On-line discussion on microfinance and climate change

Hi everybody,
Via this blogpost I would like to draw your attention to an interesting on-line discussion (hosted by MicroLink) about the question "can microfinance promote environmnetal sustainability?". This is the link:
Speaker's Corner 29: Microfinance and Climate Change: Can MFIs Promote Environmental Sustainability?

Here's a summary of day one (of three), by Eugene Ionesco :
'Well, it was a great first day and we have two more to go! Thanks to all of you who contributed and to Dan for his leadership. I think it can be safely said that one of the simplest and yet most profound statements made today is that MFIs must search for “Solutions that fit the local conditions” whether it is solar,biofuels, cash crops or organic foods. One size does not fit all and yet a common, shared vision and goals go a long way to moving us in the direction of sustainability for all. As a starting point for this, I would refer the reader to Generally Accepted Environmental Principles (GAEP) developed in 2004 at a workshop co-hosted by GreenMicrofinance. Another of the threads raised the apparent dilemma that as people become more prosperous they naturally consume more energy and resources. And it is here that the opportunity lies to introduce clean energy production and environmental sustainability if this is part of the MFIs vision and is interwoven into its social performance goals. As part of the answer to this dilemma, one contributor suggested Thomas Friedman’s new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded which I can also recommend. The first half is about the reasons why it is in all our best interest to act and then he goes into the opportunities for solutions that this problem has created. There was a great discussion on the effect of environmental degradation on MFI clients and their ability to repay. It was noted that while there is a large amount of antidotal evidence, there have been very few scholarly studies. There was also a very telling question, “Does anyone of an effective awareness raising and/or behavior change program?” To this question I would refer the reader to the ‘fact sheets’ provided by Triodos, one of which is their ‘Social and Environmental Field Guide for Micro Finance Institutes’. Finally, there was a discussion about the impact of the current worldwide financial instability and its potential impact on MFI clients. I’m not sure this was fully developed as I can see several ways in which the ability of MFIs to raise adequate financial resources to serve their clients might be effected. Please join us again tomorrow as we continue to wrestle with these and other critical questions of our time. "It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question." '

Progress out of Poverty Index

Below some information is copied from the PPI website. Klick on the logo to visit the page with country information directly.

PPI™ by Country

Once a PPI™ is built for a market, it is intended for the public good and is available to all who wish to use it. Grameen Foundation’s collaboration with other key stakeholders within the microfinance industry will ensure that the PPI is available for the greatest number of MFIs that wish to better meet the needs of the poorest members of the communities they serve. There are currently PPIs for Bangladesh, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Haiti, Morocco, Bolivia, Peru and Pakistan. Click on each country to download its PPI and supporting documents.
In partnership with CGAP and the Ford Foundation, Grameen is building PPIs for all of the markets where its partners operate and where a demand exists for the PPI. Grameen Foundation is currently piloting the PPI with network partners in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East/ North Africa region. Organizations outside the Grameen Foundation network are utilizing the PPI in South Africa, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Bolivia.

Sector Factsheets

Some of the TSF participants have been trained on social and environmental aspects as part of their relationship with FMO. During these trainings, the MFIs learned how to work with so-called Sector Factsheets. These Factsheets contain simple tips for observing social, health and safety and environmental risks and opportunities at client level, and explain how to address these issues with the client, in order to improve the situation.

The Factsheets were developed by Triodos Facet, in part based on our TSF experiences. We've made them available in a simple and accessible way: click here.

Findesa finalist - finished second

During last week's GRI conference in Amsterdam, it was announced at the readers' choice award dinner that Findesa had finished second, in the SME category GRI reporters. An achievement that deserves our congratulations!! Findesa created a wonderful occasion for all TSF participants to be seen and heard on an international platform. The conference proceedings and podcasts of all the sessions can be found at www.globalreporting.org.

Reliance's Annual Report - The Innovative Way

What's so innovative about Reliance's 2007 Annual Report?

Not the fact that the reported year 2007 was their FIRST full year of operations (!),
nor that they published the report early MARCH 2008 (!), it's not the colours, the professional lay-out and presentation, or the GRI reference in the report....
The innovation is in the fact that Reliance is the first Microfinance Institution worldwide, that included, as an addition to the Global Reporting Index in the back of their report, a reference to the Social Performance Taskforce (draft) indicators.

So IF you are looking for a good example report, and want a state of the art reference, check Reliance Gambia's annual report (full pdf version here).

Wonderful News (again!)

Today, referring to the first GRI Readers Choice Awards, Global Reporting Initiative announced:

From the 78 shortlisted reports only 45 reports have been declared eligible to receive one of eight awards to be given out in different categories.
Our TSF partners Findesa and Acleda both belong to this final group!!
Scores will now be totaled and the highest scoring reports in eight categories will be rewarded during the Global Conference on Transparency and Sustainability
( http://www.amsterdamgriconference.org/).

These are the 45 companies that are eligible to win one of the eight Awards:

Argentina
CILSA (Centro de Integración Libre y Solidario de Argentina)
Fundación Empredimientos Rurales Los Grobo
Australia
ANZ Banking
City of Melbourne
Brazil
Banco Bradesco
Banco do Brasil
Banco Itau Holding Financeira
Banco Real ABN Amro
CEMIG
Natura Cosmeticos
Petrobras
Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais
Columbia
CODENSA
ISAGEN
Germany
BMW
Deutsche Bank
Spain
CEPSA
DKV Seguros
Euskaltel
Gas Natural SDG
Grupo Sancor Seguros
Repsol YPF
Telefónica
Vodafone España
Greece
Athens International Airport
Frigoglass
India
ABN AMRO Bank India
Infosys Technologies
ITC
Jubilant Organosys
Tata Motors
Italy
Italcementi
Cambodia
Acleda Bank
Nicarauga
Findesa
Netherlands
ABN Amro Holding
Royal Dutch Shell
Portugal
Banco Espirito Santo
Millenium BCP
Portugal Telecom
Russia
TGC-5
South Africa
Sasol
United Kingdom
BP Group
HSBC Holdings
Vodafone Group
United States
Coca-Cola

Findesa and Acleda Bank shortlisted!

Good News! Both Findesa (Nicaragua) and Acleda Bank Plc. (Cambodia) have succeeded in reaching the shortlist for the GRI reader’s choice awards.
They received the highest volume of scores (not highest scores!) and the widest diversity of scorers (employees, media, civil society).
The shortlist consists of about 75 organizations, out of a group of 800.
Congratulations to both TSF participants! It’s a good beginning of 2008.

Now they need everybody's votes and scores to become finalists and award winners. So give your support, don't hesitate and go to http://awards.globalreporting.org/

You should select the sustainability reports of both institutions and score them against five criteria. You must score at least two reports, and you must get your scores in by 31 January 2008.

Just Do It !!!