GRADES - Rating tool for SMFIs

We have developed a quality assessment system called GRADES in collaboration with M-CRIL, a New Delhi based organization that is one of the premiere rating institutions in South Asia. GRADES is an acronym for the key focus areas that we assess: Governance, Resources, Asset Quality, Design of systems & Implementation, Efficiency & Profitability, Services to SHGs and SHG performance.

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CRI+ (SHG Rating Tool)

The SHG Rating Tool is based on the NABARD's Critical Rating Index (CRI) which is being used to rate SHGs. APMAS was a member of a sub group constituted by NABARD in developing CRI. APMAS broadly uses the parameters of CRI for assessing the SHG performance and hence named its SHG Assessment Tool as CRI+.

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Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT)

A rapid assessment tool, based on the GRADES parameters has been developed for quick assessment of SHG federations. The main objective of this tool is to reach a maximum of federations every year on a regular basis. Particular attention is paid to smaller federations at village or cluster level and to those looking for bank loans. It has twenty parameters, which include the main parameters of the GRADES tool. The biggest strength of this tool is a quick understanding of the organizations major strengths and weakness, including the financial performance.

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CoopRate

This is an assessment system for cooperative federations (i.e. Swa-kru-shi thrift cooperatives) and has been developed in consultation with Cooperatives Development Foundation. The tool has five major areas which include: Coop- Co-operative Principles, R - Resource, A - Asset Quality, T - system and their implementation and E - Efficiency and Profitability. This tool has been used for rating Cooperative Development Foundations promoted thrift and credit cooperatives.

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Commitments

This tool has been developed to assess SHGs made up of persons with disabilities. It has been created for COMMITMENTS, an NGO working with disabled people in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. With minor modifications, it can also used for self-assessments of disability groups.

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Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) for SHG Federations

This has been developed for the purpose of SHG Federation rating by its own members. The main objective of this tool is to promote best practices and to reach a majority of federations. The SAT manifests its importance not only through the institutional growth towards self-reliance and self-rating on a regular basis, but also to empower the federation representatives and to upgrade the monitoring of performance. The draft tool is now ready for pilot testing.

If you would like more details, please contact qa@apmas.org

Social Intermediation Tool

APMAS initiated the development of a separate tool for social intermediation federations. In collaboration with all key stakeholders, APMAS has conducted two workshops with the leaders of the SHG federations. A basket of indicators has been developed, which has been consolidated and added to the social intermediations tools. The prototype tool was tested in the field and the draft tool is ready to receive the final feedback.

If you would like more details, please contact qa@apmas.org