Implementing impact assessment and monitoring systems in Zambia

This article describes the process by which an impact monitoring system was designed and built into a fairly recently launched Zambian micro-finance organization, CETZAM. Developed with funding from DFID and initial technical assistance from consultants, a system was designed to monitor impact through a means test for all new clients, an annual impact survey and an exit survey for dropout clients. The first results from the system have fed into CETZAM's decision-making on loan size, repayment frequency and new products. This article describes the lessons learned, and assesses whether this system matches up to the principles of an 'impact audit'.