Social Performance Glossary

The glossary:

• Is intended for key stakeholders in the microfinance industry, such as microfinance practitioners and practitioner organizations, donors, social investors, rating agencies and policy makers;
• Will also be useful to people and organizations outside microfinance, including those in other development fields and anyone with an interest in social performance;
• Defines terms generally rather than solely in the narrow context of microfinance;
• Aims to catalyze interest, agreement, action, collaboration and progress in social performance in microfinance and the wider development community.

It aims to:

• Facilitate common understanding of key terms and concepts in microfinance and social performance among industry stakeholders;
• Enable stakeholders to act more productively and collaboratively to achieve high levels of social performance, both on an institution-by-institution basis and in the industry as a whole.

The terms and definitions in the glossary are listed alphabetically. They are also listed by category at the back of the glossary.