Financial Inclusion Forum

Parametric Insurance & Climate Resilience
2024-05-15 18:30 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Aon, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall St, London, EC3V 4AN, United Kingdom
Link to event recording:
financialinclusionforum.org.uk/parametric-insurance-climate-resilience-aon/
Index insurance has grown significantly in use over the last 20 years as a solution to improve climate resilience. While this has coincided with improved access to affordable technology, index insurance has also benefited from insurers, reinsurers and donors keen to improve climate adaptation and resilience among vulnerable populations. However, several services have struggled to scale – especially without significant governmental involvement. Early services did not offer products designed for the situation they were expected to cover. But improvements in data availability, distribution approaches and awareness of insurance and its benefits have led to more beneficiaries being protected from climatic shocks.
Several organisations have significant experience in designing and supporting climate resilience solutions, index insurance in particular. Their aims have varied from attempting to build a market to developing social protection systems. Both approaches have one overarching goal: to cover the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities most at risk of the impact of climate change. This event will look at how insurance plays an important role, as a suite of financial products such as savings, pension and credit, to improve access to financial inclusion for vulnerable communities, as well as their ability to manage the impact of climate change.
This event brings together some of these players to discuss whether the aim of index insurance programmes should be to build markets, social protection systems or both. Insurance is not an easy sell, but an unpredictable and changing climate, and its impact on lives and livelihoods, coupled with better quality data and more awareness, makes it a compelling solution for governments, insurers, donors and other stakeholders to pursue – together.
REGISTER HERE

Speakers
Andrea Camargo is an expert in inclusive insurance and climate risk, she currently leads the Inclusive Climate Risk Financing portfolio within the Climate & Disaster Risk Finance & Insurance team in the World Food Programme (WFP). Andrea has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance sector and 15 years of experience in the inclusive insurance and climate risk sector in more than 30 countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Andrea has supported international organizations, development agencies, governments, and private sector entities, among others, proposing pioneering solutions that are legally viable, financially sustainable, and above all offer adequate protection against risks to those who need it most. Andrea is a Colombian lawyer specialized in insurance law in Colombia and in international economic law in France.
Kipkorir Koskei is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy at the Insurance Development Forum, a public-private partnership led by the insurance industry and supported by the World Bank and the United Nations, aiming to enhance the use of insurance to build greater resilience against disasters and help achieve the United Nations Global 2030 Agenda.
Kipkorir brings extensive experience in financial and disaster risk management, debt underwriting and country risk assessment from a range of global and regional financial institutions. He has been instrumental in operationalising the African sovereign insurance market, providing guidance in the design and implementation of the Africa Disaster Risks Financing (ADRiFi) Programme.
Kipkorir holds a Masters in Law – LLM (Finance Concentration) from University College London (UCL) and an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Warwick. He is also a graduate of the University of Oxford Climate Related Financial course.
Emma Karhan is the Head of the Public Private Partnerships for Aon UK. For the last 20+ years, Emma has worked across both reinsurance and retrocession – across global and regional clients predominantly in EMEA – in her career and has had great success in building practices in areas of Terrorism Reinsurance and specialising in the private public partnerships. She is leading the approach for Aon in the humanitarian sector ; building solutions to support Aon’s strategic ambition to protect the underserved – how to create impact and build solutions to support climate change and the humanitarian agenda. Emma led and built with the International Federation of the Red Cross the first indemnity solution for their Disaster Response Emergency Fund. She is also working with other agencies to help them understand how insurance can support their needs.
Emma serves as Aon’s representative in the working group for the Humanitarian Finance Forum. She is also a member of the Executive Action Committee for the Insurance Task Force within the Sustainable Market Initiative.
Moderator
Rishi Raithatha is a financial sector specialist, focusing on mobile money, microinsurance a,d disaster risk financing in low- and middle-income countries. His recent experience spans senior roles at the GSMA, the mobile industry’s trade association, and Pula Advisors, an insurtech that provides insurance to smallholder farmers. He has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank. Rishi's previous experience includes roles at McKinsey, Willis Towers Watson, and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
Rishi has a BA from SOAS, University of London, and an MA from the University of Groningen. In 2020, he became a Certified Digital Financial Practitioner. An experienced writer, he also runs a bespoke business writing workshop for individuals and companies.

