European Microcredit Research Award 2011

The fourth edition of the European Microcredit Research Award is run jointly by Fundación Nantik Lum and EMN. As in previous years, the Award is endowed with €1,000 and recognizes the most outstanding practitioner-oriented research paper covering a topic relevant to the microfinance field in Europe. Papers presented by young researchers are especially valued.
 
The winner is Jim MCLOUGHLIN, from the Business School, University of Brighton (UK).
 
His paper presents an impact measurement methodology for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), called SIMPLE (Social Impact for Local Economies) which was applied and tested at the organizational level in the UK through an in depth test case study. The project’s results drew from one in-depth CDFI test case study, Capitalize Business Support (CBS), as a representative example of a UK based enterprise lending CDFI.  
 
The learning and results from this research has recently been transferred to the national level through the authors’ membership of the UK Community Development Finance Association’s social impact working group, and has influenced the creation of common core impact indicators and an impact framework indicating a phased approach to future measurement steps.
 
Through the authors’ participation in the EMN Social Performance Working Group, results and learning have been communicated in supporting the formulation of common core indicators for microfinance organizations across the European network.
 

Click here to read the finalists' papers.

or click below to view the presentations of the four Research Awards finalists at the Amsterdam Conference: 

Click here to visit the Research Working Group website.