The annual meeting of the Social Performance Management (SPM) Peer Learning Community once again gathered microfinance practitioners last May 15 to 16 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, to revisit social performance and to share experiences from the field, particularly on the utilization and analysis of information using client-related data for product enhancement or development; service improvement of the institution; and strategic management decisions.
The meeting, organized by the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI), highlighted case studies from Peoples Bank of Caraga, Inc. and Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. The gathering also became the venue of the second of the 3-part Tools Sharing Workshop Series on Social Performance Management for MFIs. The first part of the tools workshop series was held in partnership with the Bicol Microfinance Council, Inc. last April 4 to 5 in Legazpi City, Albay.
The SPM Peer Learning Community was convened by MCPI to be a platform for the exchange and documentation of learning, experiences and practices in social performance management; informal collective mentoring on effective approaches to managing social performance (e.g., tools, strategies); and sharing, dissemination and promotion of social performance management experiences.
Since the first Peer Learning Community meeting in 2009, there has been an increase in the uptake of Social Performance in the country. Key stakeholders are now more informed about Social Performance – a number of microfinance institutions have adapted social performance into their operations while support institutions are now providing social performance services. Funders, donors and networks are now advocating and have included social performance into their agenda when dealing with their partner-MFIs. ?
Participants listen intently as a representative shares the output of her group during the experience sharing workshop.