Walking the talk on the triple
bottom line. First, do no harm.
But don’t stop there.

Advancing social and environmental performance management for inclusive finance.

Cerise+SPTF is a joint initiative of two leading global organizations dedicated to social and environmental performance management—a way of doing business that puts people and the planet at the center of every decision. Our signature product, the Universal Standards for Social and Environmental Performance Management, has defined best practices since 2012. All of our tools—audits and self-assessments, data and benchmarking, technical assistance financing, working groups, and more—reflect the real-world perspective of inclusive finance stakeholders. Cerise+SPTF believes in the power of getting started. Wherever you are on your social and environmental performance management journey—curious, unsure where to start, stuck on a certain point, or determined to grow from good to great— we will meet you where you are. And we will bring the tools you need to succeed.

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Front Page News

Below are a few highlights of the many activities Cerise+SPTF has been busy with. To view all our latest news and events, check out our newsletters page and our events page.

Special Report

e-MFP’s Inclusive Finance 2025

In November 2025, Luxembourg hosted one of the most important global gatherings in the inclusive finance ecosystem: Inclusive Finance 25 (IF25), the newly rebranded successor to European Microfinance Week, organised by e-MFP.

The conference welcomed a record-setting 760 participants from 69 countries, including practitioners, investors, NGOs, researchers, development agencies, and regulators. For Cerise+SPTF, the week was both a celebration and a catalyst: a moment to contribute expertise, strengthen partnerships, and collectively reflect on the future of inclusive finance. Our delegation played an active role throughout the conference, leading key sessions and helping shape global conversations.

Special Report

African Inclusive Finance Week 2025

This year, ADA hosted 2025 African Inclusive Finance Week (SAM) on 13-17 October in Nairobi, Kenya. The SAM conference is one of the biggest networking event in Africa, with more than 1,100 participants.

Several members of the Cerise+SPTF team attended the conference, engaging in dynamic and fruitful discussions with inspiring actors from the inclusive finance ecosystem. Also, we took this opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners and friends from the field.

Our huge congratulations to ADA for hosting such an important event. It was great to see so many partners, and we look forward to continuing our work with you to make finance more inclusive and responsible.

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Cerise+SPTF Global Meeting 2026

Join us on ‎‏‏‎June 8-11 in Egypt‎!‏‎

Cerise+SPTF is pleased to announce that our next Global Meeting will take place in Cairo, Egypt on June 8-11, 2026.

This year’s theme — Placing the Well-Being of the Customer at the Center of the Financial Sector Ecosystem — reflects the heart of our new 10-year strategy: building a financial sector that protects, empowers, and supports customers as they navigate evolving challenges. The conference will feature three interconnected tracks:

Do No Harm: Protecting Customers – advancing client protection standards, responsible pricing, and market-level collaboration.
Empower Customers – elevating customer voice, choice, and control through financial literacy, early warning systems, and proactive engagement.
Support Customer Resilience – promoting insurance, savings, and environmental strategies that help clients adapt to a changing world.

Stay tuned for registration details and the full agenda. We look forward to seeing you in Egypt!

Filling needs for clear standards and practical support

Need 1

Financial service providers seek real-world guidance

They are challenged to manage their businesses in ways that meet social strategies

What are we doing about it

Universal Standards, Client Protection Pathway, Working Groups, technical assistance, co-financing, communities of practice

Need 2

Donors and impact investors need assurance

They are mandated to ensure that their funding advances social and environmental strategies and customer outcomes

What are we doing about it

Data and benchmarking, ALINUS, and related tools

Need 3

Missing guardrails

Many purpose-driven organizations work in markets with loose regulations and weak infrastructure

What are we doing about it

Collaboration with policymakers’ associations and regulators

Need 4

General public is unaware or skeptical

Other stakeholders and the general public need education on the effectiveness of social and environmental performance management

What are we doing about it

Show, don’t tell. We use our global collective voice to inform and inspire, with data-backed evidence.

Testimonials

Financial service providers, impact investors, researchers, and thought leaders are all part of the global movement for social and environmental performance management. Read what they have to say about the work of Cerise+SPTF.

If you’re about a social mission, measure it. Look at it. Think about how your changes affect your social outputs.

John de WitSmall Enterprise Foundation

We don’t think of social performance as a trade-off in any way. Social performance, when it’s done well, makes good business sense, because you know your clients

David DewezIncofin

The success of the Universal Standards in the Philippines is an example of self-regulation influencing national policy. It has shaped the entire market system by providing the blueprint for the regulatory framework governing microfinance NGOs in this country.

Allan SicatMicrofinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI)

We use the Universal Standards with our investees because they are specific and operational and not just principles.

Lone SøndergaardNordic Microfinance Initiative

You can’t just assume that because people are repaying their loans, that means you’re doing great and you don’t actually need to follow up and see how those people are doing.

Refilwe Mokoene