAid measures whether funding agencies are set up to support microfinance effectively. It is the first index of its kind that promotes transparent external assessments of funders’ management systems. SmartAid helps funders understand how their internal management systems, policies, procedures, and incentives affect their work in microfinance.

Appraising Microfinance Institutions

December 19, 2008

Appraisals help funders to determine the capacity of MFIs and to make decisions related to capitalizing an MFI or providing support for technical assistance.

Country-Level Savings Assessment Tool

June 8, 2008

This Technical Guide explains the areas of analysis covered in a CLSA, the methodology used, and how the CLSA can be tailored to meet the needs of the commissioning agency.

CGAP Reflections on the Compartamos Initial Public Offering

June 1, 2007

On April 20, 2007, Banco Compartamos, a microfinance institution that was launched in 1990 and originally funded by grants from various sources, including CGAP,completed a landmark initial public offering (IPO) of its stock. The IPO was 13 times oversubscribed and considered a huge success by any financial market standard. This Focus Note addresses some of the issues and controversies sparked by the IPO.

Protecting Microfinance Borrowers

May 1, 2005

Strategically, enhanced consumer protection measures can be a more constructive alternative to new or lowered interest rate ceilings. This Focus Note discusses two approaches to enforcement of such measures -- voluntary codes and state regulation -- in the context of developing countries.

Resource Guide to Microfinance Assessments

November 1, 2001

This Focus Notes compares five microfinance institution assessment services and describes the challenges that face such assessments. The assessments are holistic evaluations of MFIs' financial and overall performance. Assessments are offered by microfinance networks as a management tool for their affiliates. Likewise, donors and investors use assessments as part of making decisions about whether to fund an MFI.