Information Systems Program

1
Information Systems Program a joint initiative
of CGAP and the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme
Lauren Reese lreese_at_worldbank.org
2
IS Program

• Market Intelligence
• Software listings and reviews
• Annual benchmarking survey
• Resources for MFIs on how to improve their
  information systems
• IS Fund
• Co-funding to offset cost for MFIs to hire
  consultants
• Cultivate community of IS consultants for
  microfinance

3
IS Fund Phase I 2004-2007

• 96 MFI applications approved
• 75 from small MFIs (
• 53 ACP countries
• 882,810 committed
• 10,032 average grant
• 72 consultants registered
• 70 software listings
• 30 independent software reviews

4
IS Fund for Social Performance
Growing interest in measuring social performance
of MFIs
Indicators soon to be finalized

• BUTare MFIs equipped to collect, process, store,
  and analyze this information?

5
IS Fund for Social Performance

• Step 1. Analysis of the existing data,
  procedures, and information systems.
• Step 2. Identify specific challenges which may
  include
• Data collection (eg. Integrating tools and
  processes)
• Data processing (eg. Integrating social
  indicators into the MIS)
• Data analysis and reporting (eg. Defining
  automated and user generated reports)

6
IS Fund for Social Performance

• Step 3. Outputs of assignment include
• Report evaluating current IS from a social
  performance perspective
• Recommendations for improving the MFIs social
  performance data collection, processing, and
  analysis
• Plan to implement the recommendations

7
IS Fund for Social Performance

• Offering MFIs co-funding of up to US 15,000
• IS Fund will pay up to 60 of the assignment
  cost, remaining amount should be paid by MFI
• Must use a consultant registered with the IS Fund
• MFIs may be eligible for a second round of up to
  10,000 to implement recommendations

8
IS Fund for Social Performance

• Discussion
• Questions
• Next Steps
• Pilot July-September 2008
• Launch in Fall 2008
• Online application process similar to current IS
  Fund (www.isfund.org)
• Subscribe to technology.cgap.org for updates

9
Building Financial Systems for the Poor
Thank you!