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Social Performance Management

Universal Standards for Social Performance Management for financial service providers: To assess changes which result from project interventions, specific FSD aspects and indicators are key to consider in the M&E system all along the project cycle. Social performance management (SPM) is used to achieve stated social goals and put customers at the centre of strategy and operations. As such there is set of practices to measure SPM. These practices form the SPTF Universal Standards for Social Performance Management (“the Universal Standards”). 

SDC is a core funder of SPTF. For more information visit the website (see link on the right side).
Working Aids
SPTF [3.3 MB]

The Universal Standards can be overwhelming and may leave you asking: how do I put these standards into practice? The Universal Standards for Social Performance Management Implementation Guide responds to this question, providing practical, actionable guidance for improving SPM. Its primary goal is to give users a “one-stop” guide for SPM, making it easier for all stakeholders to understand the Universal Standards and put them into practice.

The Guide is designed primarily for financial service providers (FSPs) who seek to achieve social goals, but it will also be useful to other stakeholders who need to understand SPM and how to evaluate it—including funders, auditors, raters, and TA providers.
Case Studies
Réseau Alliance Santé, Benin [622 kB]

Cette étude de cas est basée sur l’expérience d‘un programme de promotion de mutuelles de santé financé par la Direction du Développement et de la Coopération (DDC) et mis en œuvre jusqu’en 2007 par le Centre International de Développement et de Recherche (CIDR) et géré par la suite directement par le Réseau Alliance Santé (RAS). Elle a été réalisée conjointement par le CIDR, le (RAS) et le centre d’Appui aux Institutions de Micro assurance Santé (AIMS).

En collaboration avec Radhid Aladji Boni Sylla, réseau alliance santé et D. Ismale Yacoubou, directeur de l’AIMS.
SDC [467 kB]

This study outlines a rating approach for microfinance investment vehicles as part of global initiatives supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in
promoting accountability and transparency on social performance in microfinance. It forms part of a series of thematic case studies of SDC’s Employment + Income Network.

Key Links

Created in 1998, CERISE is a French non-profit organization, pioneer in social performance management. CERISE is dedicated to responsible and ethical finance, willing to find solutions for mission-driven organizations to make their social goals a reality. 

CERISE believes finance can be responsible, ethical and inclusive, as long as economic actors adopt approaches to measure and manage their social performance.

As a social innovator, CERISE works with actors in inclusive finance, social business and impact-investing to co-create social standards and social assessment tools that are free to all.

CERISE offers consultancy services to all types of mission-driven organizations equipping them with the skills and tools they need to define and achieve their impact thesis.
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Key Documents

Acumen - Acumen [915 kB]

Over the past two years, we have developed a new approach to social performance measurement, collecting data from more than 13,000 customers across 32 of our portfolio companies. We call it Lean Data.

Our aim with Lean Data is to set the standard for consumer based data collection in the impact investing sector, enabling investors to take measurement to the next level and provide real value to customers, companies, and those that support them. By leveraging technology and more efficient data collection methods, Lean Data allows growing enterprises to quickly and affordably collect high quality data on social performance, customer feedback, and customer behaviour. New technologies allow for a high level of iteration when it comes to measurement. We believe this is critical for a growing enterprise as knowledge on social performance is most effectively collected in a step-wise manner, rather than all at once. One of the specific goals of Lean Data is to support the repeated collection of meaningful metrics that add value to multiple stakeholders and enable data-driven decisions.
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Relevant Documents

Title Year Created Date
World Bank - handbook - Impact Evaluation in Practice - 2016

2016

 2016-11-28 09:12:10
Guide - Universal Standards for Social Performance Management for financial service providers

2021-11-19 14:23:04
Institution Title Year
Institution Title Year
The World Bank World Bank - handbook - Impact Evaluation in Practice - 2016

World Bank - handbook - Impact Evaluation in Practice - 2016

The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.

2016
SPTF Guide - Universal Standards for Social Performance Management for financial service providers

Guide - Universal Standards for Social Performance Management for financial service providers

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FSD
FSD Toolbox
Financial Education
Women’s Financial Inclusion
Savings
Credit
Inclusive Insurance
Remittances
Digital financial services
Market Systems Approach to FSD
Governance of Financial Institutions
Social Performance Management
Library with key publications

Relevant Pages

  • Results Measurement in E+E Programmes - ARI / TRI

    Result Measurement


    There is an increased demand in result measurement to assess the effectiveness of development aid. Indeed, as a project manager the strategic use for your decision-making and improving your programme performances can be greatly enhanced with a solid result measurement and monitoring approach. There are many different standards out there, depending also on which topic your program is focusing on. Is it in the water sector, food security, climate change - you name it. This page will provide you with SDC's binding results indicators (ARIs and TRIs), as well as additional resources and tips for results measurement from its partners.


