Oikocredit’s fourth Client Self-Perception Survey report highlights positive life changes for clients

Oikocredit is delighted to publish its fourth annual Client Self-Perception Survey report. Launched in 2021, our highly innovative large-scale client survey programme responds to our members, investors and other stakeholders’ wish to know more about how our work empowers the low-income people we and our partners serve.

Each year, our survey, conducted with our partner organisations, asks partners’ clients about the impacts of our support on their lives. The results – which evidence clients’ own perceptions of their life changes – help our partners and ourselves understand clients’ experience, the challenges they face, and how we can better serve them and their communities. The survey has gone from strength to strength in providing insights into our social impact investing.

In 2024 Oikocredit undertook an expanded digital survey with 41 financial inclusion partners and one renewable energy partner providing services to people living on low incomes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Partners ran the survey in 10 languages and four dialects in 19 countries.

The fourth edition of our survey report, featuring engaging visuals and in-depth analysis, draws on 38 partner surveys completed in 2024 to reveal clients’ perceptions of change over the past year. It covers such areas as general wellbeing, household savings, income, extreme weather effects, business development, housing, access to facilities, health and children’s education.

In keeping with Oikocredit’s strong focus on gender justice, almost 70% of responding clients were women. More than half of those who stated their age were 35 to 54 years old. Crucially, over 80% of the 47,514 clients who commented on their Oikocredit partner’s influence on their wellbeing said this was positive.

Most respondents – especially women – reported improved savings, and most who commented on income changes had seen their income grow. People with savings were likely to report increased ability to cope with health needs, emergencies and financial challenges.

Extreme weather continues to have a disruptive effect on many clients’ income earning, however. More than a third of those who reported on climate change had experienced income disruption – generally a loss – resulting from extreme weather effects.

This year’s survey broke new ground by including a renewable energy partner for the first time and asking its clients about household energy usage and related life changes. Most small business owners who reported an increase in access to solar electricity also mentioned income and quality-of-life improvements.

Oikocredit client surveys do more than just gather data – they have a very practical purpose. In response to the findings, we support partners in improving their products and services. This year, with insights from the survey, several partners undertook environmental performance management training and/or found new ways to build climate resilience, such as a local weather service for clients, financing for local water infrastructure, and a new loan product for farmers to purchase water pumps.

Other partners have initiated financial and digital literacy client training, are digitalising loan application processes to reduce waiting times, or are seeking new ways to support clients in improving household water and sanitation.

Oikocredit’s annual client survey continues to inform our social impact investing partnerships, our members and investors, and our industry peers with critical insights into clients’ needs and aspirations.

Read our latest Client Self-Perception Survey report here