Impact assessment of microfinance using qualitative data: communicating between social scientists and practitioners using the QUIP

Section 1 sets the context in which a qualitative impact protocol (QUIP) was created by distinguishing between demand from within microfinance organizations (MFOs) for organizational development and from donors and regulators for public policy purposes. On the supply side, it is argued that there is a case for using rigorous qualitative methods that stand between ‘positivist/quantitative’ and ‘participatory/interpretative’ approaches.

Section 2 charts how the QUIP has been developed using the Imp‐Act programme network. It discusses the theoretical considerations that were taken into account when designing the protocol, and the developments that led to the generation of a step‐by‐step guide. It then discusses relations between social scientists and practitioners with regard to impact assessment, and suggests that the QUIP can be used to strengthen them.