Indicates whether the organization implements policies to protect its clients.
Organizations should footnote details on the types of policies implemented. See usage guidance for further information.
This metric can be used by many different types of organizations. Examples of policies that a financial service organization might have in place to protect its clients may include:
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to usage guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
No change.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Material change. Social Responsibility Client Policies (OI7783) replaced Social Responsibility to Financial Services Clients (OI7783). Metric name modified to increase clarity. Metric definition language and reporting format modified to maintain consistency with changes to IRIS structure.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Material change. Metric definition modified to provide clarity based on best practices and standard guidance.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
Immaterial change. Social Responsibility to Financial Services Clients (OI7783) replaced Social Responsibility to Microfinance Clients (OI7783). Metric name modified to be more inclusive of financial services industry outside of microfinance.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
Material change. Social Responsibility to Microfinance Clients (OI7783) replaced Client Protection Policy (M15), Over-indebtedness (M16), Transparent Communications (M17), Collections Practices (M18), Complaint Resolution (M19), Staff Ethical Code of Conduct (M20), and Client Safety Safeguards (M21). Metrics combined to maintain consistency with the Social Performance Task Force Guidelines (SPTF).
September 2009 - IRIS v1.0 Released
New metric. Client Protection Policy (M15), Over-indebtedness (M16), Transparent Communications (M17), Collections Practices (M18), Complaint Resolution (M19), Staff Ethical Code of Conduct (M20), and Client Safety Safeguards (M21) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).