Financial inclusion is an emerging topic in both the traditional finance sector and the social capital arena. Here's a rundown of the major institutions facilitating and tracking this phenomenon.
The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) has a target date of 2020 for full inclusion. That's ambitious, so five years from now we can expect to see inclusive programs all over the developed world. If the subject is ever going to catch fire, it must cover both the developed world and emerging markets.
The G20's Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is a serious effort to integrate several multilateral initiatives. It matters if it keeps the developed world's sub-ministerial task forces on track. The risk is that the G20's recent endorsement of coordinated monetary stimulus will disrupt the capital account flows the developed world needs to meet inclusion targets.
The World Bank's Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) develops a policy architecture for implementing inclusive plans. That's a fancy way of saying the group has sample rules that any country can implement. Check out their discussions of microcredit. The World Bank also maintains GPFI's G20 Financial Inclusion Indicators, along with its own Financial Inclusion data and Global Findex.
The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) is probably the most inclusive policymaking body. The difference with AFI is the participation of experts from the developing world to ensure the other coordinating bodies aren't making policy in a vacuum.
Billions of formerly marginalized people are crossing the chasm between the non-integrated gap and the functioning core. Keeping up with the times means knowing how they will all grow wealthy. Financial inclusiveness is the developed world's welcome mat laid out for the world economy's brand new members.
