Financial Inclusion Research and Convening Programme

Abstract

The objective of the study is to examine access to finance in the largely informal financial services sector, including the non-banking organizations, such as Chit funds (ROSCAs), microfinance institutions, and self-help groups, to understand the key elements in their products and delivery which make them an attractive option for the low-income customers that they typically service. The study shall attempt to translate these findings into creating a business case for the formal financial sector including the banks to commence or improve their financial inclusion efforts of the formal sector. The program will also integrate the previous years’ research findings on financial education and the current ones on access to finance and disseminate it through the second IIMA-Citi Symposium in Q4 2014/Q1 2015.