Financial Inclusion That Works: From Access to Real Economic Opportunity
Event Description
Financial inclusion has expanded rapidly in recent years, with millions gaining access to bank accounts, digital payments, and financial services. Yet access alone does not guarantee meaningful economic inclusion. Many individuals still struggle to translate financial tools into stable livelihoods, resilience, and upward mobility.
This discussion explores what it takes to make financial inclusion truly work in practice. What combination of services, from savings and credit to microinsurance and livelihoods support, leads to sustained economic opportunity? Why do proven models remain difficult to expand across different contexts, despite strong evidence of impact?
We will also examine the role of political economy, local context, and system design in shaping outcomes, as well as how to measure success from the perspectives of funders, practitioners, and the people these programs aim to serve. Bringing together diverse experiences from across regions, this session will focus on how to move from access to meaningful, lasting inclusion.
Speakers
Janet Heisey is Partnership Advisor at the Partnership for Economic Inclusion, World Bank, scaling economic inclusion programmes globally.
Jasmine Nahhas di Florio is Executive Director of the Bruder Family Foundation, with leadership experience across philanthropy, law, and international development.
Steve Mark is Board Chair of MicroLoan Foundation USA, advancing financial inclusion and entrepreneurship for women in southern Africa.
Yussuf Sane is Programs Coordinator at Tostan, supporting human rights education and community-led development.
Discussion Questions
Why does access to financial services not always translate into real economic opportunity?
What combinations of interventions are most effective in driving lasting financial and economic inclusion?
What are the biggest barriers to expanding proven models across different countries and contexts?
How should we measure success in financial inclusion, and whose perspective should matter most?