To move the impact that micro finance has on development to the next level, it is essential to provide access to financial and legal products and services. Unfortunately, a recent study by the Financial Acces Initiative shows that nearly half the world's population is still unbanked, while millions of others are 'underbanked'.

There is an enormous need and opportunity for providing the poor in developing countries, most of whom live in rural areas, with access to sustainable financial and legal products and services. In order to increase the impact of poverty alleviation with the poor, the P&D Network, MIAN and MJI decided to combine forces. This working conference marks the start of the cooperation between the three organizations within the field of 'Financial Inclusion'. Together, the three organizations focus on developing and implementing sustainable and accessible financial and legal products and services for the poor in developing countries.  

Can bringing together the different disciplines of the P&D Network (micro pensions), MIAN (micro insurance) and MJI (micro justice) create a breakthrough in the management of risks of poor people in developing countries, and offer a stimulant for economic development and societal emancipation?

This working-conference, titled 'Micro Product Innovation in Intergenerational Perspective', focuses on the practical aspect of financial inclusion: product development. The conference starts with a plenary session, in which renown experts will give an introduction into the concept of Financial Inclusion. The second part of the conference consists out of four different workshops, each focusing on a different aspect of the development of inclusive 'micro products and services'.

By setting up a customized, wide range of financial products and services (such as savings, pensions and insurance) that make use of new deliverance technologies (such as mobile phone banking), cost of financial services will drop sharply and deliverance to the unbanked in rural areas becomes possible. This allows people to be educated about finance, and allows for financial institutions to build capacity. It will also help people buy the house they need, get an education or medical care, manage their cash flow and protect themselves against setbacks. By offering juridical support (micro justice), client protection can be reinforced and best practices are introduced as the new standard for financial institutions.

We highly value your professional knowledge and experience, and look forward to welcoming your contribution to this conference. 

Please find below the conference programme in both English and Dutch. 

In order to participate in this conference, please register by sending an email to info@pensiondevelopment.org before June 18, mentioning your 1st and 2nd workshop preference.

Downloads

English Conference Programme - Product Innovation in Intergenerational Perspective.pdf

Dutch Conference Programme - Product Innovation in Intergenerational Perspective.pdf