Social Intermediation Study: Field Research Guide: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Capital and Microfinance
This tool is a self-contained 'field research guide' that is being used by 6 local research teams - 2 in India, 2 in Pakistan, 1 in Kenya and 1 in Mali. It is regarded as a pilot, each of the teams are to keeping track of the process of the study and are providing recommendations for how to improve the instruments.
The key themes of the studies include:
- Trust, Sharing and Social Interaction;
- Individual Empowerment and Confidence/Skills Building;
- Leveraging Power of Groups;
- Investigating Ex-clients and Dormant Groups;
- Outreach to the Poor and Poorest.
The guide begins by discussing the broad objectives and parameters of the research. It sets out the key hypothesis, namely: that the social intermediation processes of microfinance initiatives (MFIs) are necessary to extend their outreach to and within poorer segments of the population, particularly women, and have a separate value in and of themselves by positively enhancing the social capital of the participants.
It then provides 'first drafts' of the survey instruments that each team was expected to adapt to their local environment, and finally, a section giving guidelines on writing up the research. Each teams participated in a two-day inception workshop to go over the substance of the guide, to discuss broadly how the pre-testing of the instruments would adapt to the local context, and to establish a workplan and timeline.
