SPTF Newsletter

Your SPM Updates for June 2021

New e-learning platforms are modernizing Central American FSPs

Last year when the pandemic hit, many FSPs in Central America turned to SPTF’s Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility (RIFF-CAC) for help as they supported their clients through the lockdowns and the subsequent economic downturn. Three organizations in particular pursued an innovative way to reestablish communications with their clients when in-person meetings became impossible and to build the skills of their clients and staff through online learning channels. These projects make the best use of technology and e-learning platforms to combat financial exclusion, build clients' and staff's skills, and connect clients to both their financial institutions and the outside world. Continue reading >

Events

July 7, 2021
12:00-13:30 GMT (8:00-9:30 EDT)

SPM Essentials: Responsible Use of Profits

Please join us for the fourth webinar in our SPM Essentials Series. This series highlights practical strategies for today’s management challenges. The use of profits can be a touchy subject in financial services, but let's get into it! Speakers from AMK (Cambodia) and GM Bank (Philippines) will share the specific ways in which they integrate client-centric decisions into their budget and business plans, and how they engage with socially committed investors. SPTF's Amelia Greenberg will describe how Dimension 6 of the Universal Standards has been revised to strengthen and clarify the management practices connected with responsible use of profits.

Join here! >

June 16, 2021
16:30-17:30 CEST (10:30-11:30 EDT)

Social Investor Working Group Meeting

All social investors are invited to join our next monthly meeting. The agenda was announced in an email to investors. To join our social investor mailing list, please email Ally Ryder.

If you missed any of our previous calls, you can catch up by reading the briefs and listening to the recordings on the SIWG webpage.

social investors meeting at the SPTF annual meeting

SPTF Announcements

Did you miss these webinars? It's not too late!

Use what you have: Discovering client insights in your existing data: This webinar discusses how to use your existing client data to reveal actionable insights. Specifically, in analyzing financial behavior by client segment, you can uncover trends in product uptake and use by your clients and use that information to improve performance. Listen to the recording. Download the PowerPoint presentation.

Using Client Feedback to Inform Product Design: This webinar focuses on Dimension 3 of the Universal Standards -- Client-Centric Products and Services -- and in particular on using client feedback to inform product design. Representatives from Entrepreneurs du Monde and its partner Anh Chi Em (ACE), located in Vietnam, discuss a recent client satisfaction survey that ACE implemented and how it is applying survey results to future product decisions. Representatives from the Terwilliger Center of Habitat for Humanity International and from Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), located in the Philippines, share lessons learned from their work to develop a new housing product, focusing in particular on the product design phase. Listen to the recording. Download the PowerPoint presentation.

Client Protection Certification Achievements

Congratulations to Cambodian microfinance provider MOHANOKOR, the newest organization to acheive client protection certification.

We also congratulate FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan on becoming certified for the second time in a row. They are one of eight FINCA Impact Finance affiliates with a current client protection certification!

Featured Resource

Client Protection Resources in the SPM Resource Center

With the closure of the Smart Campaign, SPTF + Cerise are now maintaining and building the industry's library of client protection resources. Check out our Resource Center and visit the Dimension 4 section for resources related to client protection.

The Responsible Inclusive Finance Facilities

Apply for co-financing for an SPM project

If you’re interested in applying for co-financing for an upgrade project from one of SPTF’s regional responsible inclusive finance facilities, see below for the next application deadline in your region.

Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East/North Africa (RIFF-SSA/MENA). Learn more about the facility. Next application deadline: September 15, 2021
Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility for Southeast Asia (RIFF-SEA). Learn more about the facility. Next application deadline: Accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility for Central America and the Caribbean (RIFF-CAC). Learn more about the facility. Not currently accepting applications.

In May, the RIFF-SSA/MENA co-financed a three-day Introduction to Responsible Inclusive Finance training for members of the leadership team of the financial services provider IMF PADERU SARL ("PADERU"), in the DRC. PADERU prioritized and invested in this training because "it gives our institution the tools to monitor social performance, to understand the changes that are happening in our clients' lives, and to refine our operational procedures and product offering to be more adapted to clients' needs."

News from the SPTF Community

SPTF is proud to support FSPs in the Northern Triangle

In light of the United States' focus on supporting development in the Northern Triangle, SPTF is proud to support FSPs in the Northern Triangle through the Responsible Inclusive Finance Facility (RIFF-CAC). With funding from the SDC and EIB, the RIFF-CAC has supported nearly 80 financial service providers and networks in the region over the past 4 years—among these are ACCION and ProMujer affiliates, who are part of the administration’s Northern Triangle initiative. Surveys indicate that the clients of these organizations are confident in their ability to rebuild their businesses with the help of their financial service provider.

Read about a few of our projects in the Northern Triangle. For more information, contact Cara Forster.

Thank you to our contributing members!

This month, we thank APFSD-CI in Côte d'Ivoire for their multi-year membership committment to SPTF. Merci!

Become a member in 2021

Is your organization ready to play a more prominent role in SPM across the world? We rely on the support of our members and we hope that your organization will consider membership in 2021.

Find out more here, or contact us directly for more information.

Resources and References

Explore the resources below for tools and guidance to help strengthen your social performance management and achieve your social and financial goals.

Universal Standards for Social Performance Management	Technical Assistance Database	Universal Standards Implementation Guide
SPI4 Tool	SPTF Guidance Notes	SPTF Resource Center

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