Cerise+SPTF, the joint venture of the NGOs Comité d’Echange, de Réflexion et sur les Systèmes d’Epargne-Crédit (Cerise) of France and the US-based Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), recently launched an updated version of Social Performance Indicators (SPI) Online, a platform offering tools for microfinance organizations to measure their environmental and social performance. These include detailed standards for compliance, audit tools and training resources. Among the new additions to SPI Online are seven audit tools aligned with the third edition of Cerise+SPTF’s Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management. These tools include SPI Entry, which offers a limited number of indicators for organizations just beginning to measure their environmental and social progress, and Alinus, a due diligence tool for investors looking to monitor the practices of their investees.
Prospective participants may register for the new platform via the SPI Online website. Meanwhile, the previous SPI Online platform has been closed, and participants will have their data transferred to the updated version.
Cerise Chair Monique Cohen, commented, “The resources and tools on SPI Online will enable a diverse range of institutions to achieve two related objectives. The first [is to] understand the extent to which they are achieving their social and environmental objectives, and secondly [they can] identify the specific steps to move from where they are to where they want to be.”
Established in 1998, Cerise is a nonprofit that aims to support “ethical and responsible finance” in order to drive social and economic development. The organization works to help stakeholders in “inclusive finance, social business and impact-investing” achieve social impact by providing them with advisory services, portfolio analyses, benchmarking reports and social audits. Cerise has six staff members. Financial data on the organization are not available.
Founded in 2005, SPTF works to improve the social performance management (SPM) of microfinance institutions. SPM refers to the systems that organizations use to achieve their social goals, such as improving clients’ well-being. SPM strategies include defining and monitoring social goals, developing client-centric products and services, treating clients and employees responsibly, and balancing social and financial performance. For the year 2021, the NGO reported expenditures of USD 2.1 million.
By Vaughn Rajah, Research Associate
Sources and Additional Resources
Cerise+SPTF SPI Online Launch Webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN-CvS8anug
SPI Online homepage
https://spi-online.org
Cerise+SPTF homepage
https://cerise-sptf.org
Cerise+SPTF financials
https://cerise-sptf.org/annualreports-financials
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