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.

Nouveau cours !

Introduction en français aux Services Financiers Numériques Responsables.

Ce cours présente les Normes de gestion pour des Services Financiers Numériques Responsables (SFN), et pourquoi elles sont importantes pour aider les institutions financières à renforcer leur viabilité financière et à atteindre leurs objectifs centrés sur le client.

Vous découvrirez notamment les principaux risques et préjudices auxquels sont actuellement confrontés les clients des services financiers numériques, les pratiques de gestion recommandées par les normes SFN et comment utiliser l’outil d’évaluation des normes SFN pour évaluer le niveau actuel de mise en œuvre des normes SFN dans votre organisation.

Ce cours dure 45 minutes et est accessible gratuitement ! Une fois le cours terminé, vous pouvez compléter l’apprentissage en visionnant les formations en deux parties pour les évaluateurs.

Course Presentation

Watch Our E-learning Webinar Series in English, Spanish, and French!

Webinar replays in English, Spanish and French to present the e-learning platform and the different training courses offered by Cerise+SPTF.

At any time, you can access Level 1 courses (free!) and refer to our online calendar for the dates of the next Level 2 course sessions. All of the courses are available through the catalog on our e-learning platform.

Stay informed! Subscribe to receive updates on our free e-learning courses and certifying pathways:

CONFERENCIA REDCAMIF 2025

Capacitaciones de Cerise+SPTF antes de la Conferencia

El 24 de junio de 2025, un día antes de la XI Conferencia Centroamericana y del Caribe de Microfinanzas 2025 de REDCAMIF y REDCOM, en San José, Costa Rica, Cerise+SPTF organizará dos cursos de capacitación de un día:

Taller Cómo Desarrollar una Estrategia Ambiental – de 9:00 a 17:00, con Cara S. Forster;
Taller Estándares Gerenciales para la Prestación Responsable de los Servicios Financieros Digitales – de 9:00 a 16:00, con Oricel Caminero.

Para más información sobre la XI Conferencia Centroamericana y del Caribe de Microfinanzas 2025 de REDCAMIF y REDCOM, visite el portal.

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