Agenda
6:00 – 6:30 Arrival & Registration
6:30 – 7:00 Event Start – Fireside chat
7:00 – 8:00 Panel & Q&A
8:00 – 9:00 Reception
REGISTER HERE

Shaping the future of financial well-being for all
2024-06-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Webinar
Financial health, or financial well-being, has become increasingly important in recent years, especially given the economic uncertainties faced by individuals and organizations worldwide.
But what does financial health mean? It is the ability to meet present financial needs and commitments and plan for the future, and the level of satisfaction experienced about one’s financial situation. It includes things like having a stable income, being savvy with budgeting, having emergency savings tucked away for a rainy day, managing debts effectively, having adequate insurance coverage, being knowledgeable about personal finances, and being able to weather financial storms without undue stress.
While there have been efforts to improve financial literacy and access to financial services, there’s still work to be done to tackle underlying issues and promote holistic approaches to enhancing financial well-being.
That’s where our event comes in. We’re bringing together experts and stakeholders from different sectors to delve into the various aspects of financial health and discuss strategies for building resilience and inclusivity in financial systems. We’ll learn from past experiences and explore ways to expand financial health initiatives beyond initial trial phases.
Organizations with extensive experience in designing and supporting financial resilience solutions will be sharing their insights. They’ll cover everything from building markets to creating social safety nets. The big question we’ll be addressing is whether financial service providers play a central role in providing financial health-led financial services including responsible loans, smart savings schemes, insurance, etc, and other non-financial services to effectively cope with the effects of economic volatility and climate change on vulnerable communities.
Given the unpredictable nature of today’s economic and environmental landscapes, and the increasing recognition of the role financial products and services play in addressing day-to-day challenges, our event aims to spark dialogue and collaboration. Through real-life case studies, data-driven insights, and a focus on raising awareness about the benefits of financial health, we hope to inspire collective action toward building more resilient and inclusive financial systems worldwide.
Join us in shaping the future of financial well-being for all.
Event details

Format: Webinar
Duration: 60 min with Q&A
Date: June 12th BST 2pm

REGISTER HERE
About the speakers

Dr. Max Niño-Zarazúa / Financial inclusion consultant

Max is a seasoned consultant with over 20 years of experience in the financial inclusion industry. He offers a unique combination of academic excellence. He has a PhD in Economics and International Development from a British university, with microfinance grassroots delivery and industry insight from starting a microfinance institution from scratch and co-founding his own FinTech startup. Max is passionate about responsible inclusive finance that works for the low-income population, particularly women and other vulnerable groups. Max has a track record of designing and implementing projects in the areas of FinTech, Financial education, and financial health, programme design & implementation, product & business development, institutional assessments and social impact evaluations. Max worked with DAI Global as Programme Director leading the implementation of the HMG FCDO Mexico Financial Services Prosperity Programme achieving outstanding results in FinTech regulation, FinTech adoption, and digital financial education. Max has extensive proven consulting experience with international donors, microfinance institutions, banks, FinTechs, Think Thanks, and INGOs, such as FCDO, Mibanco-Peru, AFIRME Bank-Mexico, UNICEF, ILO, FAO, UNDP, ECLOF International, Habitat for Humanity International, amongst others. Max is Co-Heading the work at the European Microfinance Platform’s Action Group “From Research to Practice”, he is a visiting fellow at the Centre of Development Studies, University of Bath, and a member of the board of trustees at Deki Microfinance Organisation in Bristol, UK.

Davide Castellani / Phd, University of Bergamo

Davide has over 15 years of experience in the field of inclusive finance, specializing in international projects on financial health, financial education, green inclusive finance, gender-inclusive finance, and SME finance. He has conducted market studies and research activities in several countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia. He serves as an Associate Professor of Finance, Banking, and Microfinance at the University of Bergamo in Italy. Davide holds a Ph.D. in Financial Markets and Intermediaries and a Master’s in Cooperation and International Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries. He is the founder and co-leader of the e-MFP From Research to Practice and Back Again Action Group. Fluent in English and Spanish, he is a native Italian speaker.

