IMPACT REPORT DECEMBER 2013 IMPACT REPORT Results of Impact Study – Attadamoune Morocco
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IMPACT REPORT DECEMBER 2013 IMPACT REPORT Results of Impact Study – Attadamoune Morocco This report presents the results of an impact study conducted among the clients of Attadamoune. The study is based on an approach and (customized IT-based) survey tool developed by Oxfam Novib. This approach involves obtaining impact information directly from clients and includes their perception of changes experienced in key dimensions of poverty, as a result of development interventions, in this case the microfinance products and services of Attadamoune. At the start of the study a Theory of Change was developed, based on the input obtained from Attadamoune. The Theory of Change reveals the expected social and economic impact of microfinance products and services provided by Attadamoune. This expected impact was tested with the help of a survey conducted among a randomly selected sample of clients and non-clients (as a control group). Propensity Score Matching was used to analyze the outcomes of the survey. Evidence was found, that the work of Attadamoune successfully contributed to improved lives of its clients. Microfinance appears to have brought about the greatest positive impact on the livelihoods of female clients. In addition, a positive impact is observed on education, health, and life and security. Contrary to expectations, no positive impact was revealed on women’s empowerment and social participation. This report is the result of a joint impact evaluation project initiated by Oxfam Novib and Triple Jump. This impact report is written to contribute to increased transparency on effectiveness, to support accountability, and to invite feedback on impact measure- ment. They do not necessarily reflect Oxfam’s or Triple Jumps’ policy positions. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Oxfam and Triple Jump. CONTENTS Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5 Background Attadamoune MicroFinance ................................................................... 5 Study Objective ......................................................................................................... 5 Methodology.............................................................................................................. 5 Theory of Change ..................................................................................................... 6 Results .............................................................................................................. 8 Financial Characteristics ........................................................................................... 8 General Characteristics ........................................................................................... 10 Sustainable Livelihoods ........................................................................................... 11 Essential Services: Education and Health ............................................................... 13 Life and Security ..................................................................................................... 14 Social and Political Participation .............................................................................. 15 Identity .................................................................................................................... 16 Impact Index............................................................................................................ 17 Impact on clients disaggregated by Sex and Savings .............................................. 18 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 20 Bibliography ................................................................................................... 22 Annex 1 Methodology .................................................................................... 23 Annex 2 Impact Indicators ............................................................................. 27 Annex 3 Theory of Change ............................................................................ 29 Annex 4 General Characteristics .................................................................. 30 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................ 32 About the report ............................................................................................. 32 2 Impact report – Attadamoune 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report summarizes the results of an impact evaluation of microfinance products and services on the beneficiaries of Attadamoune MicroFinance (previously called AMSSF/MC) in Morocco. Attadamoune aims to give entrepreneurial people access to financial services, independent of their social-economic background. Attadamoune focuses on two groups of clients: poor people and women. By providing access to financial resources Attadamoune aims to contribute to local and rural development in Morocco. An impact evaluation was designed by Oxfam Novib to assess the impact of Attadamoune’s work on empowering people and increasing household wellbeing. The results are based on an assessment of the differences in outcomes between clients of Attadamoune who received a loan between 2008 and 2010 (the target group) and future clients (the control group). In total 503 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed; 251 clients of Attadamoune and 252 future clients. To reduce bias in the results, propensity score matching (PSM) is used in the statistical comparison of the two groups on a number of impact indicators. To guarantee the high quality of data a local consultant was hired to train the interviewers and to do quality checks during the data collection period. Oxfam Novib did the data analysis. Key findings IMPACT: Clients of Attadamoune have more sustainable livelihoods . In line with the Theory of Change, Attadamoune’s financial support has had a positive im- pact (6%) on the total Sustainable Livelihood Index. This Impact Index is an aggregated fig- ure including 6 livelihood indicators: perceived increase in income and savings; number of meals consumed; food intake; ownership of assets; and living standards. Significantly more clients of Attadamoune have perceived an increase in their income (25.2%) and savings (15.4%) over the last 12 months. Compared to male clients, the impact on perceived increase in income is higher for female clients (26.3%). According to Attadamoune, a possible reason might be that in Morocco women are more financially deprived than men. Consequently, obtaining a loan has a higher impact on female clients than male clients. IMPACT: Attadamoune’s clients are less vulnerable . Clients of Attadamoune are better able to anticipate, handle, resist, and recover from the impact of natural or man-made disasters than future clients. However, the measured impact on the total level of improved Life and Security Index is not significant. Nevertheless, significantly more clients feel more confident of facing future threats (12.2%). According to Attadamoune it may be a simple case of living in stronger houses and having access to assets (including savings) enabling them to withstand natural disasters. Another possible reason they gave is that often after they receive a loan, clients become more physically active and start building social and physical saving nets. Comparing male and female clients, we found evidence that female clients feel more confident to cope with threats (10.4%) than male clients. In addition, obtaining a loan from Attadamoune has a higher impact on the level of confidence to cope with disasters. Attadamoune presumes that clients with savings feel more confident because they have a financial buffer that enables them to cope with a disaster. MIXED IMPACT: Clients of Attadamoune report mixed outcomes in health and education . There has been no impact on formal school enrolment. No improvement is observed, because both the target group and the control group have similar school enrolment rates. About 92% of the children of school-going age is enrolled in formal education. However, the dropout rate of the target group (7.7%) is significantly lower than the dropout rate of the control group (18.3%). The positive impact (9.6%) for Attadamoune’s clients on the dropout rate is also an outstanding score compared to the national dropout rate (11.7% in 2011) in 3 Impact report – Attadamoune 2013 Morocco1. Considering both results, we can conclude that children of both current clients and future clients not only start formal education when they are of school-going age; most of them also continue their education at least until grade 3. According to Attadamoune his may be related to the increase in income and savings which decreases the need of child labour. Attadamoune’s clients were significantly more frequently ill (minus 6.5%) than future clients. According to Attadamoune this outcome is difficult to explain and needs further (qualitative) analysis. A possible reason they gave is that their clients work hard for their business which can have a negative effect on the physical wellbeing of clients. Another explanation may be that because the control group has lower incomes and savings they are not always able to buy medicines and therefore they do not consider themselves ill. A final possible reason for this negative