1,000 Microfinance Organizations & Individuals Join The Smart Campaign

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client protection practices across the microfinance industry, announced today that it has reached 1,000 endorsements from microfinance institutions (MFIs), networks, investors, individuals and donors from 106 countries.

"The Campaign was launched last October and we are thrilled by the overwhelming response from industry leaders in such a short timeframe," said Robin Ratcliffe, director of The Smart Campaign. "The endorsements signify the industry's commitment to keeping client protection an essential part of microfinance. Even more important, we see that endorsers are taking concrete actions to keep the well-being of microfinance clients as the industry's number one priority."

Through its online headquarters (www.smartcampaign.org), The Smart Campaign offers a variety of tools and resources to support the implementation of six widely accepted Client Protection Principles. One of these tools, the Getting Started Questionnaire, helps MFIs assess current client protection practices and sets core benchmarks for them to work towards. Another tool, "Smart Lending: Client Protection in the Credit Process" is a roadmap for MFI operations to incorporate client protection practices across the entire loan cycle.

As the Campaign seeks to reach its next goal of 2,000 endorsements, it will continue to provide new tools and trainings to help the industry implement the Client Protection Principles. The Smart Campaign believes that providing useful resources to the industry via the website is critical to improving client protection where it matters most–-on the ground with microfinance clients.

For more information or to endorse the Campaign please visit: www.smartcampaign.org.

The Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION International is the secretariat for the Campaign.

About The Smart Campaign

The Smart Campaign is a global campaign made up of microfinance leaders from around the world who believe protecting clients is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. By providing microfinance institutions the tools and resources they need to deliver transparent, respectful and prudent financial services to all clients, The Smart Campaign is helping the industry achieve its two goals of helping clients and attaining long-term financial success, as well as making microfinance a model of responsible banking around the world.  

SOURCE ACCION International

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