The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), a US-based nonprofit charged with addressing questions about measuring and managing social performance, and the France-based network CERISE (Comité d’Echanges de Réflexion et d’Information sur les Systèmes d’Epargne-crédit) recently released version 1.2 of SPI4, their assessment tool for the social performance of microfinance institutions. The updated version is available at www.cerise-spi4.org.
SPI4, which was launched in 2014, allows users to evaluate their institutions’ level of implementation of the Universal Standards for Social Performance Management (USSPM), which were launched by SPTF in 2012 and consist of six practices microfinance institutions (MFIs) may adopt in order to expand their focus from financial to social goals. The tool also allows users to evaluate their compliance with the Smart Campaign Client Protection Principles, which are intended to help microfinance institutions (MFIs) improve their business through good ethics. The new version boasts improved stability and product instructions; added import and export capability with data from the US-based NGO Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX); backward-compatibility with the previous version of the tool, SPI3; and improved reporting features.
SPTF defines social performance as operating “in line with accepted social values that relate to serving larger numbers of poor and excluded people.”
By Makai McClintock, Research Associate
About the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF):
The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) is a US-based nonprofit charged with addressing questions about measuring and managing social performance. It was created in 2005 as an initiative of US-based CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), Switzerland’s Argidius Foundation and the US-based Ford Foundation. According to SPTF, social performance includes operating “in line with accepted social values that relate to serving larger numbers of poor and excluded people.”
About Smart Campaign
The Smart Campaign, which was founded by US-based nonprofit Accion and is located at Accion’s Center for Financial Inclusion in the US city of Washington, is an “effort to unite microfinance leaders around a common goal: to keep clients as the driving force of the industry.” It promotes seven core client protection principles: appropriate product design and delivery, prevention of over-indebtedness, transparency, responsible pricing, fair and respectful treatment of clients, privacy of client data and mechanisms for complaint resolution. As of 2014, The Smart Campaign is endorsed by approximately 4,152 microfinance institutions (MFIs), microfinance support organizations, investors, donors and individual industry professionals. There are 18 MFIs certified by the Smart Campaign as of 2014.
Sources and Additional Resources:
SPI4 update available at www.cerise-spi4.org
SPTF Guidance: “Use This Tool to Assess and Improve: Version 1.2 of SPI4 is now available with enhanced functionality,” http://www.microfinancegateway.org/sites/default/files/announcement/sptf_guidance_note_issue_1_spi4.pdf
MicroCapital Microfinance Universe Profile: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)
MicroCapital Universe Profile: Smart Campaign
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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