As the microfinance sector has come under more intense scrutiny than ever before, responsible finance initiatives have picked up steam. Hundreds of organizations across the industry (providers, associations, funders, etc.) have come together in the Smart Campaign, endorsing six core Client Protection Principles for microfinance and committing to implement specific improvements in products, practices, and policies. As of November 2010, more than 100 investment organizations have endorsed the Principles and are taking concrete actions to encourage providers to adopt appropriate client protection policies and practices.
In September 2009, CGAP published the first edition of this Technical Guide for investors to support the integration of the six principles into investors' policies and processes. This second edition reflects the developments in implementation and practices over the past year.