The Universal Standards for Social Performance Management Implementation Guide provides financial service providers with practical guidance on how to improve strategies, governance, operations, and employee treatment. It is based on a set of industry standards for social performance management (SPM), called the SPTF Universal Standards for SPM.
In addition to “how-to” guidance, the newly published Guide features practical experiences from hundreds of organizations with strong SPM practices. Among these, Cambodian institution AMK features prominently and is also the subject of an upcoming book by Anton Simanowitz andKatherine Knotts. CGAP's Antonique Koning spoke with the authors.
SOMETIMES SEEING IS THE FIRST OBSTACLE TO BETTER OUTREACH TO THE POOREST
"In my work with microfinance organizations around the world, I have noticed that efforts to serve more poor people can stumble on the very first step: seeing them.
One experience in particular stands out from my work with a very well-meaning MFI whose staff claimed that there were not poorer clients or women to whom they could lend. In order to shed some light, I went out and interviewed people whom I thought were potential clients who were poorer than those currently served and took their pictures. I also interviewed and photographed some people at a slightly higher economic level that I thought resembled the people they were currently serving.
CREATING GOOD CONVERSATIONS TO DELIVER IMPACT
Yesterday I attended a presentation on the launch of B-Corps in the UK by James Perry and Charmian Love to the Impact for Breakfast Club meeting in London.
B-Corps is a global movement to redefine success in business. It models a new form of capitalism, whereby organisations are judged not just by their profits, but the difference they make to society. In this way, business becomes as a force for good in the world. B-Corps companies structure their legal form so that they are accountable to a broad set of stakeholders, and not just shareholders.
In order to be recognised as B-Corps, businesses must be certified in terms of governance, environment, working conditions, community and business model, which is an excellent start in terms of setting standards for good practice. This is done through self-assessment, followed by an external validation process.