1. Social Impact
Phakamani uses the internationally recognised Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) to measure the impact of our programme on the lives of the people we serve. We want to see each entrepreneur raising her family income and able to spend additional funds on whatever is needed most according to her — from better food, to a patched roof, to a solid front door with a lock. We also measure things such as the value of micro-enterprises and of group savings in our programme as indicators of an improving and potentially more stable economic situation for our clients.
We are proud of our social impact results and we are currently working on how to present some of this information. Please ask us for further information if you need it.
Examples of the kinds of questions that concern us are:
- Does this family have a secure place to live, a roof that doesn’t leak, beds for each occupant, a source of clean water and a sanitary latrine?
- Are there sufficient funds being generated in this family to provide nutritious meals?
- Are the children over six in school, with school fees paid and uniforms and books available?
- Does this family have the clothing and bedding that they need?
- Are the primary health care needs being taken care of using their own means and/or is this family connected with a health care provider who will undertake this on their behalf?
- Are there orphans or vulnerable children in the home? If so, has this home been referred to an appropriate agency or NGO?
- Is there a growing sense of dignity in the home highlighted by cleanliness, upkeep and repair of dwellings and yards, community projects and endeavours?
- Are the spiritual needs of the household, as defined by the family, being addressed adequately?
2. Scale of Impact and Operational/Financial Efficiency
As a development micro-finance organisation, Phakamani also measures standard financial and operational indicators to track and report on the scale and efficiency of our work. Audited financial statements and performance ratios can be made available upon request.
- Number of active clients
- Number and value of loans outstanding
- Average size of each loan
- Bad debt ratio
- Portfolio at risk > 30 days
- Re-scheduled loans due to illness
- Death write-offs
- Total savings held by borrowers (in group bank accounts at Nedbank/Postbank)
- Total number of employees
- Clients per Development Loan Officer
- Revenue generated
- Operational self-sufficiency (revenue minus operating costs)