The rural finance project management units of International Organizations are generally able to monitor their achieved implementation progress and immediate results in increased household / SME access to rural financial services.
However, project management units are facing challenges in assessing the outcomes of rural finance projects on beneficiaries’ livelihoods and in attributing financial inclusion to livelihood enhancement. Due to the increased types of Rural Finance Providers, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of rural finance projects necessitates the development of different approaches and indicators. For instance, Mobile Network Operators, Banks, Microfinance Institutions and FinTech Companies engaged in delivering rural finance may require distinct indicators. Poor data quality, time and resource availability and allocation are also challenges that limit the effectiveness of M&E activities.
This webinar aims to discuss the M&E support needs of rural finance projects, with a specific focus on the challenges experienced by IFAD country offices in Eastern and Southern Africa countries. On behalf of CGAP, FAO and the CABFIN network, the author will present CGAP’s Theory of Change for financial inclusion. Follow by selected good practices and case studies of data collection and impact evaluation frameworks presented by the BBVA Microfinance Foundation (BBVAMF).
Silvia joined FAO as a Rural Finance Specialist in 2020. Prior to joining FAO, Silvia has worked as an independent researcher for OPM, FSD Kenya, Bath SDR and CGAP, and as a Programme and M&E Manager for SaveAct in South Africa. Silvia has a background in Economics, holds an MSc in Wellbeing and Human Development and a PhD in Social and Policy Sciences from the University of Bath. Her main areas of expertise include savings groups’ programmes, women’s financial inclusion, qualitative research approaches, and the role of research for the design of financial inclusion policies and programmes that can promote a better quality of life for low-income and disadvantaged people.
Stéphanie joined the foundation in June 2015. She develops the Group’s social performance management strategy to drive impact across the portfolio. Prior to BBVAMF, at Palladium Capital (formerly Enclude Capital Advisory) she was involved in several equity sale transactions in South East Asia and other global fund structuring deals. She also worked at UBS HNW Clients Investment Banking, in Spain. Stephanie graduated in Economics from the University of Navarre and holds an executive master of INSEAD in Corporate Financial Strategy in Global Markets.
Fletcher Chilumpha is leading a technical team implementing a rural finance and an ultra-poor graduation initiative, the Malawi FARMSE programme, financed by IFAD. Prior to joining FARMSE, Fletcher worked as Programme Manager for UNCDF and UNDP on a joint initiative aimed at creating an inclusive financial sector in Malawi. Fletcher’s main areas of expertise include digital financial services, payments digitization, financial sector policy and financial inclusion in general. He holds a masters’ degrees in Banking and Finance from Bangor University, UK.