MEDIA RELEASE PR36905
India's Ujjivan Announced as First MFI Partner for Unitus's Social Performance Management
Implementation Project
BANGALORE and SEATTLE, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Partnership provides expertise, resources necessary to
integrate SPM tools into Ujjivan operations
In its continuing efforts to improve the effectiveness of life-changing microfinance services, Unitus Inc. is
proud to announce that India's Ujjivan has been selected as the first microfinance institution (MFI) to
participate in the recently launched, innovative Social Performance Management Implementation Project
(SPM IP).
"In partnering with Unitus on this project, Ujjivan is demonstrating its
ongoing commitment to understanding how its microfinance services improve the
lives of its clients and to increasing the effectiveness of those services,"
said Mr. Richard Wardell, Unitus VP of Global Programs.
Social performance management (SPM) is an institutionalized process that
involves setting clear social objectives (e.g., improved quality of housing,
healthcare), monitoring and assessing progress toward achieving these goals,
and using this information to improve the performance and impact of MFIs.
"Initial projects we had done in monitoring and evaluating the impact of
microfinance on the lives of our clients revealed some very interesting-and
sometimes surprising-outcomes," commented Mr. Samit Ghosh of Ujjivan. "We're
excited to take this opportunity to continue that survey work and to use the
findings to tailor our services so as to better serve our clients."
Expected to be India's most comprehensive multi-MFI SPM project to date,
the SPM Implementation Project has two phases. In the first phase, Unitus
will work with 10 MFI partners, including Ujjivan, to conduct analysis of
existing social performance data, collect client-level data using the Grameen
Foundation Progress out of Poverty Index(TM) (PPI(TM)), and conduct an
internal social audit using the CERISE Social Performance Indicator (SPI).
Based on phase one findings, partners may choose to participate in the
project's second phase, SPM Optimization, and will fully adopt and integrate
SPM into their regular operations.
Ujjivan and Unitus expect to complete the first phase early in 2010, with
recommendations for the second phase coming later in the year.
"By keeping its mission in sharp focus and demonstrating a commitment to
integrating these new systems, Ujjivan will be even more effective in
empowering the working poor to help themselves out of poverty," Wardell
remarked.
For more information, please contact:
Steve Schwartz/Unitus
+1 206.788.5672
sschwartz@unitus.com
About Ujjivan
Established in 2005, Ujjivan's goal is to provide a holistic range of
services to poor working women in urban and semi-urban areas to enable them
to be free of poverty within five years. To date, Ujjivan has disbursed more
than Rs. 5,860 million to more than 500,000 customers in 12 states across
India, and plans to expand nationally to serve 2 million customers in 500
branches by its sixth year of operation. From its regional offices in
Bangalore, Kolkatta, Delhi, and Pune, Ujjivan has ambitious growth plans to
cover 1 million customers over the next 15 months.
About Unitus
Unitus, Inc. fights global poverty by accelerating the growth of
microfinance-small loans and other financial tools for self-empowerment-where
it is needed most. Unitus partners with young, high-potential microfinance
institutions, helping them build capacity, attract capital, and unite with
the greater partner network to achieve rapid, sustainable growth. In just
seven years, Unitus has helped its partners serve more than 9 million
families throughout India and Southeast Asia, East Africa, Mexico, and South
America.
Unitus received Fast Company's Social Capitalist award in 2006, 2007, and
2008. Unitus is a 501(c)3 with offices in Seattle, Washington, Bangalore,
India, and Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, please visit www.unitus.com.
About the Grameen Foundation PPI(TM) and the CERISE SPI
The Grameen Foundation Progress out of Poverty Index(TM) (PPI(TM)) is a
country-specific quantitative and standardized survey administered to MFI
clients to assess client poverty level and monitor changes in client social
and economic well-being. The PPI was commissioned by Grameen Foundation, in
collaboration with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the Ford
Foundation, and Microfinance Risk Management, L.L.C., to enable MFIs to
better understand their clients' needs and evaluate the effectiveness of
their programs and products.
The CERISE Social Performance Indicator is a 45-question quantitative and
standardized survey to assess MFI systems in key areas including outreach to
the poor and excluded, ability to adapt products and services based on client
need, capacity to improve economic and social benefits to clients, and level
of social responsibility. Each was chosen by Unitus for use in the SPM IP
from a collection of competing measurement tools for its ability to provide a
holistic picture of an MFI's social performance.
SOURCE: Unitus, Inc.
CONTACT: Steve Schwartz of Unitus,
+1-206-788-5672,
sschwartz@unitus.com
Translations:
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