In order to reach its objectives the project expected to reach the following results:

R1: Through the comparison of situations and responses, microfinance providers will have a better understanding on how can microfinance effectively respond to social exclusion in European Union and the accessing countries;

R2: Microfinance providers will have learned from each other on strategies helping them in overcoming some institutional barriers, in reaching more socially excluded people and will start using such strategies;

R3: Key constraints and opportunities will be identified for the development of microfinance in Europe – policy recommendations will be formulated. In the long-run it is expected that the East –West exchange will contribute to the EU new approach to the issues of social and financial exclusion The main methodology was the organisation of 4 working groups with experts representing the three partners, MFC, EMN, cdfa in each of the working groups.

The working groups were the following:

WG1: “Social and financial exclusion map” looked into how financial exclusion ties into social exclusion in the East and in the West. It was coordinated by the MFC.

WG2: Key constraints, challenges and policy recommendations explored which policy measures work in the East and which ones work in the West. It was coordinated by EMN.

WG3: Benchmarks and performance measurement followed the work started by EMN on the subject in 2005 and was coordinated by the cdfa.

WG4: Innovative approaches and products in combating financial exclusion focused on such aspects as Business Development Services (BDS) and technical assistance in microfinance. It was coordinated by the MFC.