The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is launching a Request for Application for its MicroLead Expansion programme. In support of UNCDF’s commitment to financial inclusion, the MicroLead Expansion program seeks to support leading Financial Service Providers (FSPs)/Technical Service Providers (TSPs) with savings-led methodologies to expand their operations/services to new and underserved markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Initiated in 2008 and currently funded by UNCDF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The MasterCard Foundation and LIFT Myanmar, MicroLead has awarded funding in 20 countries for 27 projects worth $42 million. Initially focused on supporting Greenfields, the fund has expanded to include capacity building by TSPs to regulated FSPs poised for significant growth in low-income savings mobilization, deployment of alternative delivery channels, rural outreach, financial education and outreach to women.

The MicroLead Expansion programme aims to contribute to the development of strong inclusive financial sectors and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly the specific goal of poverty reduction in half by 2015, by supporting the expansion of microfinance market leaders in underserved countries. The outcome by the end of the programme (June 2017) is: increased sustainable access to appropriate demand-driven responsible financial and non-financial products and services, with a focus on savings mobilization, to more than 450,000 low income people, at least half of whom are women and at least half of whom reside in rural areas.

Deadline for Submission: Monday, 30^th June 2014

Please read the three attachments before making an application.