Learning Evaluation

Component 1: Program Monitoring

A program monitoring exercise was created to gather data on key measures, particularly as they related to the new product(s) or process(es) developed. This component involved semi-annual reporting to FIELD by each grantee on a set of approximately 23 measures.

Component 2: Case Documentation

In understanding the success of a financing innovation it is important to understand both the process by which the innovation was implemented, and the specific design of the product itself. This information is particularly important to organizations seeking to replicate or adapt the innovation to their microenterprise efforts. The case documentation of the product development efforts of each grantee involved two parts: site visits by FIELD staff to several sites and summary reports by FIELD grantees.

FIELD staff undertook site visits to several grantees, to document the product development process. Site visits involved meetings and interviews with grantee staff and management, and in some cases with board members, customers and others important to the product development process.

Work produced by the grantees was used in a variety of products including the micro-equity practitioner kit and the credit evaluation grids tool. In addition, material from the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund was reported extensively in FIELD Best Practice Guide: Volume 1.