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Beyond Good Intentions: Measuring the Social Performance of Microfinance Institutions
May 2007, Hashemi, S., Foose, L. & Badawi, S.
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CGAP Focus Note No. 41 highlights the emerging emphasis on social performance in microfinance and reviews some of the assessment tools available

The note states that:

Social performance seeks to shed light on how financial services affect the lives of poor people,
To be accountable to funders, microfinance institutions (MFIs) should be able to report on how/whether the goals they have set are being realized,
Social performance tracks the improvements that have actually occurred in clients’ lives, so that scarce subsidies and funds may be allocated to the right areas,
The ‘Social Performance Task Force’ comprises microfinance practitioners, donors, rating agencies, etc. who focus on adopting a common definition for social performance, coordinating different initiatives and creating a common reporting format,
Social Performance Assessment (SPA) includes examining the intent and design, the internal systems and activities, the output and the outcome.

The paper provides an overview of the following SPA tools:

The CERISE Social Performance Indicators Initiative,
The Social Performance Initiative Tool,
ACCION SOCIAL Tool,
The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) / Grameen / Ford 'Progress out of Poverty Index' (PPI),
FINCA’s Client Assessment Tool,
M-CRIL’s Social Rating,
Planet Rating,
Microfinanza Social Rating.

The authors conclude that SPA will:

Ensure transparency that will make actors accountable for what they advertise,
Lead to actual social performance, helping microfinance clients reduce their vulnerability and improve their conditions.

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19 Mar 2009



United States

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Publisher(s):
Consultative Group to Assist the Poor