ABA’s extension officers are key to the methodology and success. They are responsible for conducting outreach and identifying SMEs that would benefit from the services of the project. They evaluate each enterprise potential for growth, assess its financial and business needs, and determine the appropriate loan size and loan repayment schedule. They then assist with the relevant paperwork, and monitor and collect repayment installments. 

The payment of the extension officers represents one of the most innovative aspects of ABA’s operations: they are given basic salary supplemented by an incentive package. These incentives, which encourage extension officers to extend large numbers of loans while maintaining a superior repayment rate, benefits all parties involved: the SMEs, the extension officers, and the ABA/SME Project.

The efforts of ABA have translated into the remarkable success of this micro finance operation. Several indicators point  indisputably to its effectiveness.