Our Approach
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Access to financial services – whether in the form of savings, credit, money transfers or insurance – is a fundamental tool for improving a family’s well-being and productive capacity. Our mission is to help alleviate poverty by advancing access to finance.
CGAP helps to build financial systems that serve poor people. Our goal is to create local, deposit-driven markets. Though CGAP is known for having promoted a commercial approach to microfinance, we are committed to ensuring that as commercial microfinance increasingly becomes a reality, that some poor people, countries, or regions are not left behind, and that financial access contributes to reducing poverty. At the same time, we remain committed to sustainable microfinance, and we work to improve the way local financial systems operate. Whether it's through our technology work, where we're trying to lower transactions costs through improved delivery mechanisms, or through more effective aid and investment mechanisms, CGAP believes that microfinance will help more poor people by becoming increasingly professional in the range and quality of services that it offers. We see solid market infrastructure, reliable information, and policies that stimulate access while protecting poor clients, as critical elements of a financial system that serves poor people well.
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Technology
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"We work to identify technologies that will best enable a wide range of potential providers to reach out to the poor regardless of their location or personal circumstances. That means mobile phones and other types of branchless banking, as well as the important role that information systems play for financial institutions." Gautam Ivatury, Team Leader, Technology
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Expanding Access
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“Through our research and advisory work, we aim to increase access to, and use of, formal financial products and institutions by greater numbers of poor and marginalized people. Better understanding of the constraints and opportunities on both the supply and demand side will help the industry to make 'inclusive finance' a reality.” Evelyn Stark, Team Leader, Expanding Access
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Donors & Investors
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"Microfinance is attracting funds from ever increasing sources. How can we best make use of these resources to build local financial markets that work for poor people? Our work aims to ensure that funds for microfinance are directed to the right places, and in the most effective manner." Alexia Latortue, Team Leader, Donors and Investors
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Government & Policy
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“CGAP's policy work focuses on building favorable policy and regulatory frameworks for financial service providers serving the billions of poor people worldwide who lack access to safe, appropriate and affordable financial services.” Tim Lyman, Team Leader, Government and Policy
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