This publication reflects our ongoing collaboration with the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs through our participation in the Capstone Project. On this occasion, we had the privilege of working with Giulia Colleoni, Marta Martínez Herrero, and Ana Lucía Yugueros González, a team whose collaboration, analytical rigor, and commitment to understanding complex issues have been exceptional.
Their project focused on industry-specific product impact, building on our efforts to develop a framework for assessing the impact of financial products, in line with the draft framework co-developed under the Valuation Technical and Practitioner Committee due process, in collaboration with the International Foundation of Valuing Impacts.
The students focused on financial products directed at individuals, where outcomes related to well-being can be more clearly traced. Within this scope, microcredit emerged as the most compelling area of analysis. As the students highlight, it represents a unique intersection between financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and human development, where small loans, combined with trust and financial knowledge, can reshape economic opportunity. Their work does not ask whether microcredit works, but under what conditions it does, and which specific design features most directly influence well-being.
The full thesis can be accessed upon request. We sincerely thank the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, the students and Francisco Hernández on his role as academic tutor for their outstanding contribution to this shared endeavour.
Author:
Francisco Ortín Córdoba,
Senior Manager Impact Valuation Methodology Development & Business Applications
Main authors of the paper:
Giulia Colleoni
Marta Martínez Herrero
Ana Lucia Yugueros Gonzalez
Note: This publication summarizes the original work of the authors and it does not intent to represent the Value Balancing Alliance or IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs’ position.