Deborah Foy / Executive Director, Opportunity International

Deborah has worked for Opportunity International for the past 22 years. In her current role as Executive Director, Deborah facilitates collaboration between key global offices and supports the leadership team of to continually improve the network’s ability to serve clients and impact lives, both today and into the future. Deborah is passionate about finding innovative ways to reach those most excluded, particularly smallholder farmers, forcibly displaced populations, and young people. Deborah has travelled extensively and spent three years living in Colombia, where she supported the growth of two microfinance institutions. Deborah holds an M.Sc. in International Development from the University of Bristol and a BA in Economics and Geography from the University of Exeter.

Nancy Thomas / Senior Microfinance Advisor, CARE International UK

Nancy’s role involves working with financial service providers operating in low-income countries to provide appropriate and affordable loans to individuals and communities that are economically marginalised. CARE is particularly committed to reaching low-income and vulnerable women and believes that with access to the right tools and resources, whole families can be lifted out of poverty and women can be empowered to take control of their lives. Nancy has been fortunate enough to be working on the Lendwithcare programme for over 10 years and she currently manages a portfolio of 19 financial service providers operating in 15 countries. She has a Master’s Degree in Chinese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) where specialized in microfinance in the Chinese context. She has completed a certified master’s course at the University of Greenwich on Microfinance and Financial Inclusion and she is also a qualified social performance auditor.

Trey Waters / Senior Manager, Financial Health Network

Trey has over eight years experience working internationally with a focus on business and economic development. He worked with business ranging from micro enterprises to Fortune 500 companies to assist in growth and business development. Additionally, he strong processes development skills around financial tracking and program implementation and management experience in Africa.

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Empower Students to Navigate Financial Challenges
2024-10-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Webinar
Tailored for University leaders and managers, to equip your institution to support the financial-transition of your overseas students and to brief you on the available strategies and resources.
Students often face significant financial challenges when transitioning to studying abroad. These challenges can negatively impact their academic performance, mental well-being, and overall university experience. Financial instability can also increase dropout rates, affecting university revenue and reputation. Understanding and addressing these economic challenges is crucial for universities to support their international students effectively.

Are your newly arrived international students unfamiliar with UK finances, impacting their settling in, studies, or mental health?
Do you recognize the financial challenges and distress signs among international students, and understand the harm and loss they may face?
Are international students dropping out for financial reasons, affecting your revenue and stability, and do you understand the impact on their experience and future?
How important is financial inclusion for international students, and do you see the link between financial challenges and dropout rates?

Register here: https://www.moneymatix.com/fifmm-webinar-form
About the hosts
Antonella Abategiovanni – Executive Director, Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF)
Antonella Abategiovanni is a seasoned international development professional with over a decade of experience in senior leadership roles across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF) in London, she has a strong background in financial services, project coordination, and microfinance. Antonella is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion and promoting socio-economic impact through innovative solutions and digital technology. Fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish, and proficient in French and Portuguese, Antonella brings a multicultural and adaptable approach to her work.
Tynah Matembe
Founder & CEO of MoneyMatiX Ltd, Tynah Matembe is a money coach, podcaster, and educator dedicated to financial inclusion, equality, and empowerment. Named Most Inspirational Scottish Female Fintech Leader in 2019, she advises ministers and senior leaders on financial social mobility. Recently, she published her first book, “Thriving Beyond Boundaries: Managing Money in a New Country,” and is a sought-after public speaker on diversity, equality, inclusion, financial education, and the poverty ecosystem. An experienced mentor, Saltire Fellow, and Chartered Banker and Lawyer by training, she has extensive corporate experience in financial services and has worked internationally for the United Nations. Currently, she is championing the MoneyMatiX Grow Your Money Challenge, a series of Youth Money Camps, and the International Student Financial Education Programme. These initiatives are designed to bridge accessibility gaps through an interactive forum of hybrid events and activities, providing mainstream organisations with opportunities to engage meaningfully with marginalised communities.

About Money MatiX
MoneyMatix is more than just a digital platform, it’s a purpose-led business that ensures financial inclusion for every segment of society, including the marginalized and underprivileged. Their mission is to drive economic well-being for every UK citizen, making financial stability and growth accessible to all. MoneyMatix is committed to bridging the financial literacy gap, especially for people of color and migrants. They design and run comprehensive Financial Literacy Programs tailored for students, parents, and business owners and aim to transform relationships with money, providing the knowledge and tools necessary to access fairer financial products and services. Their programs are crafted to offer deep insights into financial management, empowering participants with the skills they need to succeed. MoneyMatix has built a thriving community of over 10,000 individuals dedicated to creating a financially fairer society. Their team brings together vast experience in financial services, youth work, and project management and has successfully partnered with prestigious institutions like Edinburgh University and Young Enterprise Scotland to run money diversity events. This Summer, they launched the International Student Financial Education Program to assist universities in onboarding and retaining students while helping them avoid financial harm.

