SEF has received an α (alpha) Social Rating by the independent, international microfinance rating firm M-CRIL, Micro-credit Ratings International Limited. M-CRIL is the world’s leading microfinance rating agency and have done over 480 financial and social ratings in 27 countries.
On 13 October 2006 the Nobel committee announced that the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to Professor Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. This is in recognition of "their efforts to create economic and social justice from below".

From left to right: