MFIs using CERISE’s SPI social audit tool can now provide their core social performance data to MIX without any additional effort. In fact, the SPI questionnaire contains all of MIX’s core indicators. By using the CERISE/SPI method of evaluation—a method recognized and valued by numerous investors, funders, and regulators—MFIs can not only conduct an internal diagnostic and commit themselves to improving social performance, but can also export all of their social data to the MIX format in a single click with the electronic SPI. This new functionality allows microfinance service providers to improve their transparency as well as their visibility at the international level (MIX/SPS).

Since 2009, MIX has collected 22 indicators defined by the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) as Social Performance Standards (SPS). The SPTF is an international working group that brings together various parties interested in the question of social performance standards: MFIs, funders, MIVs, support organizations, raters, etc. All of the actors implicated in the evaluation and improvement of social performance have committed to the SPS as a “common language” in which to integrate their approaches.

A founding member of the SPTF, CERISE has been developing the SPI as a social performance audit questionnaire for microfinance service providers since 2005. Developed by practitioners for practitioners, more than 250 MFIs have used the SPI to analyze their strengths and weaknesses regarding social performance management and plan strategies to improve their practices. Thanks in particular to collaboration carried out through the ProsperA network, more and more networks and investment funds are creating capacities to accompany these evaluations and to verify the data that they provide.

MIX and CERISE have worked together not only to integrate the SPS into the SPI questionnaire (18 of the current 22 indicators), but also to develop a common Excel-based information tool. CERISE provides this tool free of charge on its website. The tool has been designed to capture SPI data and automatically generate a MIX report using information from a completed questionnaire. This innovation offers many decisive advantages to MFIs who apply it:

* Strong international visibility through the MIX platform and greater sector transparency overall.

* Increased reporting credibility when using the SPI as an external audit validated by a third party recognized by MIX and CERISE. This external verification translates into better information quality (diamonds) on the MIX website.

* Enhanced internal benefit from SPI information in the realm of operational decision-making through CERISE’s synthetic report and visual aids, all designed to help improve institutional practice.