Measuring Transformation: Assessing and Improving the Impact of Microcredit, PART III – Impact Evaluation Mechanism of the Association For Social Advancement (ASA) in Bangladesh

A paper commissioned by the Microcredit Summit Campaign for the 1999 Meeting of Councils, written by Md. Mustafa Kamal.

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Executive Summary

Introduction
Any organization that implements a development program is eager to have answers to questions such as:

• Are our objectives being fulfilled?
• Are the right clients being reached?
• What are the obstacles to our clients' development?
• Are any changes or modifications to our objectives or our programs needed in light of scientific assessment?

The same was true for The Association for Social Advancement (ASA) whose management felt the need for impact evaluation to ensure better performance. The Managing Director of ASA once said, "We want to strengthen evaluation as a mechanism in order to develop reliable tools and techniques so that greater reliance can be placed on our own capabilities." With this determination, ASA management established a structure and developed a mechanism to assess the impact of activities launched by the institution. This approach ensures combined efforts from the Research and Evaluation Cell, Program Coordination Cell and Management Information System (MIS) Cell. Regular and periodic assessments are conducted from these cells to determine actual achievements, make accurate decisions on the basis of recommendations, and formulate appropriate policies for better performance.

Great emphasis is placed on assessing the impact of ASA's programs due to the positive correlation between the success of these programs and the target clients' livelihoods. ASA's impact assessment mechanism works smoothly and efficiently and adheres to the development strategy of the institution. After reviewing the impact assessment results, ASA promptly created several innovative changes to attain its present standing.