A Network of Professionals Worldwide to Build Responsible Finance Ecosystems
An operational arm to improve practices in the field and influence local markets.
At Cerise+SPTF, we are convinced that South-South cooperation can result in a more significant development impact. Building local capacities and working with field-based professionals facilitate the identification of common issues and solutions that are responsive to the specific context and needs of the countries and regions where we operate. Mobilizing local experts also aligns with our environmental commitments, by reducing the number of long-distance travels for international experts, and thus avoiding significant CO² emissions.
Since 2020, Cerise+SPTF has been training and animating the Social and Environmental Performance Management Professionals Network (the SEPM Pros Network), a community of high-skilled practitioners to support financial service providers, impact investors and other stakeholders in advancing their agendas and strategies in matters of client protection and social and environmental performance management.
The SEPM Pros Network is an operational arm to improve practices in the field and our best ambassadors to influence local markets, regulation, and investments.
How to Leverage the SEPM Pros Network?
With the SEPM Pros Network, Cerise+SPTF aims to provide the sector with a pool of field experts to be mobilized to conduct reliable audits in SEPM and Client Protection, design social and environmental strategies and action plans, train staff, and implement sustainable changes.
There are a lot of examples of how a stakeholder from our industry can benefit from the expertise of SEPM Pros. Here are some of them:
- As an impact investor, you can collaborate with a Pro to support your due diligence process for potential investees in a specific country or region. As another example, a SEPM Pro can conduct third-party assessments on Client Protection to help your investees validate their client protection practices (Step 3 of the Client Protection Pathway) or to provide key recommendations on how best to engage with your investee.
- As a financial service provider, you can mobilize a Pro to conduct an external audit of your SEPM or Client Protection practices using SPI Online tools and provide you recommendations for improved social, environmental, and financial performance.
- As a national, regional, or international network, you can have a Pro conducting training sessions on SEPM and Client Protection topics for your members.
Looking for direct support in the field? Find a SEPM Pro in your region using our online directory.
Who are the SEPM Pros?
As of today, the SEPM Pros Network counts more than 160 experts worldwide, out of which around 60% are women, 75% are independent consultants, and 60% are based in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
SEPM Pros are mostly:
- Independent consultants who give direct support to financial service providers and the related stakeholders (e.g., investors and networks) through specific field missions, either full-time or part-time.
- Impact investment fund managers who oversee integrating SEPM in the selection and monitoring of their investees. They usually have experience in social due diligence, and they are fully working for their organizations.
- Managers of national, regional and international networks who support their members in conducting social audits and improving practices. They are mostly working for their organizations.
Fun Fact! There has been a recent increase in the number of SEPM Pros based in Europe and Central Asia. This is explained by the growing involvement of impact investors within the Network!
Join the SEPM Pros Network!
Cerise+SPTF seeks to grow the number of local experts available for field-based missions, especially independent consultants and in-house teams from consulting companies. We particularly focus on increasing the number of trained practitioners in the Middle East and North Africa, South and South-East Asia, and in certain countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Southern Africa).
If you are interested in joining the SEPM Pros Network - or if you know professionals who may be interested - the first step is to get trained on SEPM or Client Protection through the Cerise+SPTF e-learning program.
The courses are adapted to all profiles, hosted in English, Spanish, and French, and organized according to 3 levels:
- Level #1 GET STARTED offers introductory courses, free and self-paced, so the learners can get to know Cerise+SPTF standards and tools or update their knowledge. No prerequisite; app. 3 hours.
- Level #2 GO DEEPER offers 9 weeks of instructor-led, cohort-based courses with virtual classes, a forum, and scored assignments. Level #2 delivers a Training Certificate. Prerequisite: validation of level #1. Price: 800 Euros. Hosted on specific dates, stay informed on our website.
- Level #3 GET QUALIFIED delivers personalized coaching to become a Qualified Auditor on SEPM or Client Protection and become a member of the SEPM Pros Network. Prerequisite: validation of Level #2. Price 1,200 Euros. Download our factsheet to learn more about the Qualification Process and Conditions.
Ready to get trained? Check out our course catalog and stay tuned for the upcoming Level #2 cohort-based courses!
You can follow us on LinkedIn and receive our monthly newsletter by joining our mailing list.
And for any question, contact our Training team: training@spi-online.org
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