Performance Evaluation Frameworks in the Context of Indian Microfinance Institutions

Abstract The paper conducts a detailed examination of the existing evaluative frameworks for microfinance institutions to gauge the differences and similarities. Efficiency evaluates how MFIs are meeting the performance standards considering time and budget constraints. Outreach evaluates the effectiveness of MFIs in reaching the beneficiaries. Relative efficiency scores were calculated using data envelopment analysis and outreach was measured in five different dimensions (pentagon model). Further, cluster analysis assisted in categorizing the MFIs into five value clusters. The study compares both outreach performance and relative efficiency scores employing ANOVA and correlation analysis. The study was conducted among the Indian context when the sector was hit by crisis during 2010. Paper brought out important insights about the sample. Indian MFIs were found to be more socially efficient, since the social dimension taken into consideration was number of female clients and majority of Indian MFIs has exclusive female focus. The correlation tests found that relative efficiency scores are positively related to depth (poor focus) and length (sustainability) outreach. The results showed that cluster analysis model basing outreach scores was more comprehensive and captured more information compared to the data envelopment model relative efficiency scores. The study is original in its approach in using cluster analysis for outreach performance and in the objective of comparing the two different models.