About the Financial Inclusion Forum
FIF began in 2005 as The Microfinance Club, part of the UK’s involvement in the UN Year of Microcredit. The Club’s activities were transferred to a company limited by guarantee non-profit entity in 2010. In 2015, the Club became the Financial Inclusion Forum (FIF). FIF exists to inspire engagement and action towards a financially inclusive world where everyone has the financial tools and capability to build a healthy and productive life. We promote global financial inclusion by encouraging knowledge exchange, collaboration, and debate, and highlighting best practices through our London-based events and publications. FIF organises free, live events to enable our audience to develop their awareness of financial inclusion. Expert speakers are invited to share their knowledge on sustainable, innovative and scalable financial inclusion. FIF events are a platform for professionals, practitioners, investors, academics and students to learn more about this fast-growing and evolving field.

Register here: https://www.moneymatix.com/fifmm-webinar-form

Fraud-resistant payments: a dream worth chasing or a nightmare for fintech?
2024-10-15 - 2024-10-18 | Webinar
As part of #FIW2024 join us in the discussion:
Consumers can send money more quickly and seamlessly than ever using digital wallets and fintech, but now payment account fraud is making up an increasing proportion of crime in many jurisdictions. Examples include investment fraud, romance scams, and fraudulent listings on e-commerce marketplaces.
There is room for innovation and collaboration between financial institutions, governments, and other parts of civil society in addressing payment fraud in a range of contexts. This panel session discusses best practices from developed and developing jurisdictions, considers the costs and benefits of fraud-prevent strategies, and asks whether any solution is perfect.
Led by our Executive Director Antonella Abategiovanni, the discussion is bringing together experts including:
Meena M. Khan Chief Product Officer at Zindigi (Pakistan).
Fred Fenwick Founder of Eshango (Liberia)
Caetano Lacerda, Founder & CEO of Barte (Brazil)
Rory Copeland, financial services regulatory lawyer and Director of the UK Financial Inclusion Forum.
The session is exploring key challenges and potential solutions for combating fraud in fintech.
Don’t miss out – join the conversation by registering here: https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/convenings/financial-inclusion-week/fiw24

Food Security and Financial Inclusion
2024-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Beazley, 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom
Register Now
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/food-security-and-financial-inclusion-tickets-1042655780507
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgVxivJLZKI&t=3835s
FIF MICROFINANCE SPOTLIGHT EVENT:
Please join the UK’s Financial Inclusion Forum for an evening of learning and connection spotlighting innovative microfinance partnerships with food retailers in the UK leveraging the power of financial inclusion to combat food poverty and insecurity here and internationally.
FIF seeks to build on the attention brought to this topic at the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) 2023 Microfinance Awards. The European Microfinance Award 2023, co-organised bty e-MFP, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade; and the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg, in cooperation with the European Investment Bank.
We encourage you to look back at other innovators in the field of financial inclusion and food security featured last year.
We are pleased to speak with Whole Foods Market Foundation about their strategic partnerships with innovative organisations working with smallholder farmers in new ways to strengthen food resilience and independence as part of their mission to reduce poverty through inclusive finance launched by Whole Foods Market in 2005.
We are also excited to speak with UK social lender Fair for You about learnings from their upcoming impact report looking at their innovative interest-free credit programme Food Club launched nationally in 2022 in the UK in partnership with Iceland Foods supporting those hit hardest by the Cost of Living Crisis in the UK.
While never a solution on its own, these case studies show ways that financial inclusion can work with other community structures to build support for struggling households and communities to overcome hunger, invest in more resilient food systems, and combat the effects of market volatility that creates insecurity.

