As few studies rigorously evaluate the impact of microcredit on borrowers and their communities, this project takes advantage of the expansion of Al Amana, Morocco's largest microfinance institution, into rural areas of Morocco. In the past, most microfinance services in Morocco have been concentrated in the urban and peri-urban areas. Researchers have found that even though Moroccans in rural areas often use several forms of informal credit, the level of access to formal credit (from a bank or financial institution) is very low. This suggests that the lack of liquidity in rural areas often forces poor households to purchase productive inputs at credit directly from suppliers. Additionally, around 50% of the households sampled in initial surveys indicated that they were in need of credit in the previous year, but never actually requested it.

Al Amana opened 60 new branches in rural areas between 2006 and mid-2007, reaching around 80 rural districts. Each district comprises between 10 and 40 villages. Using this expansion, researchers selected two similar villages at the periphery of each district. Out of this selection, one village was randomly assigned to the treatment group, while the other one, the control, will be served two years later.

Outcomes of primary interest include impacts on the poor's agricultural and non-agricultural activities, income, consumption, poverty and household security. These will be measured through variables such as expenditures (services, utilities, health, education, durable goods, festivities, etc.), construction and household production.