Guide / Toolkit

Smallholder Impact and Risk Metrics: A Labyrinth of Opportunity

A metrics-based framework to set the stage for increase collaboration in smallholder finance
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This paper presents the details on three new tools created by the Initiative for Smallholder Finance after taking stock of the existing landscape of smallholder impact and risk measurement. The first is a universal smallholder theory for change, which represents an emerging consensus on a common theory of change across the smallholder agricultural finance community. The second is a smallholder impact literature wiki, an editable platform that will capture, organize, and easily access the growing body of literature about smallholder interventions. The third is a landscape of smallholder impact and risk assessment tools, which includes an interactive map and accompanying video that present an inventory of the existing tools for smallholder impact measurement. Observations include:

  • Effective metrics can relieve binding constraints on the global supply of smallholder agricultural finance. They will also support industry growth by demonstrating and communicating impact, driving internal improvement/risk reduction, and by helping develop infrastructure;
  • Universal theory of change can help shape a shared vision so the industry can tell a cohesive story about the impact their work is creating for smallholder farmers;
  • Together, the wiki and the landscape tools will capture and aggregate existing tools in a clear way, helping practitioners reduce the duplication of metrics efforts.

About this Publication

By Fonzi, C. J. & Chau, V.
Published