More than Credit: Unlocking financial access for smallholder farmers to build more secure and resilient food systems: Global farmers are most impacted by volatile markets, climate change and other economic shocks that undermine their ability to provide for their own families and local communities. In this conversation Whole Foods Market Foundation will offer lessons from their inclusive partnerships in West Africa as one example of changing what microfinance for smallholder farmers looks like and in some of the world’s most food insecure areas.

Making Ends Meet Through the Cost of Living Crisis: Mobilising UK community finance to tackle food insecurity in the U.K. As financial insecurity has climbed in the UK since the start of the Cost of Living Crisis more households are at risk of food insecurity and often pulled toward unaffordable credit or illegal lending to provide basic necessities. Fair for You and Iceland launched a highly innovative partnership to provide small sum, interest-free credit at scale to a demographic in the U.K. that has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.

More about Fair for You: As a not-for-profit online lending company Fair for You was set up to provide finance to families who do not have access to mainstream credit, so that they can purchase critical goods for their home directly from manufacturers. The Food Club is a highly innovative partnership between Fair for You and Iceland Foods, providing small sum, interest-free credit to a demographic that has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. Food Club offers customers of Iceland Foods the opportunity to apply for a card that they can use on-line or in-store to access up to £100 of interest-free credit. Repayments are set at £10 per week, and customers can take out further credit for additional Iceland shops up to six times per year during specific ‘top-up windows’ scheduled around school holiday periods.

Chris Bennett, Chief Commercial Officer at Fair for You: Chris joined Fair for You in 2015 to support the setting up of the company and obtaining its FCA authorisation. As Chief Commercial Officer Chris is responsible for the commercial success of the business through product development and key partner management. Working directly with retailers, housing associations, local authorities, charities and more he supports the delivery of quality and innovative solutions for customers.

More about Whole Foods Foundation : Founded in 2005, Whole Planet is a project of Whole Foods Market Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation based in Austin, Texas that encompasses the work of Whole Cities, Whole Kids and Whole Planet. Whole Planet funds organisations that support people living in poverty to meet their basic needs and become more resilient through income-generating opportunities. As of February 2024, Whole Planet is alleviating poverty through partners in 80 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. To date, $113 million has been disbursed through partners worldwide, funding 7 million microloans and 36 million income-generating opportunities for microentrepreneurs and their family members.

Claire Kelly, Portfolio Director – Whole Planet (West Africa/Middle East Region) at Whole Foods Market Foundation: Claire joined Whole Planet in March of 2013 supporting the African regional portfolio with monitoring and evaluation of existing and new projects before moving to Vietnam as the Asia/Pacific Regional Director. Today she leads Whole Planet’s West Africa/MENA regional portfolio of grant and no-interest loan funding supporting financial services partners to expand income-generating opportunities in the region. Claire also continues to work with partners in South Asia.

Audience:
This event is ideal for those involved in microfinance, socially-minded retail, and individuals passionate about addressing food security. It’s especially relevant for professionals looking to join the growing community of practice around financial inclusion, microfinance innovation, and food system resilience.
Venue:
Beazley Group, 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4BQ, London

Agenda
5.30 PM Doors open, Welcome
Panel 1 – International Case Study
Panel 2 – UK Case Study Fireside Chat
Q&A
8:00 PM: Networking and Reception
We look forward to an evening of collaboration and innovative discussion about how microfinance can drive food security.
Register Now
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/food-security-and-financial-inclusion-tickets-1042655780507

Impact principles as a foundation for active investing; alpha generation and delivering social impact?
2024-11-20 17:00 - 21:00 | Allen & Overy, 1 Bishops Square, Spitalfields, London, E1 6AD, United Kingdom
Watch the full recording here:

After our successful first edition in 2022, the Financial Inclusion Forum is back with the second edition of its impact investing event, even stronger in partnership with the London Impact Investing Networking (LIIN).
This year we explore the value of impact investing principles in active investment strategies, serving as foundation for generating alpha and positive impact.
This is not a pay to play event and features a carefully selected list of speakers, to create the most meaningful program. As a bonus CFA UK will give an introduction to its recently launched Impact Investing Certificate. Not to mention the engaging audience and A&O’s fantastic hosting, with the networking drinks usually busy until the very end.
Impact principles as a foundation for active investing; alpha generation and delivering social impact?
Date and Time:
November 20th, 2024
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM GMT
Location:
A&O Shearman Offices
One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD, United Kingdom
Hear from some industry leaders on how their impact driven strategies are beating the market & what investors are really looking for when assessing impact fund managers
High-quality audience from joint FIF & LIIN community, bringing together leaders and learners in impact investing

Hosted by A&O Shearman, including network drinks and canapes.

