More than 200 representatives from microfinance institutions (MFIs), donors, investors, academia, and auditors from around the world attended the Social Performance Task Force conference in Paris, France in June. The Task Force's objective is to develop a framework and set of standards for measuring, reporting and rating Social Performance Management (SPM) in MFIs.

Kyhl Amosson, National Director of World Vision Serbia/Montenegro, was the only WVI representative invited to the conference. 'World Vision, through VisionFund and its MFIs, is ideally placed in the microfinance industry to become the leader in Social Performance Management (SPM) if it decides to do so', said Amosson.
AgroInvest, World Vision Serbia/Montenegro's MFI, was created to serve rural families excluded from traditional finance institutions. But 'there is a constant need to evaluate its work - stated Amosson - because we have to ensure that we keep serving the most vulnerable'.

According to Amosson, Social Performance Management is a tool that allows AgroInvest to stay faithful to its vision and integrate its with work with that of the National Office. 'SPM connects the work of our MFI and our National Office. Without the two working in tandem, their individual impacts would be isolated. When we work together we get synergistic impact where one plus one equals three,' the National Director concluded.

In Serbia and in Montenegro, the children and women living in rural areas are the most vulnerable. 100% of AgroInvest clients live in rural areas and 60% are women.

World Vision Serbia/Montenegro, through its MFI, has served on the Social Performance Management consortium for Eastern Europe/Newly Independent States since 2006. '

In January 2008, World Vision Serbia/Montenegro was invited to Holland to present its SPM work to 30 bankers.

What is SPM?

'The effective translation of an institution's social mission into practice in line with accepted social values that relate to serving larger numbers of poor and excluded people; improving the quality and appropriateness of financial services; creating benefits for clients; and improving social responsibility of an MFI.

What is SP Task Force?"

It was created in March 2005. The SP Task Force is working to better communicate with the industry what is meant by social performance and address the diverse range of questions relating to social performance measurement and management. They are working with the CGAP Donor Working Group on Social Performance to keep this site current.

Extracted from Microfinance gateway Resource center.