CGAP, together with its partners the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), is launching the first Social Performance Reporting Award.

The award, powered by the MIX is designed to promote greater transparency in MFIs’ social performance. The Award recognizes transparency in social performance reporting, not social performance achievements. Performance indicators, such as return on assets, portfolio at risk, or operating efficiency, will not be considered.

What is the Social Performance Reporting Award?

The award will recognize microfinance providers who provide reports on a set of social performance indicators. These indicators were developed over three years through a consensus process involving industry leaders and lead by SPTF.

The Award features three levels of recognition:

• MFI Silver Certificate Award for MFIs that comply with minimum SPTF core disclosure requirements (Part I of indicators’ form)
• MFI Gold Certificate Award for MFIs that comply with SPTF core disclosures requirements (Part I, II and Poverty Measurement data) and a third-party validation report of poverty outreach data.
• Network award for networks that have at least 50% of their affiliates eligible to receive a Silver or Gold Award.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to all formal regulated and nonregulated financial institutions and nongovernmental organizations that offer microfinance services.

MFIs that have not yet received the social performance reporting form from MIX should contact Micol Pistelli to request a form. Completed forms should be sent   back to Micol via email by 15 September 2009. For more information on the Award visit CGAP’s Web site, or contact Meritxell Martinez.