Qualitative impact assessment of a microcredit programme in Benin

This study attempts to understand the conditions for granting microcredit loans to poor populations in developing countries more specifically in Benin and the impact of these loans on the beneficiaries. Using a secondary analysis we have highlighted the impacts of microcredit on the beneficiaries. The libraries of the University of Abomey-Calavi and that of the National Microfinance Fund are the main sources of our data. At the end of the study we found that microcredit loans contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the beneficiary populations contrary to what some of the literature suggests. These loans have enabled them to undertake income-generating activities whose income has been used for basic needs. Although the conditions for granting loans need to be improved in most cases they do not prevent the implementation of the projects for which they were contracted. However these loans could effectively contribute to the fight against poverty if upstream MFIs granted more medium- and long-term loans for agricultural activities.