Market assessment
Market assessment studies explore the potential for microfinance in various markets through research among microfinance clients and general population on such topics as:
- demand for microfinance services such as credit, savings, microinsurance
- access to and use of financial services
- actual and perceived indebtedness and drivers of overindebtedness
- role of remittances in household finance
- effect of the financial crisis on enterprises
Research methods include quantitative household surveys, followed by statistical data analysis, and qualitative focus group discussions, in-depth interviews.
Examples of market assessments conducted by the MFC:
- The demand for microinsurance in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine
- The demand for microcredit in Poland
- The market for deposit Services in Tajikistan
- The risk of overindebtedness in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Azerbaijan
- Microentrepreneurship in Poland
Financial sector assessment
The supply-side research explores the existing infrastructure, microfinance products available on the market, legal and regulatory environment in order to identify the opportunities and constraints in microfinance provision. The assessment is conducted via MFI and bank surveys followed by in-depth interviews with key staff of the institutions providing microfinance services.
Examples of financial sector assessments conducted by the MFC:
- The state of microfinance in ECA (annual mapping study)
- Microcredit market in Poland and Hungary
- Financial access scorecard
