Social Impact Assessment of Microfinance Programmes - weman

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the staff and management of all the six microfinance institutions
who voluntarily participated in this extensive Study. Without their unconditional support,
we could not have carried out this Study. They allowed us complete access to their
clients, staff, offices and documents as and when requested. The fact that the MFIs
allowed us such access and support, is an indicator that the microfinance sector in
Pakistan has come of age and gained a great deal in self-confidence, and is willing to
learn from undertaking such an extensive external assessment. We thank the staff,
management and the clients of Akhuwat, Asasah, Kashf, the National Rural Support
Programme (and their Urban Poverty Alleviation Project), Orangi Charitable Trust and
the Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organization. All the
organisations are also thanked for providing comments on an earlier draft.
We also gratefully acknowledge the extended help by Dr Ghazala Mansuri of the
Development Research Group of the World Bank, Washington, DC, at each stage of the
Study. She helped all of us envision the design of the Study and was a constant source of
advice and help in the evaluation phase of the Study.
Mr Awais Butt, formerly of the European Union-Pakistan Financial Sector Services
Reform Programme, was the main instigator for this Study and has played an active role
from the inception to its final phase. We thank him greatly for his advice, suggestions and
guidance.
Finally, the Draft Report of this Study underwent a detailed and intensive round of Peer
Reviewing by experts in the field. We greatly acknowledge the extensive comments
made by Dr Sajjad Akhtar, Director, Centre for Research on Poverty Reduction and
Income Distribution (CRPRID) Islamabad, Syed Mohsin Ahmed, General Manager,
Pakistan Microfinance Network, Islamabad, and Syed Hashim, CGAP, Washington. We
feel that their comments have helped a great deal in improving the quality of this Final
Report.
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