31 May 2024
e-MFP and FinDev Gateway's joint webinar explored the findings and themes in the e-MFP Financial Inclusion Compass 2024, which featured new questions on fraud, biodiversity, reputation, missed opportunities and even what "financial inclusion" actually means: is it, beyond re-branding, meaningfully different from "microfinance"?
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The Financial Inclusion Compass series was launched in 2018 as an annual survey of financial inclusion stakeholders to understand their perceptions of current trends, future priority areas and generally their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. It has since grown to be one of the most important resources used by financial inclusion stakeholders, a unique perspective of what providers, funders, researchers, technical assistance providers and various others see as important - and not.
The Financial Inclusion Compass 2024 is the seventh edition in this series by the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and has new questions to ask - on fraud, biodiversity, reputation, missed opportunities and even what "financial inclusion" actually means: is it, beyond re-branding, meaningfully different from "microfinance"?
During the webinar, Sam Mendelson, the Compass project lead and lead author, presented some of these ideas and was joined by Deborah Foy, Executive Director of Opportunity International; Philippe Guichandut, Secretary-General of Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation; and Dr. Asongo Abraham, COO of Standard Microfinance Bank Nigeria for a lively discussion.
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Moderator:
Sam Mendelson, e-MFP
Sam Mendelson is Financial Inclusion Specialist at e-MFP overseeing various research, knowledge, communications and sector-building projects across e-MFP's different financial inclusion research streams. He supports coordination of the annual European Microfinance Award and is lead author both of the publication for the annual Award, as well as the annual Financial Inclusion Compass series.
Speakers:
Asongo Abraham, Standard Microfinance Bank, Nigeria Dr. Asongo Abraham has over 15 years of experience in financial inclusion and economic development. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Standard Microfinance Bank, a leading microfinance bank in Nigeria. Dr. Asongo has spearheaded numerous projects that have empowered underserved communities across Nigeria, including free financial education for women and youths in northeast Nigeria, access to finance for smallholder farmers recovering from insurgency attacks in the Northeast region and green energy financing in Northeast Nigeria.
Deborah Foy, 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 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.
Philippe Guichandut, Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation Philippe Guichandut is the Secretary-General of Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation (GCAF). He has been with the organization since 2010 and previously served as head of investment and technical assistance. Prior to joining GCAF, he worked for various French international development NGOs and became the first Executive Director of the European Microfinance Network when it was created in 2004. He has been teaching development project management and microfinance for more than 20 years in France and abroad.