Microfinance Initiatives: CERISE

CERISE: Social Performance Indicators Initiative (SPII)

The CERISE SPI tool assesses the social performance of institutions by evaluating their intentions and actions. An analysis of internal systems and organizational processes determines whether institutions have the means in place to attain their social objectives. It uses a questionnaire that can be self administered by the MFI or used with an external reviewer. The questionnaire evaluates four dimensions of social performance:

1. outreach to the poor and excluded populations,
2. adaptation of products and services for target clients,
3. improvement in social and political capital, and
4. corporate social responsibility.

This tool is standardized, while adaptable to the variety of MFIs and their local contexts. It is also easy to use and gives objective and visual results on the MFI social performance. Each of the indicators is simple, directly attributable to the MFI, based on data which is easily available to an MFI, and can be quickly checked by an external auditor. Its results give a clear image of the MFI's social performance, which can then be compared with other MFIs. It can be downloaded from Cerise’s website. Support, exchanges of experiences, and advices from peers is provided with ProsperA, the Alliance for the Promotion of Social Performance.

For more information, go to www.cerise-microfinance.org or contact Cécile Lapenu at cerise@globenet.org.