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FAQ — MIX

1. What kind of information does MIX provide?

MIX disseminates detailed financial and social performance information from leading microfinance institutions and market facilitators as well as from leading donor organizations and investors in microfinance. MIX publishes a wide range of data, from industry analysis and regional financial performance benchmarks, to company level data. MIX helps improve financial and social performance at the institutional level while promoting transparency and standardization throughout the industry.

2. What is the MicroBanking Bulletin?

The MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB) is the premier benchmarking source for the microfinance industry. Its analyses and benchmarks are widely used by investors, donors and other service providers to facilitate greater standardization and a better understanding of developments in the microfinance sector.
[www.mixmbb.org]

3. What is the MIX Market?

MIX Market is a public, web-based microfinance information platform. It provides data on microfinance institutions worldwide as well as public and private funds that invest in microfinance, microfinance networks, raters/external evaluators, advisory firms, and governmental and regulatory agencies.
[www.mixmarket.org]

4. How does MIX measure quality of data?

The level of information disclosure and data quality is organized according to a "Star" scale for MicroBanking Bulletin (MBB) to reflect the quality of data and a "Diamond" scale on the MIX Market, to reflect the level of disclosure and quality of data: the higher the grade, the higher the level of quality and/or disclosed information available. The highest level indicates that the microfinance institution's data has been audited and rated. It does not indicate that the institution in question has good financial or social performance; this judgment is left to the user of our services. Institutional level data on the MIX Market is self reported and not subject to an in-depth quality check by MIX and should be interpreted with care.

5. How does MIX support transparency and standardization?

MIX supports standardization by:

	Engaging proactively in industry-wide initiatives, and taking a leadership role when appropriate.
	Making sure that our tools and formats are up to the latest industry standards.
	Promoting standards whenever we have a chance (in trainings, at conferences, etc.)

MIX supports transparency by:

	Providing an open online platform that allows organizations to participate at the level of transparency at which they feel comfortable.
	Giving more visibility to the organizations that are most transparent.

6. How can I contribute to MIX information services?

Microfinance institutions, donors and investors, consultants and other intermediaries are invited to participate in our efforts. The bulk of our work is to assist our contributors and centers on data collection for the MIX Market and the MicroBanking Bulletin. MIX manages sophisticated data collection tools for gathering financial and outreach data from microfinance institutions. In addition, MIX Market offers a self-explanatory interface that allows donors, investors, intermediaries and microfinance institutions to easily upload their organizations’ general information to our platform. Participation takes little time, yet significantly increases visibility and strengthens industry wide transparency. All interested parties should post a profile on the MIX Market, please [click here]. If your microfinance institution is also interested in participating in the MicroBanking Bulleting, please contact us directly.

7. Do I need to pay for MIX services or data?

MIX is a not-for-profit company providing a global public good, information on microfinance organizations. Participation in MIX database is free of charge, and so are customized reports to microfinance institutions that participate in our data collection. MIX produces a number of publications targeted at the general public, such as regional performance benchmark reports and the MicroBanking Bulletin. Publications are available for free online. Print copies may be purchased at cost. Special data cuts taken from our database and market analysis are available from MIX for a fee. Consulting and training assignments are also subject to a fee.

8. MIX is NOT:

	A rater: MIX does not conduct onsite assessments or ratings of microfinance institutions. MIX encourages microfinance institutions to get rated to increase the quality of their data and their level of transparency, and MIX collaborates with rating agencies.
	A regulator: participation in MIX information services is voluntary.
	A broker: although MIX tries to facilitate financial transactions between funding organizations and microfinance institutions, it does not conduct such transactions on their behalf.
	The answer to all your data needs: the microfinance industry is still far from transparent and standardized data. The data collection and verification process is unfortunately still very time consuming when the data is available, and much data is not available at all. MIX is prioritizing its data collection and verification efforts on performance that can be measured and from microfinance institutions that represent a wide sample of the overall market. In parallel, MIX continuously works on promoting and improving transparency and standardization by participating in industry-wide initiatives.