The diagram below summarizes the process that a Mobile Money Provider (MMP) must follow to achieve Certification.
Step 1: Preparation
To get started, request a certification account. The account will give access to the MMP Dashboard, where the MMP can find the applications and forms for the program.
An MMP interested in Certification should first review the Mobile Money Certification Policy & Processes. Next, it should download the Code of Conduct (CoC) Toolkit from the MMP Dashboard and conduct a detailed self-assessment that involves a review of all policies and procedures.
In order for an MMP to complete certification they must select an Accredited Assessor. The MMP should agree pricing, terms, and timelines with the Accredited Assessor prior to moving on to the Application (Step 2).
In parallel with completing a self-assessment and selecting an assessor, the MMP should begin a review of the Certification Assessment Application. As is typical with all standards and certification schemes, changes to the agreement will not be allowed.
Optionally, the MMP may select an Accredited Consultant to help guide them through the Certification process. It is the responsibility of the MMP to coordinate contractual agreements and fees with their Accredited Assessor and Accredited Consultant (if used) of choice.
Step 2: Application
After selecting an Accredited Assessor, the MMP will register an intent to seek certification with the MM Secretariat by submitting the Certification Assessment Application. This Application includes naming the Accredited Assessor that will be used and submitting any other information that may be necessary for the MM Secretariat throughout the Certification process. If an Accredited Consultant will be used, the MMP should also declare the name of the Accredited Consultant in the Application.
Upon receiving the MMP’s Application, the MM Secretariat will evaluate the request, including ensuring that the MMP and the Accredited Assessor are eligible for certification and free from any conflicts of interest. Should the request be deemed ineligible, the MMP will receive notification that it has been rejected; otherwise, the MM Secretariat will notify the MMP and the Accredited Assessor that the certification process may move forward.
Step 3: Certification Assessment
Once the MMP’s Application for Certification has been Approved the Accredited Assessor will begin the detailed work of evaluating the MMP’s compliance to the principles in the CoC Toolkit. As explained elsewhere, 100% compliance with “Required” items is needed to obtain a Certificate.
At any point during the Accredited Assessor’s Assessment, the Accredited Assessor may consult the MMP for clarification to information or to provide supplemental information that may be required to complete the Assessment.
Should an Assessor be unable to evaluate any indicators in the CoC Toolkit because the process is so new or immature, those indicators will be added to an Assessment List to be followed up on in a Delayed Assessment. If this is the case, the MMP should be notified of the items on the Assessment List as well as the general time frame when the Delayed Assessment should occur.
The Certification Assessment Step is broken into two parts, the Offsite Assessment and Onsite Assessment.
Offsite Assessment
After receiving permission to begin certification from the MM Secretariat, the Assessor will begin reviewing the documentation that has been provided by the MMP to evaluate the indicators in the Code of Conduct Toolkit. It is recommended, although not required, that this step be completed before the Assessor moves on to the Onsite Assessment.
Onsite Assessment
As part of the review of the Empirical Evaluation Workflows the Accredited Assessor will perform the defined processes for User Demonstration, Business Interviews, and Technical Audits. The Onsite Assessment will also include any documentation that the MMP determined was too sensitive to share ahead of time as part of the Offsite Assessment.
Delayed Assessment
In some cases, if MMPs are launching a new Mobile Money Service that has not been operational for very long, or that when operational processes of the MMP are not mature enough, the Assessment cannot be completed by the Accredited Assessor. For example, there may be insufficient information to complete the Assessment of some of the indicators in the Code of Conduct Toolkit. Any items that the Assessor determines cannot be evaluated will be added to an Assessment List, which will be the basis of the Delayed Evaluation Assessment process.
Once the Assessment is complete for all items on the Assessment List, the Assessor will submit a complete Assessment Report to the MM Secretariat, and if it is deemed acceptable, the MMP will be eligible to continue the Certification process and no further Assessments will be required.
Step 4: Assessment Report
After completing the evaluation of the MMP, the Assessor will submit an Assessment Report to the MM Secretariat that includes a completed Code of Conduct Toolkit, the evidence found during the Empirical Evaluation Workflows, and a recommendation on whether the MMP should be Certified.
Upon receiving the Assessment Report from the Assessor, the MM Secretariat will make sure that it is coherent and complete. Should information be missing or otherwise need clarification, the MM Secretariat may request that the Assessor provide additional clarifications, or the MM Secretariat may request supporting documentation that is needed to review the information in the Assessment Report.
If the MM Secretariat determines that the MMP has passed the requirements for Certification, it will notify the MMP that it is eligible for Certification.
Step 5: Certificate Issuance
Once an MMP has been deemed eligible for Certification it may submit a Certification Request to the MM Secretariat (available on the MMP Dashboard).
The final step in the Certification process is to ensure that the Certification Request from the MMP is complete. The MM Secretariat will review all the requirements for certification and ensure that all have been met before issuing the Certificate to the MMP.
If Approved, the MM Secretariat will add the MMP to the list of Certified Mobile Money Providers (MMPs).
Optionally, the MMP may submit a Trademark License Agreement (TMLA) to the MM Secretariat for use of the Mobile Money Certified logo.