Training opportunities

17- 22
Apr
Rethinking Financial Inclusion: Smart Design for Policy and Practice

Sunday, April 17, 2016 to Friday, April 22, 2016

Over the course of the week, groups will work together – in close collaboration with faculty – to develop solutions to real-world problems by applying the Smart Design framework and principles. Groups will be formed of diverse participants representing key market players – practitioners, donors, investors, and regulators.

Led by Harvard professors with years of experience in evaluating financial access initiatives, Rethinking Financial Inclusion combines an evidence-based approach to understanding the market for finance and client needs with theoretical insights on how to design financial products to meet those needs. The executive program convenes leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to provide a conceptual framework for policy and product design, enabling participants to:

  • Deepen their understanding of household and small firm needs and behavioral issues related to financial decision-making;
  • Apply the latest evidence to effectively design financial services to meet client needs in low-income settings;
  • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of financial products;
  • Understand the opportunities and challenges posed by “big data” for both product design and regulation;
  • Balance the objectives and constraints of different actors, including clients, financial institutions, regulators and donors;
  • Use design principles and economic insights to devise regulatory policies that enhance the benefits of financial access for the poor.

Program Fee: USD 7,400
Program fee includes: tuition, housing, curricular materials, and most meals.