Mission Drift in the Middle East & North Africa: The Effect of the Financial Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions on their Depth of Outreach to the Poor

Patrick Christopher FERRITY

Master's thesis

Microfinance Services & Development

Abstract:

The objective of this study is to analyse mission drift among microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mission drift occurs when MFIs focus more on financial sustainability (financial objective) instead of depth of outreach to poor borrowers (social objective). This study uses a panel dataset, representing a sample of 52 MFIs from 10 countries across the region, from 2008-2017. It implements fixed and random effects estimations on two dynamic models. Findings of this study show that the provision of larger loans to the poor (evidence of mission drift) in the MENA region is strongly associated with better financial self-sustainability and efficiency, especially considering higher portfolio quality, but this comes with higher costs per borrower and lower profits. In addition, shows that MFIs with a higher percentage of female borrowers generally are more operationally self-sustainable and efficient, requiring fewer employees to produce a given number of borrowers. Therefore, this study reveals conflicting evidence as to whether MFIs in the region experience mission drift. Future policy efforts should prioritize technological advances to increase outreach, enabling regulations that allow a variety of types of MFIs to exist, and the diversification products (savings, micro-insurance, Islamic, etc).

Abstract:

The objective of this study is to analyse mission drift among microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mission drift occurs when MFIs focus more on financial sustainability (financial objective) instead of depth of outreach to poor borrowers (social objective). This study uses a panel dataset, representing a sample of 52 MFIs from 10 countries across the region, from 2008-2017. It implements fixed and random effects estimations on two dynamic models. Findings of this study show that the provision of larger loans to the poor (evidence of mission drift) in the MENA region is strongly associated with better financial self-sustainability and efficiency, especially considering higher portfolio quality, but this comes with higher costs per borrower and lower profits. In addition, shows that MFIs with a higher percentage of female borrowers generally are more operationally self-sustainable and efficient, requiring fewer employees to produce a given number of borrowers. Therefore, this study reveals conflicting evidence as to whether MFIs in the region experience mission drift. Future policy efforts should prioritize technological advances to increase outreach, enabling regulations that allow a variety of types of MFIs to exist, and the diversification products (savings, micro-insurance, Islamic, etc).

Keywords

Microfinance, Poverty Alleviation, Financial Sustainability, Depth of Outreach, Middle East & North Africa, Financial Inclusion

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mgr. Martin Schlossarek, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies