MICROCAPITAL EVENT: 3rd Latin American Forum on Social Performance: Responsible Finances and Development, June 3-4, 2013, Panama City

Event Name: 3rd Latin American Forum on Social Performance: Responsible Finances and Development

Event Date: June 3-4, 2013

Event Location: Continental Hotel, Via Espana and Ricardo Arias Street, Panama City, Republic of Panama

Cost: The cost of the forum is USD 200 per participant; an unspecified group discount is also available.

Event Summary: This two-day forum is meant to discuss the theory and implementation of the Universal Standards for the Management of Social Performance, a manual of six practices financial institutions in the microfinance industry may adopt in order to further their social goals. The forum will focus on how to implement the practices to unite the industry under a common focus, improving the reputation of microfinance and meeting the financial needs of clients in a responsible way. The conference is made up of panel discussions on topics including how to define and monitor social objectives, responsible treatment of clients and the design and distribution of products. Participating institutions include the Smart Campaign, a US-based consumer protection initiative targeting microfinance clients worldwide, and the Consorcio de Organizaciones Privadas de Promocion al Desarrollo de la Pequena y Microempresa (COPEME), a Peruvian nonprofit organization.

Background on Organizers: The forum is organized by the Red Centroamericana y del Caribe de Microfinanzas (REDCAMIF), an umbrella of seven microfinance networks in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a US-based nonprofit humanitarian agency; Programa Mision, an organization made up of approximately 100 MFIs in Latin America and Senegal that is managed by REDCAMIF, CRS and COPEME; and the Social Performance Task Force, a working group initiated in 2007 by a group of NGOs based in the US and Switzerland.

Event Website: http://www.redcamif.org/noticias/detalle-noticia/article/iii-foro-latinoamericano-de-desempeno-social/

For additional information, you may call + 505 227 86 224 or send an email to info[at]misiongds.org or info[at]redpamif.org.

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

About Red Centroamericana y del Caribe de Microfinanzas (REDCAMIF)
Red Centroamericana y del Caribe de Microfinanzas (REDCAMIF) is an association of national microfinance networks in Central America and the Caribbean that was created to strengthen and promote the regional microfinance sector. REDCAMIF’s member networks include: REDIMIF of Guatemala; ASOMI of El Salvador; REDMICROH of Honduras; ASOMIF of Nicaragua; REDCOM of Costa Rica; REDPAMIF of Panama; REDOMIF of the Dominican Republic; and REDCAMIF of Nicaragua.

About the Social Performance Task Force
The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) 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. As of 2012, SPTF consists of approximately 1300 members from microfinance stakeholder groups including practitioners, donors, investors, 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:

REDCAMIF: “III Foro Latinoamericano de Desempeno Social,” http://www.redcamif.org/noticias/detalle-noticia/article/iii-foro-latinoamericano-de-desempeno-social/

MicroCapital.org story, May 16, 2013, “MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean, Savings Groups Leading to Advocacy, Microinsurance in the Philippines,” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-publication-round-up-remittances-to-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-savings-groups-leading-to-advocacy-microinsurance-in-the-philippines/

MicroCapital.org story, April 2, 2013, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Calls for Survey Submissions by April 5, 2013,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-social-performance-task-force-sptf-calls-for-survey-submissions-by-april-5-2013/

MicroCapital.org story, July 13, 2012, “MICROFINANCE EVENT: RECAMIF to Host 6th Annual Microfinance Conference on Growing with Inclusion, Panama City, September 5 – 7, 2012,” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-redcamif-to-host-6th-annual-microfinance-conference-on-growing-with-inclusion-panama-city-september-5-7-2012/

MicroCapital.org story, January 26, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance CEO Working Group Issues Road Map for Microfinance Industry Promoting Smart Campaign, Microfinance Transparency, Social Performance Task Force,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-microfinance-ceo-working-group-issues-road-map-for-microfinance-industry-promoting-smart-campaign-microfinance-transparency-social-performance-task-force/

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