Limited space for 150 people

Agenda:

Opening remarks from the organisers

Panel 1: Exploring Alpha Generation through Impact Investing

Moderated by Ian Povey-Hall, featuring
Ben Dear, CEO Osmosis Investment
Jen Braswell, Head of Impact EQT
Peter Rose, CEO Social Hedge Fund

Networking break + Q&A with CFA on their Impact investing Certificate

Panel 2: What’s driving investor interest in social impact and how is this demand being met?

Chris Wehbe, CEO Lendable
Anna Shiel, CIO Better Society Capital
Luba Nikulina, Chief Strategy Officer at IFM Investors
Tara Gillespie, Head of Global Assests at Redington
Lotte Thelen, Associate Director Sustainalytics

Networking Drinks & Canapes

More details to follow
Reserve Your Spot Today – Limited Tickets Available!
Register Here

Advancing Financial Inclusion for Refugees & Forcibly Displaced People
2025-03-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Alumni Lecture Theatre (SALT), Paul Webley Wing, Senate House, SOAS, University of London, Paul Webley Wing, North Block, Torrington Square, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
Advancing Financial Inclusion for Refugees & Forcibly Displaced People
How the financial inclusion sector can – and must – serve the world’s displaced people
March 4th, 2025
6:30-8:00pm (followed by a Reception)
Alumni Lecture Theatre, Paul Webley Wing
North Block, Torrington Square, London WC1E 7HX

Since 2016, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and Financial Inclusion Forum UK (FIF UK) have co-hosted an annual event on the topic of previous year’s European Microfinance Award). Once described by a luminary of the sector as “the Nobel Prize of Microfinance”, the EMA was established in 2005 by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFA) to promote innovative microfinance initiatives. It is organised jointly by MFA, the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg (InFiNe) and the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP).

Focusing on a different topic each year (and with a €100,000 prize for the winner), the EMA serves two parallel goals: rewarding excellence, and collecting and disseminating the most relevant practices for replication by others. In 2024, the topic was “Advancing Financial Inclusion (FI) for Refugees and Forcibly Displaced People (FDPs)”, seeking to highlight organisations active in FI and helping FDPs build resilience, restore livelihoods, and live with dignity in their host communities. The FI sector has an enormous and important role to play in supporting refugees and other FDPs, meeting their complex financial and non-financial needs across the various phases of displacement, and working with host country communities, policymakers and other actors to address the barriers FDPs face – and that financial organisations face in serving them.

EMA 2024 was won by RUFI, with Al Majmoua and Faten as runners up. Insights and profiles of these three finalists, as well as the seven other semi-finalists selected from 49 applicants, are presented in the Award publication, which will be presented at this session.

To explore this topic, glean insights from the award publication and discuss challenges and best practices seen in the 2024 Award process, this event will involve a panel comprised of:

Ed Fraser (Moderator) – a collaborative humanitarian consultant with a particular focus on the economic recovery of displacement affected people. Ed supported the e-MFP team on the design, development and evaluation process for the EMA 2024;
Yengi Lokule – Financial services expert and CEO of RUFI, the 2024 EMA Winner. RUFI, founded in South Sudan in 2008 and expanded to Uganda in 2016, is a refugee-led financial institution providing loans, business training, and advocacy to support forcibly displaced persons and host communities;
Sam Mendelson – Financial Inclusion Specialist at e-MFP, member of the Award implementation and evaluation teams and lead author of the annual Award publication. He is also a former board member of FIF UK;
Suzanne van Ballekom – Digital Financial Inclusion & Women’s Economic Empowerment Deputy Global Team Lead at UN World Food Programme (WFP) and board member at FIF UK; and
Deborah Foy – former Global Executive Director of Opportunity International, consultant to the 2024 EMA team and member of the 2024 EMA High Jury.

