To catch with the meaning of the finance’s current trend, there is a need to fill the dots in the historical context. This is what we have done starting from late 70’ of last century and focusing on the last decade, which have marked the discontinuity at macro finance and micro lending as well and since then never has been as before.
Finance Boutique has elaborated on the Theory of change applied to Finance for Development taking from field experience and desk research; in particular, we have assessed the impact of the changes either introduced or endorsed by the Financial Establishment over the past four decades, which have registered important changes in the rules of the finance game.
The literature dealing with the Theory of Change has deeply discussed the methodological approach in view of evaluating the impact of the related changes.
Our contribution has evaluated the impact of the changes in the Development Finance Practice linking the recent proposed methodologies with the Factors affecting the Project performance, on the grounds that while “filling the dots” there is also a need to evaluate the situation, which consent to learn for projecting the future.
As it is a well-known to the evaluation’s insiders, the outcome of a Development Programme is function of the prevailing Stakeholders’ interests, objectives, expectations at that moment in time. In the past the Finance’s Actors have privileged the outreach to the detriment of the sustainability of the operations at both macro and micro finance.
More recently, the Agenda for SDGs has provided new horizons in terms of vision and objectives and shifted the course of action reinstating the sustainability’s factor.
An important result of such a trend can be perceived by the increasing importance of the private sector in the the finance industry. New topics have been emerging and the attention of the Development’s Actors will be drawn on how to make it happen a durable growth.
It has become evident that a balance has to be found between economic and social objectives and this new course has called for a new deal among all the Stakeholders and the role plaid by the international development agencies shall be of upmost importance.
In practice, this means that while dealing with development’ issues, the bearers of a specific interest can react differently in relation to the market conditions and consequently the collaboration among all the players is a pre-condition to attain the goals and have an equitable game.
In this scenario the interests/objectives/demand/expectations stressed by the Stakeholders shall find out a welding point in a common consensus. As a result, at management level the expected performance/results of the Development Programme shall vary in relation to the relative importance (weight) of Stakeholders’ interests/positions.
In parallel with the changing goals and objectives (UN Agenda) a different way of doing business shall be implemented in order to adapt and adjust tools and techniques at macro, meso and micro level.
We have assumed the Theory of Change applied to Finance for development as a process of a continuing negotiations among the Actors, who have different interests/aspirations and expectations in pursuing a common development goal.
The debate on the matter should involve each one and every Development Actor but not limited to the finance industry’s insiders. This is why we have proposed a very affordable price for a wider audience: The book is currently available online THE THEORY OF CHANGE APPLIED TO FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT http://reader.ilmiolibro.kataweb.it/v/1252660/the-theory-of-change-applied-to-finance-for-development_1268103
Ascanio Graziosi,
Former Banker, Owner INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL INCLUSION SOLUTIONS
Ascanio Graziosi 