Loan-tracking systems for NGO microcredit programmes
Loan-tracking systems may provide much more information than the current status of the loans. This article describes information that can be gathered on loan application forms to monitor the economic impact of the loan on business owners and their families. Programmes can track changes by comparing applications for initial and repeat loans. The systems reviewed typically monitored changes in the client enterprises and reported key changes separately for men and women, but gave little information on their socio-economic characteristics. The study suggests that loan-tracking systems can often be implemented at a relatively low cost, and even simple systems can generate useful information for guiding programmes.
Tracking the impact of microenterprise programs: the experience of nongovernmental organizations
In September 1995, US AID funded a five-year project on Assessing the Impact of Microenterprise Services (AIMS). Initially AIMS supported a survey to determine existing practices among 41 members of the Small Enterprise Education and Promotion Network (SEEP) and several associated overseas programs. The most commonly perceived weaknesses of the NGOs' impact information systems were insufficient rigor and reliability of data, inability to collect the desired information, lack of standard indicators, and difficulties obtaining timely data. The main reported strengths were simplicity and low cost
The etiology and surgical management of tracheal collapse in calves.
The mean ages of 10 calves with tracheal collapse were 2.7 weeks at onset of clinical signs and 9.4 weeks at presentation for treatment. Inspiratory and expiratory dyspnea and stunted growth were the most common clinical signs. There were abnormalities of the cranial ribs consistent with healing fractures with redundant callus in eight lateral thoracic radiographs. Tracheal collapse in calves may result from cranial thoracic trauma during or soon after birth. Short polypropylene ring prostheses made from 60 ml syringe barrels were placed on the tracheas of four calves with cervical tracheal collapse. There were cranial rib masses in all calves and resection of the right first and second ribs was necessary in one calf to allow placement of prostheses. Dyspnea was relieved in all calves. One calf died of unrelated causes in year 3, and one calf had recurrence of clinical signs at month 5 and was euthanatized. In both calves, tracheal stenosis resulted from continued growth and infolding of the trachea within the constraints of the prostheses. One calf was alive at month 11, and one calf died of acute bronchopneumonia on day 2. Removal of tracheal prostheses in calves is recommended after 2 to 3 months if clinical signs recur.