Social Performance Management is an approach that puts clients at the center of all strategic and operational decisions in a microfinance institution. It begins with a clear social strategy which is carried out by the board, management and employees. MFIs with strong SPM design products that help clients cope with emergencies, invest in economic opportunities, build assets and manage their daily and life cycle financial needs. Such MFIs also treat their employees responsibly and carefully balance the institution’s financial and social goals. As a result, MFIs that actively manage their social performance hold themselves accountable to their social mission, facilitate greater social impact and can even boost their operational and financial performance in the medium-term.
ECLOF Kenya defines social performance as the effective translation of the ECLOF Kenya’s mission into practice, in line with accepted social values that relate to :
- Reaching our target market.
- Delivering high-quality and appropriate services.
- Responding to the needs of clients, their families and communities.
- Protecting clients from negative effects of accessing financial services.
- Ensuring responsibility towards our employees, clients, the communities we serve and the environment.
ECLOF Kenya seeks to actively manage the social performance that its network delivers. ECLOF Kenya, therefore, has adopted the Universal Standards for Social Performance Management (Universal Standards for SPM): a set of core management practices that constitute “strong” SPM.
As part of its strategy to be accountable and transparent in meeting its financial and social goals, ECLOF Kenya conducts social audits of its network members, supports capacity building in the members and monitors the social performance of members through a social performance reporting framework. An outcome of the framework are Social Performance Reports on individual ECLOF Kenya members.