MIX Annual Report FY 2010 - Microfinance Information Exchange

About MIxThe Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) is theleading business information provider dedicated tostrengthening the microfinance sector. Founded byCGAP, MIX was incorporated in 2002 as an independentorganization designed to improve transparency amongmicrofinance institutions (MFIs), provide a means ofstandardization, and help move the industry towardsmainstream financial markets.its own challenges and needs regarding the provisionof financial services to the poor. Standardization helpsMFIs understand the parameters under which theyare expected to operate, with the knowledge that byadhering to agreed upon guidelines, they are helpingstrengthen the industry. MIX is an active participant withother key organizations in providing a framework forstandardization for a global industry that is evolving.MIX’s core work centers on transparency. We collectand validate financial, operational, product, client,and social performance data from MFIs in all regionsof the developing world, standardizing the data forcomparability. We do this through our online informationexchange MIX Market (www.mixmarket.org) and througha variety of publications including the MicroBankingBulletin and reports and analysis on regional and countrylevel microfinance sectors. We also supply basic businessinformation on all actors in the industry- MFIs, fundersand investors, networks and service providers.By providing this critical information on a centralizedplatform, we offer microfinance practitioners, funders,policy maker, academia and others a way to gain a betterunderstanding of the operations of MFIs. The challengesthey may face, and patterns in MFI performance withinand across regions and markets. The MFI data, benchmarksand trend lines that MIX provides give users a view into anindustry in transition, growing towards maturity in somemarkets, while in others struggling for sustainability.Finally, through our data collection and transparencyefforts, we work to provide standardization to anindustry that is highly fragmented by its very nature.Microfinance institutions are active in virtually everycountry throughout the developing world. Each countryhas its own policies and regulations and each region hasHeadquartered in Washington, DC and regional officesin Peru, Morocco, and India, MIX is constantly strivingto provide fresh and relevant data to the microfinanceindustry around the world.Board of DirectorsXavier ReilleChairman of the BoardSenior Microfinance Specialist, CGAPRobert AnnibaleManaging Director, Citi Microfinance GroupJane EddyManaging Director, Standard & Poor’sMartin HoltmannHead of Microfinance, International Finance CorporationAsad MahmoodManaging Director, Deutsche BankStephanie Cohn RuppPrincipal, Omidyar NetworkPiyush TantiaSenior Researcher, Ideas 42 - Harvard UniversityObservers:Linda BirbaraSenior Vice President, Thomson ReutersHal SternVice President, Juniper Networks