Codes of Conduct and the Role of Microfinance Associations in Client Protection

by Cara S. Forster in 2012

Community of Practice: Association Development  |  World Region: Latin America & The Caribbean, South Asia

Summary

This Technical Note explores the variety of reasons why and how microfinance associations may choose to adopt and promote self-regulation through a code of ethics or code of conduct. In this Note, three case examples are presented that illustrate three diff erent approaches to this task:

1. Adopting self-regulation as a response to crisis, the case of the MFIN Code of Conduct in India;
2. Proactively managing political risk through a voluntary Code of Conduct, the case of PMN in Pakistan; and
3. Industry building through a Code of Ethics, the case of ProDesarrollo in Mexico.