    SDC Results Indicators 2021 - 2024

    To monitor the implementation of Switzerland's international cooperation strategy for 2021 - 2024, SDC has a set of binding results indicators according to the 10 sub-objectives of the strategy. Results indicators allow to assess outcomes and outputs achieved with SDC support. When preparing a project, cooperation or global programme, do review the list carefully, taking into consideration each sub-objective of the Dispatch, theme or SDG target which is either included or touches upon the results aimed at.


    E+E (PSD, FSD, EDU, VSD, PSE) has 5 ARIs (Aggregated Result Indicator) and 10 TRIs (5 IED Thematic Results Indicators and 5 EDU Thematic Results Indicators). For detailed information on the use of results indicators, please check the Guidance sheets on the use of Results Indicators- see below in the section on reference indicators.

    To find additional information on the Results Indicators relevant for Education, please click here.

    The full list for all SDC's ARIs and TRIs and the corresponding factsheets - see the link to the SDC Field Handbook on the right side. 


     

     

     


    Additional resources for results measurement and monitoring indicators and tools from partners.


    FSD - SPTF Universal Standards for Social Performance Management (“the Universal Standards”) for financial service providers

    In order to assess the changes which result from project interventions, specific IED aspects and indicators are key to consider in the M&E system along the project cycle. Social performance management (SPM) is used to achieve stated social goals and put customers at the centre of strategy and operations. As such there is a set of practices to measure SPM. These practices form the SPTF Universal Standards for Social Performance Management (“the Universal Standards”) 

    The Universal Standards bring together strong practices implemented successfully throughout the industry in one comprehensive manual in order to clarify and standardize SPM. Developed through broad consultation, the Universal Standards both reflect current practice and push practitioners toward better performance.


     

    The DCED Standard for Results Measurement is considered an appropriate framework for programs to monitor and measure results thus improving intervention design, increasing sustainable impact, and reporting results that are credible. The development of the DCED Standard for Results Measurement has been supported by various donors including the SDC. The DCED Standard is applied by PSD, VSD and FSD programs. SDC is a member of DCED. See DCED links on the right side.


    The BEAM Exchange Guidance Modul provides inputs on monitoring the performance of individual programme interventions. An intervention is understood here as a project which forms one component of the wider programme, with its own defined resources and implementation period. Guidance on measuring intervention results has already been set out in detail in the DCED Standard for Results Measurement, and the BEAM Exchange Guidance module makes extensive reference to those sections of the DCED Standard that are used in monitoring performance at the intervention level.


    IRIS is a result and monitoring Tool offered by the Global Impact Investing Network. It is a collection of performance indicators used by impact investors to measure social, environmental, and financial change.

​​Relevant Links

Title Year Created Date
CERISE - Website

2022-04-13 12:37:40
Guide - Social Performance Management for financial service providers

2021-11-20 23:05:07
SPTF - Social Performance Task Force Website

2018-06-08 09:21:31
  • CERISE - Website

    CERISE - Website

    Created in 1998, CERISE is a French non-profit organization, pioneer in social performance management. CERISE is dedicated to responsible and ethical finance, willing to find solutions for mission-driven organizations to make their social goals a reality. 

    CERISE believes finance can be responsible, ethical and inclusive, as long as economic actors adopt approaches to measure and manage their social performance.

    As a social innovator, CERISE works with actors in inclusive finance, social business and impact-investing to co-create social standards and social assessment tools that are free to all.

    CERISE offers consultancy services to all types of mission-driven organizations equipping them with the skills and tools they need to define and achieve their impact thesis.

  • Guide - Social Performance Management for financial service providers

    Guide - Social Performance Management for financial service providers

    The Universal Standards can be overwhelming and may leave you asking: how do I put these standards into practice? The Universal Standards for Social Performance Management Implementation Guide  responds to this question, providing practical, actionable guidance for improving SPM. Its primary goal is to give users a “one-stop” guide for SPM, making it easier for all stakeholders to understand the Universal Standards and put them into practice.

    The Guide is designed primarily for financial service providers (FSPs) who seek to achieve social goals, but it will also be useful to other stakeholders who need to understand SPM and how to evaluate it—including funders, auditors, raters, and TA providers.

  • SPTF - Social Performance Task Force Website

    SPTF - Social Performance Task Force Website

    The SPTF promotes social performance management (SPM): The systems that organizations use to achieve their stated social goals and put customers at the center of strategy and operations. SPM practices include defining and monitoring social goals, developing client-centric products and services, treating clients and employees responsibly, balancing social and financial performance, and stewarding environmental resources responsibly.

    The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) is a non-profit membership organization with more than 4,800 members from all over the world.

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