PAYGo PERFORM, Data Collection Pilot
The Data Collection Pilot Report presents the findings of a pilot aimed at testing and refining the PAYGo Performance, Reporting and Measurement (PERFORM) key performance indicators (KPIs). The report offers important background on the development of the PERFORM KPIs presented in the CGAP Technical Guide PAYGo PERFORM: Financial, Operational and Portfolio Quality KPIs for the PAYGo Solar Industry.
The pilot was implemented between February and October 2020, and included eight PAYGo solar financing companies in Sub-Saharan Africa. These companies worked closely with the PAYGo PERFORM partner organizations (CGAP, GOGLA, and IFC Lighting Global) and the global rating agency MFR to collect and share data needed for the calculation of an initial set of KPIs designed in collaboration with key industry stakeholders. Throughout the course of the pilot, participating companies shared feedback on the process for calculating the KPIs, which ultimately informed the final set of KPIs that were formally launched by PAYGo PERFORM in July 2021.
Specifically, the pilot results led to modifications of the initial set of KPIs, including clarifying definitions, modifying calculations, replacing, discontinuing and adding KPIs. These changes to the initial set of KPIs are documented in the pilot report, along with the analysis and insights that led to these changes. In addition to informing the final set of PERFORM KPIs, the pilot led the PERFORM partners to organize the KPIs into three broad categories: Portfolio quality, financial performance (unit and firm-level economics) and company indicators and operational KPIs. Finally, the pilot experience highlighted a need for standardized accounting guidelines for the PAYGo solar industry, which will ensure that the KPIs are meaningful and comparable by harmonizing the measurement of key inputs required to calculate the KPIs.
Disclaimer
This work was funded in whole or in part by CGAP. Unlike CGAP's official publications, it has not been peer reviewed or edited by CGAP, and any conclusions or viewpoints expressed are those of the authors, and they may or may not reflect the views of CGAP staff.
