About

1. What is MIX?

The Microfinance Information Exchange, Inc. (MIX) is the leading provider of business information, market intelligence and data services for microfinance institutions (MFIs). MIX’s products and services are designed to promote financial transparency, increase the flow of information, and ultimately help build healthy microfinance institutions and a strong microfinance sector.

2. What does MIX do?

MIX compiles, analyzes and publicly disseminates performance and financial information on microfinance institutions, investors and donor agencies, networks and raters and other service providers.

3. 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.

4. What is MIX Market?

MIX Market (www.mixmarket.org) is a free, global web-based platform designed to increase the flow of information and improve communication for the microfinance sector. Through MIX Market, an MFI, funding organization, service provider or network can post business, performance and financial data for public access. This process increases financial transparency in the industry and is an easy way for MFIs in particular to be transparent.

As of March, 2009 MIX Market had data on more than 1375 MFIs throughout the developing world, 104 microfinance funds, and 182 service providers and market facilitators.

5. How reliable is the information on MIX Market?

Once MIX collects financial and operational data on MFIs, we review it for coherence and consistency, and reclassify according to international financial reporting norms. Although MIX does not guarantee the reliability or accuracy of the information, more than 61 percent of MFIs that report financial information have their data supported by Audited Financial Statements and/or ratings reports. These reports are also available on MIX Market. This means that nearly two-thirds of the MFIs reporting to MIX Market have supporting documents verifying the data.

6. 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.

7. Does MIX produce other publications in addition to the MicroBanking Bulletin?

Each year, MIX produces several regional and country reports analyzing the local microfinance sector, with benchmarks and trend lines. We also produce an annual MIX Global 100 composite ranking of microfinance institutions throughout the developing world as well as a Latin America 100.

In addition, MIX produces research and data sets based upon our unique capabilities and database.

8. How do MIX’s activities benefit an MFI?

MIX Market, with more than 25,000 visitors each month, is one of the most frequently used - and cited - sites for information on microfinance and microfinance institutions. Posting a profile on MIX Market allows an MFI to be viewed by investors and donors, as well as network organizations. For many investors and funding organizations, having a profile on MIX Market is a requirement for an MFI to receive funding.

In addition to increased awareness and a marketing opportunity for MFIs, posting data on MIX Market allows an MFI to compare its performance with its peers, an excellent way to evaluate strengths and weaknesses.

If an MFI participates in our benchmarking process, the organization receives a customized performance report (CPR) a customized analysis of the MFI’s performance in comparison to select peers. This CPR is a tool used in pitching investors, addressing weaknesses and strengths, and improving performance.

9. How does MIX benefit investors and donor agencies?

MIX Market is an easy to use (and free) platform for the public to access important business information and performance data on MFIs. MIX Market is an excellent way for funders to learn about microfinance institutions that may not be Tier 1 - the biggest, most well known MFIs - but may be excellent investment opportunities precisely because they are less well-known.

10. MIX is NOT:

• A lender or funder: MIX does not offer grants, loans or financing of any kind.
• 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.