We hope you can join us on 4th March for what will be a fascinating and dynamic discussion – and please stay for the receptions after! To register click here: Advancing Financial Inclusion for Refugees & Forcibly Displaced People Tickets, Tue, Mar 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Financial Inclusion Forum & e-MFP

20th Anniversary of the Financial Inclusion Forum
2025-06-02 06:30 - 21:00 | Alumni Lecture Theatre (SALT), Paul Webley Wing, Senate House, SOAS, University of London, Paul Webley Wing, North Block, Torrington Square, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
Join us in celebrating
20th Anniversary of the Financial Inclusion Forum
Monday 2nd June, 18.30 to 21.00
SOAS, University of London
Main Building, 10 Thornhaugh St, London, WC1H 0XG
EVENT ENDED, RECORDING AVAILABLE HERE

Your path to fulfilment at work: learn from 20 years of the Financial Inclusion Forum
The Financial Inclusion Forum was founded in the UK’s award-winning participation in 2005 UN Year of Microcredit.
Our purpose is to empower the financial inclusion sector globally and in the UK by knowledge sharing and networking to further best practice in sustainable, innovative, scalable financial inclusion and related social inclusion initiatives.
Celebration event

Financial Inclusion practitioners share their FI journey: How Financial Inclusion Forum inspired them to get involved & how they are making a difference through their work
Future of Financial Inclusion
How you can get involved in Financial Inclusion

WHAT IS FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The purpose of Financial Inclusion: help create a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous society through opening opportunities for individuals and small businesses to control their economic lives and increase social inclusion.
Financial inclusion works at three levels
MACRO LEVEL: government policy making and central bank regulations
MESO LEVEL: private and public funders of financial inclusion organisations and social inclusion initiatives in education, health, livelihood development
MICRO LEVEL: services for credit, savings, insurance, and remittances that include digital finance and fintech, consumer protection, financial literacy, smallholder agriculture, gender issues, microinsurance, renewable energy and livelihood development

The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Parametric Insurance for Disaster Risk Management
2025-06-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Aon, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall St, London, EC3V 4AN, United Kingdom
Join us on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, for an in-person evening event co-hosted by the Financial Inclusion Forum UK and Aon, exploring how parametric insurance can enhance disaster resilience in low- and middle-income countries. Through two engaging panel discussions, we’ll examine:

The potential of parametric insurance to expand regional disaster risk financing schemes; and
How to attract and sustain private sector involvement in partnership with governments and development institutions.

Held at Aon’s offices, this after-work event includes networking opportunities over drinks and brings together professionals from the financial inclusion, insurance, climate resilience, and humanitarian sectors.
Date & Time: 17 June 2025, 6:00–9:00 PM
Location: Aon, London
Audience: Open to professionals, students, and others interested in inclusive insurance and financial resilience
Registration: HERE
Spaces are limited—register soon to secure your place!

Investing in Climate Adaptation: Reducing Risk, Unlocking Capital, Delivering Resilience
2025-06-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Clyde & Co, St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AR, United Kingdom
Investing in Climate Adaptation: Reducing Risk, Unlocking Capital, Delivering Resilience
Register for free attendance in person HERE
Financial Inclusion Forum is convening an in-person event on 24th June during London Climate Action Week, delivered in partnership with MSC (MicroSave Consulting) and CIFAR Alliance, and kindly hosted by Clyde & Co.
How can we make climate adaptation finance work where it matters most?
This event will start by focusing on practical, on-the-ground solutions to reduce risk and build resilience for communities and systems most vulnerable to climate impacts. The first panel will highlight how finance can effectively flow to those delivering adaptation where it counts.
The conversation will then shift to explore the role of the private sector and blended finance in sustaining long-term investment for climate adaptation—mobilising capital and shifting risk at scale.
Whether you are passionate about the role of finance in climate action or work in development, policy, finance, or the private sector, this event will connect practical solutions with strategic finance—and adaptation needs with capital flows.
From implementation to investment, let’s make adaptation finance deliver.

