Why We Partnered

Founded in 1961, ACCION is a global microfinance network that has helped build 62 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in 31 countries and currently serves millions of clients. ACCION established The Center for Financial Inclusion (The CFI) in 2008 to advance microfinance and uphold the interests and needs of poor clients worldwide.

The CFI’s establishment coincided with growing concern, both within and beyond the microfinance industry, about widespread failures to provide even the most basic forms of client protection. In response, The CFI launched The Smart Campaign – a global alliance formed to embed client protection practices into the institutional culture and operations of the industry.

As part of The Smart Campaign, The CFI developed assessment tools for microfinance providers, an industry website, and a resource center on client protection. The Smart Campaign has leveraged its own endorsers and industry relationships to organize specialized task forces that coordinate the evolution of the six key Client Protection Principles, develop a certification process for pro-client MFIs, develop new tools, and conduct research on clients and financial literacy. To date, over 1,500 MFIs, networks, funders, and leaders have endorsed its principles of client protection. Overall, the campaign is expected to result in better quality financial services for 30 to 50 million low-income people and services to be delivered in a respectful and transparent way.

The partnership between ACCION and The MasterCard Foundation advances The Smart Campaign in Africa in collaboration with the Africa Microfinance Network (AFMIN). It enables The Smart Campaign to develop its Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish websites into a truly global resource center. In addition, it boosts the membership and capacity of the task forces and builds local capacity to conduct client protection trainings and assessments of client protection practices.

Anticipated Impact

• Enable African MFIs to implement client protection principles into their operations, promote transparency, increase client retention, and reduce institutional risks.
• Increase global access to online tools and resources on client protection.
• Strengthen the microfinance sector by raising awareness about the need for improved transparency and pro-client operations for low-income people.