MIX publishes frequently updated company profiles of more than eight hundred microfinance institutions (MFIs) on its online information platform MIX Market. The information consists of outreach data, financial data, audited financial statements, ratings and evaluations as well as general company information and contacts. Microfinance institutions can submit their information free of charge, regardless of their mission or performance. They can elect their level of information disclosure, but the system is designed to give greater visibility to institutions that provide more in-depth data on their financial and outreach performance.
The company level data goes back to the year 1997 and users can sort and examine it via Trend Analysis and Comparative Analysis tools. These allow users to evaluate market developments or create simple league tables by financial or outreach indicators. Users can also sample a portfolio in order to track specific microfinance institutions or to compare them with the overall market. MIX attributes a quality label of one to five to individual microfinance institutions based on the disclosure level; this is not a quality judgment of the published data and not a rating.
Microfinance institutions are encouraged to submit profiles to MIX and to market their organizations to investors and donors in order to mobilize equity capital, loans, and grants. The service is free of charge and the public dissemination of the data ensures widespread visibility while promoting industry best practices and transparency. Frequent requests for additional information from donors and investors have proven MIX Market also to be an efficient support tool for fundraising efforts.