Redefining Value: Financial Inclusion for Refugees in the UK
2025-07-03 18:30 - 20:00 | Alumni Lecture Theatre (SALT), Paul Webley Wing, Senate House, SOAS, University of London, Paul Webley Wing, North Block, Torrington Square, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
Join us for an essential and timely conversation on the transformative power of financial inclusion for refugees and forcibly displaced people in the UK.
Grounded in lived experiences of those directly affected, this event will enable a more inclusive dialogue about the role of financial services in rebuilding lives. The discussions will challenge risk- and profit-driven approaches to finance, instead highlighting the economic and social value refugees contribute to their communities, as well as their fundamental rights to access and opportunity.
What to Expect:

Personal stories: Hear first-hand from people who sought refuge in the UK and what role financial services played in the rebuilding of their lives.
Barrier breakdown: Explore the systemic and regulatory hurdles refugees face in the UK’s financial landscape.
Innovative solutions: Engage with organizations championing inclusive finance and driving practical, impactful solutions.
Lively audience discussion: Participate in interactive polls and a moderated dialogue focused on how we move the sector forward.

Why Attend?

Learn how financial inclusion can drive both social impact and economic opportunity.
Be part of a growing call to rethink risk, funding models, and inclusion.
Connect with changemakers, professionals, policy influencers, and community leaders.
Enjoy post-event networking drinks.

Together, let’s build a more inclusive financial future. one that recognises the resilience, skills, and economic contribution of refugees in the UK.
REGISTER HERE
#FinancialInclusion #RefugeesWelcome #InclusiveFinance #SocialImpact #RedefiningValue #UKEvents #SOAS #InnovationForChange #RefugeeVoices

Inclusive Insurance and the 2025 European Microfinance Award
2026-03-03 18:00 - 21:00 | Howden, One Creechurch Lane, EC3A 5AF, One Creechurch Lane, London, EC3A 5AF, United Kingdom
Join us for an evening discussion on how inclusive insurance can strengthen resilience for low-income and vulnerable communities.
Organised by the Financial Inclusion Forum in partnership with e-MFP, this event spotlights the 2025 European Microfinance Award, themed “Building Resilience Through Inclusive Insurance.” As climate, health and economic shocks become more frequent, the conversation will focus on why inclusive insurance matters now and how it can be designed to work better for the people who need it most.
The event will bring together practitioners, funders, policymakers and researchers to share insights from the Award and reflect on what’s next for the sector.
What to Expect:

Key insights from the 2025 European Microfinance Award
Practical discussion on designing insurance for low-income clients
Two short panel sessions with audience Q&A
Networking opportunity after discussions

Why Attend:

Understand how inclusive insurance supports resilience and recovery
Learn from real-world practice recognised at European level
Connect with professionals working across insurance, financial inclusion, climate resilience and development finance

This event has ended.
#FinancialInclusion #EuropeanMicrofinanceAward #InclusiveInsurance #SocialImpact

Financial Empowerment for Young People
2026-04-29 18:30 - 21:30 | City St George’s, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB
Join us for an evening discussion exploring how financial education and inclusion can better support young people, particularly those from minority communities, across the UK.
Organised by the Financial Inclusion Forum in partnership with the Hyfa Foundation, City University and Woke Finance, this event will bring together practitioners and experts to discuss what can be done to tackle financial exclusion and improve financial confidence among young people.
Recent research has highlighted gaps in financial capability, particularly in areas such as budgeting, credit, and long-term planning. This session will explore how we can strengthen financial education, improve access, and build more inclusive systems that support young people in navigating financial services.
What to Expect:

Insights on financial inclusion challenges facing young people in the UK
Discussion on the role of education in building financial capability
Perspectives from organisations working directly with young people
Audience Q&A and networking opportunity

Why Attend:

Gain insights from research and real-world initiatives improving financial literacy and inclusion for young people in the UK
Hear diverse perspectives from practitioners, students, and organisations working directly on financial education and empowerment
Connect with professionals across finance, policy, and social impact, and continue the conversation through networking

Room location: Tait Building, Room B200
Get your FREE ticket here: https://shorturl.at/CsP6m

About the Hyfa Foundation
The Hyfa Foundation provides financial education workshops, clinics and programmes. Their goal is to fill the gap between the lack of financial literacy in the UK and the role it plays in helping get people out of poverty, improve their mental health and gain skills and confidence to take control of their lives.
About Woke Finance
Woke Finance CIC is a social enterprise that gives young people aged 11-21 access to the knowledge of managing their personal finances enabling them to make better future decisions and reach their full potential. The organisation raises awareness and tackles financial exclusion, which often contributes to social exclusion.
#FinancialInclusion #FinancialEducation #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #UKFinance #EconomicInclusion #FinancialLiteracy #YouthFinance
