Research & Analysis

Format for Appraisal of Network Support Organizations

The format described in this Technical Guide is designed to gather information about and assess network support organizations for both comprehensive appraisals and "mini" evaluations.

Appraisal Guide for Microfinance Institutions: Resource Guide

The Resource Guide is a companion piece to Appraisal Guide for Microfinance Institutions. The Appraisal Format consists of detailed instructions and Excel spreadsheets to guide an experienced microfinance analyst through a qualitative, institutional evaluation of a relatively mature MFI.

CGAP Glossary of Microfinance Terms English to Portuguese

A glossary of microfinance terms translated from English to Portuguese.

CGAP Glossary of Microfinance Terms English to Arabic

A glossary of microfinance terms translated from English to Arabic.

CGAP Glossary of Microfinance Terms English to French

A glossary of microfinance terms translated from English to French.

Guaranteed Loans to Microfinance Institutions: How Do They Add Value?

This Focus Note looks at recent experience with guarantees of commercial loans to microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Foreign Exchange Risk Mitigation Techniques

This Technical Guide addresses an MFI’s hedging options to mitigate foreign exchange risk.

Good Practice Guidelines for Funders of Microfinance

This Consensus Guidelines provide practical guidance for donor staff on how to best interact with, and support, the various actors in microfinance. These guidelines were developed through a highly participatory process, including comments from 20 CGAP member donors and 10 other civil society organizations and individuals. This is the latest edition of these guidelines, which were first published as "Building Inclusive Financial Systems: Donor Guidelines on Good Practice Microfinance" in December 2004.

Financial Inclusion 2015

CGAP undertook a scenario-building exercise to help anticipate and prepare for the global demographic, political, and technological forces that will shape the future of microfinance. We and a wide range of outside experts grappled with the potential impact of these forces in order to craft positive and negative scenarios for the year 2015 that might instruct the microfinance actors today.

Use of Agents in Branchless Banking for the Poor

For poor people, “branchless banking” through retail agents may be far more convenient and efficient than going to a bank branch.