Research

MFC Research Program offers quantitative and qualitative research studies on the demand for financial services (credit, deposits, microinsurance), access to finance, over-indebtedness, entrepreneurship and many others.

For the last 8 years the MFC has been carrying out enterprise and MFI surveys and research projects aiming at deepening knowledge and understanding of the microcredit and SME finance market in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The results of the studies have been used to inform the development of new financial products and policies facilitating access to financial services.

The MFC is experienced in conducting market surveys of financial providers (banks and microfinance institutions) and the population (low-income people, microcredit clients) in various countries of the ECA region using both qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

 The local presence is assured through the network of MFC consultants and market research agencies (many of them members of TNS Global which has a presence in most European countries). The MFC has established partnerships with research agencies in countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. MFC is also experienced in training local service providers in specific techniques and methodologies which may be required for the research project. 

Current projects:

• Study on the Risk of Overindebtedness of Microcredit Clients in Azerbaijan

The third EFSE DF – funded project on the risk of over-indebtedness in the ECA region is carried out in partnership with Azerbaijan Micro Finance Association (AMFA). The study will measure the factual incidence of indebtedness/potential (over-)indebtedness of microcredit clients, and identify factors on the supply and demand side which contribute to overindebtedness.

Planned completion date: April 2012

• Measuring Access to Finance: Developing Evidence-Based Access Policies in Belarus.

The objective of this project is to assess the conditions that constitute access to financial services in Belarus (market conditions, policy environment and other factors relevant for access) and to develop a strategy to broaden and deepen access to finance based on local market reality and data.

The project is initiated and managed by the National Bank of Belarus in cooperation with other government agencies and funded by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI).

The outputs will include:

- Access to Financial Services (AFS) framework defined and measured  in three dimensions supply of financial services, demand for financial services and pro-access policies

- Total Financial Inclusion Index (TFII) developed and larger research on access to finance conducted

- detailed analysis of use of financial services prepared followed by the proposals for pro-access policies and regulations 

Planned completion date: December 2012

• Research on the Level of Indebtedness and Repayment Performance in Kyrgyzstan

The objective of the study funded by ICCO is to measure the level of debt use in the population of Kyrgyzstan, assess the repayment performance on different types of credit by different demographic groups and to build the capacity of “Ishenim” staff in data analysis and reporting.

Planned completion date: December 2011

• Research on Agricultural Value Chains in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

The objective of the study funded by ICCO is to identify potential opportunities for ICCO and MFC to engage MFIs in the development of agricultural value chain financing in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Planned completion date: December 2011

Recently completed projects:

• Study on the Risk of Overindebtedness of Microcredit Clients in Kosovo

The project funded by EFSE Development facility aims at measuring the factual incidence of indebtedness/potential (over-)indebtedness of microcredit clients, and at identifying factors on the supply and demand side which contribute to overindebtedness. Kosovo is the second county, after Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which the study on the risk of overindebtedness is conducted.

The study is divided into 3 phases: (i) analysis of the credit bureau data, (ii) bank/MCO survey, (iii) microcredit client survey.

Project dates: October 2010 – October 2011

Final report: http://www.mfc.org.pl/sites/mfc.org.pl/files/Indebtedness%20Study%20Kosovo_Summary%20Paper.pdf

• Microenterprise Finance after the Crisis

This project funded by Fundacja Kronenberga at Citi Handlowy carried out in partnership with Pentor Research international aimed to diagnose the condition of Polish microenterprises and the perception of the 2008-2010 financial crisis. In order to achieve this 500 telephone interviews with owners and/or managers of mirofirms were conducted.

Project dates: March-June 2011

Final presentation (in Polish): http://www.mfc.org.pl/sites/mfc.org.pl/files/Finanse%20Mikroprzedsi%C4%99biorcy%20Po%20Kryzysie.pdf

• The Market for Deposit Services of Microcredit-Deposit Organizations (MDO) in Tajikistan

The goal of the study funded by GTZ was to assess the market potential for savings services and develop projections for deposit products. The study was conducted in two phases: the supply study (competitor research) and the demand study (customer research).

Project dates: April-November 2010

Final report: http://www.mfc.org.pl/sites/mfc.org.pl/files/MFC_demand_for_savings_Taj.pdf

Past projects:

To read about th results of research projects please see the "Publications" section: http://www.mfc.org.pl/en/publications/research-results

To learn in more details about MFC research experience please download the table with project references.