Press Releases

Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina (May 6, 2013) - On May 6, the Smart Campaign, in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of the World Bank Group, presented certificates to microcredit organizations (MCOs) EKI, MI BOSPO, and Partner for being certified for achieving adequate levels of compliance in consumer protection.

Washington, DC (January 24, 2013) - As of today, the microfinance industry has new client protection standards and a Client Protection Certification Program aimed at retail financial institutions serving the world’s poor. The ambitious effort, created for and by the industry and managed by the Smart Campaign, represents an important milestone in the evolution of microfinance as a uniquely client-focused portion of the global financial sector.  “There has been widespread demand for mechanisms that protect microfinance clients. This is the first program that verifies client protection publicly,” said Smart Campaign Managing Director Isabelle Barrès.

MUMBAI and BANGALORE, July 24, 2012 — The Smart Campaign, an initiative of the global microfinance industry housed at the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion, is partnering with the Micro Finance Institutions Network (MFIN) and Sa-Dhan, India's two national industry associations for microfinance institutions, to ensure that the Campaign's Client Protection Principles are embedded in a standardized manner across member MFIs.

Washington, DC, April 18, 2012 — The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client protection practices across the microfinance industry, today recognized 10 microfinance institutions (MFIs) and four microfinance associations for their excellent Codes of Ethics. These Codes are now published as examples for the industry on the Smart Campaign website.

Washington, DC, January 27, 2012 — The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client protection principles across the microfinance industry, will receive support from the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group to help Latin American and Caribbean  microfinance institutions  incorporate client protection practices into their operations.The support will work to institutionalize adherence to the Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Principles, which include  appropriate product design and delivery, prevention of over-indebtedness, transparency, responsible pricing, fair and respectful treatment of clients, privacy of client data, and mechanisms for complaint resolution, in four primary ways:

Washington, DC, November 8, 2011 — The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to implement strong client protection standards and practices throughout the microfinance industry, today released "Implementing Client Protection in Microfinance: State of the Practice, 2011," its first annual report focused on implementation of the Campaign’s core Client Protection Principles.

$350,000 grant will fund training, on-site assessments and tools to foster adherence to Client Protection Principles at leading Indian MFIs.

Washington, DC, October 25, 2011 — The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client protection principles across the microfinance industry, today received a grant of $350,000 USD from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to help Indian MFIs incorporate client protection practices into their operations.

Client Protection Principles modified to embrace wider product array and non-discrimination principle

Washington, DC, July 20, 2011 — The microfinance industry’s Client Protection Principles (CPPs) are now seven.  They have been expanded to address multiple financial products and the concept of “non-discrimination.”

Los Principios de Protección al Cliente se han modificado con el fin de abarcar de una manera más amplia la gama de productos y el principio de no discriminación.

Washington, DC, Julio 20, 2011 — Los Principios de Protección al Cliente de la industria de las microfinanzas son ahora siete. Se han ampliado con el fin de abarcar múltiples productos financieros y el concepto de “no discriminación.”

The Smart Campaign praises company’s training of staff and clients on standards of ethical behavior

Washington, DC, June 2, 2011 — The Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client protection principles across the microfinance industry, today recognized Sahayata Microfinance Private Limited (Sahayata) for its outstanding efforts to train both staff and clients on institutional standards of ethical behavior. Sahayata’s training document, “Illustrations and Activities for Training Loan Officers on Customers’ Rights and Responsibilities,” is now available as a “good practice” example on the Smart Campaign website.