Part II: Institutionalising social performance 5. Simple standards or burgeoning benchmarks? Institutionalising social performance monitoring, assessment and auditing of microfinance

What sort of standards or benchmarks (if any) could help to improve the social performance of MFOs? This article argues in favour of establishing a single universal standard for social performance, but one that is very simple and flexible. It would stipulate that all MFOs should develop a clear policy that addresses the following questions: what are your social performance goals, and what indicators do you use to monitor progress towards them? How do you monitor the status of clients? How do you assess the value added or impact of the services that you provide on samples of clients, including those who leave? How do you audit and seek to improve the quality of systems for monitoring client status and impact?.