Dear RFILC members,

We would like to start May’s newsletter with the World Bank report “The Global Findex Database 2017 – Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution”. The Global Findex database is the world’s most comprehensive set of data on how people make payments, save money, borrow and manage risk. Launched in 2011, it includes more than 100 financial inclusion indicators in a format allowing users to compare access to financial services among adults worldwide – including by gender, age and household income. This third edition of the database was compiled in 2017 using nationally representative surveys in more than 140 developing and high-income countries. The database includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It features additional data on Fintech and digital financial services, including the use of mobile phones and internet technology to conduct financial transactions. Lastly, this report discusses opportunities to expand access to financial services among the unbanked, and ways to promote greater use of digital financial services among the underbanked.

Secondly, we would like to amplify your knowledge on related to Climate and Agricultural Insurance as disasters resulting from natural hazards are becoming more frequent and more harmful. According to the World Bank they push an estimated 26 million people into extreme poverty each year. They also drive increasing inequality, as poor people are hit hardest and find it far harder to recover than wealthier people. For all these reasons, the goal of reducing the impact of disasters on poor people is absolutely vital. Therefore the Oxfam international report “Facing risk: options and challenges in ensuring that climate/disaster risk finance and insurance deliver for poor people” provides an overview on how the international investment on climate and disaster risk financing and insurance can contribute to this.

Finally, the Agriculture Value Chain for Microfinance and SME Practitioners intensive training programme hosted by the Microfinance Association will take place in Bali, Indonesia from 26th to 28th June, 2018. This course provides an understanding of the gaps and challenges of agriculture finance as well as would enable participants to sharpen their awareness of the fundamental issues of financing agriculture and agribusiness. The program considers different business models, and the available instruments for accessing financial services. Furthermore, it examines the risk mitigation tools with innovative methodologies and systems that have worked. It will use the case study approach and would highlight specific issues through an examination of case studies.

With best regards,

The RFILC Editorial Team