Microfinance Award

Evaluation

100% automatic, from the data and evidence you submit

Minimum score to win

70 / 100

Measurement period

The last full financial year before nominations open (2025), compared with 2024 for growth measures

Who can apply

• A microfinance institution or programme licensed or registered with the competent authority, or a microfinance programme of a licensed bank
• Microfinance activity for at least three years before the measurement period
• At least 1,000 active borrowers at end-2025
• No final material regulatory or judicial sanction against the nominee during the measurement period
• When a product or initiative is nominated, every indicator is calculated for that product or initiative alone, with its data reported separately

Indicators and weights

1. Portfolio at risk over 30 days

   Outstanding balance of loans with an instalment more than 30 days overdue, plus rescheduled loans, as a share of the gross portfolio at end-2025

   20%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 12 – < 100 % 5
   • 7 – < 12 % 25
   • 4 – < 7 % 55
   • 2 – < 4 % 80
   • 0 – < 2 % 100

   Evidence

   Audited financial statements or the portfolio quality report filed with the regulator

2. Active borrower growth

   Percentage change in the number of active borrowers between end-2024 and end-2025

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 15 % 100
   • 5 – < 15 % 70
   • 0 – < 5 % 40
   • -100 – < 0 % 10

   Evidence

   Loan system report of active borrowers on both dates, certified by the auditor or regulator

3. Women share of borrowers

   Active women borrowers as a share of all active borrowers at end-2025

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 50 – < 100 % 100
   • 35 – < 50 % 80
   • 20 – < 35 % 50
   • 0 – < 20 % 20

   Evidence

   Loan system report broken down by gender

4. First-time or rural borrower share

   Share of borrowers acquired in 2025 who had no prior record at the credit bureau or live in officially rural areas

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 50 – < 100 % 100
   • 30 – < 50 % 80
   • 15 – < 30 % 50
   • 0 – < 15 % 20

   Evidence

   Credit bureau matching report and borrower address data

5. Average loan to GNI per capita

   Average outstanding loan balance divided by the country's GNI per capita (latest World Bank data); the lower the ratio, the deeper the reach to lower-income clients

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 250 % 10
   • 100 – < 250 % 25
   • 50 – < 100 % 50
   • 20 – < 50 % 80
   • 0 – < 20 % 100

   Evidence

   Audited statements with the number of outstanding loans and the World Bank data reference used

6. Operational self-sufficiency

   Operating revenue divided by the sum of financial expenses, operating expenses and loan-loss provisions for 2025

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 115 – < 400 % 100
   • 100 – < 115 % 75
   • 80 – < 100 % 40
   • 0 – < 80 % 10

   Evidence

   Audited 2025 statements with the calculation table

7. Client protection certification

   Highest validated level in a microfinance client protection assessment under the international Client Protection Principles or an equivalent national framework

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • Valid certificate from an accredited independent assessor100
   • Published independent assessment without certification60
   • Documented self-assessment using the recognised tool30
   • No assessment0

   Evidence

   The certificate or assessment report with its date and the assessor

Each indicator gives 0 to 100 points; its share of the total is its weight. Ties are decided by the indicators listed first in the scorecard; payment or package never affects the score.

1. Done

   Nominations open

   26 October 2026 · 13:10

2. Upcoming

   Nominations close

   27 November 2026 · 01:10

3. Upcoming

   Judging starts

   27 November 2026 · 01:11

4. Upcoming

   Judging ends

   4 December 2026 · 13:00

5. Upcoming

   Results announced

   4 December 2026 · 13:10

Times are in Asia/Riyadh (UTC+03:00).