PPI Certification Process
Background: Organizations around the world are using the Progress out of 
Poverty Index™ (PPI™) to measure their clients’ poverty levels and track changes of those levels over time. As the number of organizations using the PPI increases, the need for ways to verify PPI results develops. To meet this need, Grameen Foundation has developed Standards of Use for the PPI and a certification process by which to verify that those standards are being used, ensuring and results.
Standards: The standards were developed with input from a variety of stakeholders, from MFIs to investors, across the microfinance field. These standards represent the criteria an organization should have in place to collect and report poverty-level information correctly and in a transparent manner. The standards cover aspects of intent, data collection, training, processing, and reporting, and are available for three levels of users: basic, advanced and tracking over time. The basic standards are mandatory for all PPI users, while the advanced and tracking-over-time standards apply to institutions that are tracking changes over time.
Certification: Grameen Foundation developed a certification program to validate the standards and PPI results. The certification is designed to strengthen the PPI by ensuring its accuracy for decision-makers using its results, such as senior management, investors and industry bodies. An organization can use the results as a starting place for advancing its use of the PPI.
About the Process: What will this process look like (See the diagram below.)
- Who conducts the validation? A pre-qualified professional volunteer from our Bankers without Borders program
How is information collected? A combination of initial information requests over email, onsite interviews with staff involved in the PPI process, and a field visit (if applicable) to observe the PPI collection process
What type of information is required? Requests (prior and during the onsite visit) for information include:- - Management intent (and use if applicable) in using the PPI and the resulting poverty-level information
- - Documentation of the PPI collection process
- - PPI training (either of staff or enumerators) documentation
- - PPI quality control practices
- - PPI reports (either to create or review reports already generated)
How long does the certification last? The certification is valid for two years (the follow-up certification/validation process is not yet finalized and may not include an onsite visit but rather an update)
Outcomes: Organizations will receive a report reviewing the standards and showing how the organization meets or does not meet each one. GF will subsequently conduct a results review conversation to discuss the results and next steps. If an organization does not meet all the b asic standards, it will be allowed three months to demonstrate its ability to meet the standards still required for certification. Once certified, the organization will be showcased on the GF website as a Certified PPI User. Additionally, GF might follow up on other opportunities to highlight an organization’s use of the PPI in case studies, blogs and various communications.
