For Investors

Adopt the Consumer Protection Code

Investors and lenders have a shared responsibility to support responsible business practices, set clear expectations for consumer protection, and use their influence to promote higher standards across their portfolios. Here’s how they can Endorse the Consumer Protection Code

Endorse

Align internal practices with the Consumer Protection Code and support off-grid solar providers to fulfil the minimum standards of practice in their treatment of customers.
Communicate about your Endorsement with partners (e.g., investees) and set explicit expectations for Consumer Protection.

Monitor & Align

Align the organisation’s funding processes with the Consumer Protection Code, including during due diligence, investment agreements, reporting and monitoring, and technical assistance.
Aim to ensure accountability across partners to uphold good practices.

Support

Support portfolio companies to achieve good consumer protection standards through periodic evaluation of Consumer Protection with companies.
Provide financial and capacity building support to help companies access Third-Party Assessments and Lean Data Consumer Protection Surveys.
Support a ‘performance culture’ with partners and investees.

Step 1: Endorse

Making an Endorsement of the Consumer Protection (CP) Code signifies that investors and other stakeholders align internal practices with the Consumer Protection Code and support off-grid solar providers to fulfil the minimum standards of practice in their treatment of customers.

Investors and funders making an endorsement of the CP Code should undertake an internal review of how investment and TA practices align with the spirit of the CP Principles, and recognize that investors and lenders have a shared responsibility to support responsible business practices, set clear expectations for consumer protection, and use their influence to promote high standards across their portfolios.

To endorse the Consumer Protection Code, submit your signed letter using this form .

Step 2: Monitor & Align

Disclose the Endorsement and formally communicate with partners (e.g., investees) around the explicit expectations for Consumer Protection.

Align the organisation’s funding processes – to the extent feasible and relevant – with the Consumer Protection Code, including during due diligence, investment agreements, reporting and monitoring, and technical assistance.

Periodically evaluate the investee’s Consumer Protection Assessment (either self- or third-party assessment of the CP Core or CP Full version) and corresponding action plans.

Step 3: Support

Support portfolio companies to achieve good consumer protection standards, including by:

Provide financial and capacity building support to help companies access Third-Party Assessments and Lean Data Consumer Protection Surveys.
Third Party Assessment by MFR.
Lean Data Consumer Protection Survey by 60 Decibels.
Support a ‘performance culture’ including through Board representation and require regular reporting on consumer protection issues. Act when standards are breached to ensure companies fix problems.
Encourage and support the company to adopt and use industry standard KPIs for defining and measuring consumer outcomes. Evaluate adoption of the industry standard KPIs in investment agreements and covenants to ensure alignment.

Refer to the Consumer Protection Toolbox for more resources on how to support improved Consumer Protection standards.

See which investors, National Renewable Energy Associations, manufacturers and other stakeholders have made an Endorsement of the CP Code to support off-grid solar providers in their portfolio or member base, or distribution partners to fulfil the minimum standards of practice in their treatment of customers.