CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based nonprofit policy and research center dedicated to advancing financial access for poor people worldwide, is calling for interested individuals to submit resources for the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Universal Standards Online Library. SPTF is a network of 1,300 members, with a mission to engage microfinance stakeholders to develop, disseminate and promote standards and good practices for social performance management and reporting. SPTF defines social performance as operating “in line with accepted social values that relate to serving larger numbers of poor and excluded people.”
SPTF is currently gathering resource material for Section 4 of the ‘Universal Standards,’ which is titled “Design Products, Services, Delivery Models and Channels That Meet Clients’ Needs and Preferences.” This section is focused on identifying means by which board members, senior managers and other employees of microfinance institutions can show commitment to monitoring and achieving their institutions’ social goals. For additional information, you may visit http://sptf.info/spmstandards/universal-standards
Applicants that submit material via email to info[at]sptf.info by January 7, 2013, may have their resources publicized through SPTF’s upcoming Standards Implementation webinar series.
By Chioma Okwudiafor, Research Associate
About CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)
CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a US-based nonprofit policy and research center dedicated to providing financial access to poor people worldwide. CGAP is supported by approximately 30 development agencies and private foundations. Its mission is to provide market intelligence, to promote standards and to offer advisory services to governments, microfinance providers, donors and investors. CGAP reported total revenue of USD 29.5 million and total assets of USD 24.2 million for the fiscal year ending June 2011. CGAP is co-located with the offices of the World Bank Group in Washington DC.
About Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)
The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) was created in 2005 as an initiative of CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), Argidius Foundation and Ford Foundation. As of 2012, SPTF consists of approximately 1300 leaders from microfinance stakeholder groups including practitioners, donors and investors (multilateral, bilateral and private), national and regional networks, technical assistance providers, rating agencies, academics, researchers and others. It has been charged with clearly defining social performance and addressing questions about measuring and managing social performance. According to SPTF, social performance includes operating “in line with accepted social values that relate to serving larger numbers of poor and excluded people.”
Sources and Additional Resources:
CGAP Microfinance Gateway Story: Call for Resources for SPM Resource Library: Design Products and Services That Meet Client’s Needs http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m/template.rc/1.1.17358/
MicroCapital Story: March 14, 2011, MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Associations Social Performance Working Group of Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Authors “Donor Strategies for Advancing Social Performance through Microfinance Associations”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-associations-social-performance-working-group-of-social-performance-task-force-sptf-authors-%E2%80%9Cdonor-strategies-for-advancing-social-performance-through-microfinance-associ/
MicroCapital Story: July 22, 2011, MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Releases Proposed “Universal Standards for Social Performance” in Microfinance
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-social-performance-task-force-sptf-releases-proposed-%E2%80%9Cuniversal-standards-for-social-performance%E2%80%9D-in-microfinance/
MicroCapital Story: February 28, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Eases Access to Social Performance Data of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), Announces 11 Social Performance Indicators in Conjunction with Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-microfinance-information-exchange-mix-eases-ccess-to-social-performance-data-of-microfinance-institutions-mfis-announces-11-social-performance-indicators-in-conjunction-with/
MicroCapital Microfinance Universe Profile: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tikiindex.php?page=Social+Performance+Task+Force
MicroCapital Universe Profile: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tikiindex.php?page=CGAP+%28Consultative+Group+to+Assist+the+Poor%29
Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/
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