The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) is partnering with the Foundation for the Development Cooperation (FDC) to co-convene the regional Financial Inclusion Innovation Summit which will be held from 29 to 31 August, 2017 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

This year’s summit marks the 10^th Anniversary of the event and will be the sixth in a series organized by FDC, previously under the title of “Pacific Microfinance Week.” The event will be hosted by the Bank of Papua New Guinea and the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI).

Close to 200 delegates from financial sector regulators, microfinance practitioners, advocates, academic institutions, donor agencies, international financial institutions, NGOs, domestic government agencies and others will explore recent innovations in financial services, share knowledge, network and engage in technical exchanges, to further the expansion of financial services within the Pacific region.

PFIP’s Manager, Mark Flaming, noted that PFIP has been supporting the regional event since 2009 through sponsorship and participation.

“We are happy to provide support to such a recognised platform for sharing on financial inclusion and particularly financial innovation best practices and practical experiences. This is an auspicious gathering of financial inclusion stakeholders in the Pacific,” said Mr. Flaming.

“We believe that these events inspire imagination and action, and help people connect to make things happen,” he added.

The summit will provide participants exposure to the new technologies and methods that PFIP is exploring in its 35 innovation projects in the region. Participants will also get updates on recent demand-side and supply-side data initiatives, as well as what we know about the impact of financial services on low-income populations.

This year, for the first time at the regional event, the topic of sustainable wealth creation will be discussed and debated, and many other interesting topics and highlights of on-going financial innovation globally.

Anyone interested in attending the event can register on the event website, here.

About PFIP

PFIP is a Pacific-wide programme that has helped 1.5 million low-income Pacific islanders gain access to financial services and financial education. It achieves these results by funding innovation with financial services and delivery channels, supporting policy and regulatory initiatives, and empowering consumers.

PFIP operates from the UNDP Pacific Office in Suva, Fiji and has offices in Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands. It is jointly administered by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and receives funding from the Australian Government, the European Union and the New Zealand Government.

About FDC

The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) is an independent Australian foundation committed to building prosperity in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region by pursuing initiatives that reduce poverty and promote equitable growth. We achieve this by researching, piloting and promoting development initiatives that are market-based and innovative, drawing on the collective skills, knowledge and resources of organisations from across the public, private, NGO and academic sectors.

About MFPN

The Microfinance Pasifika Network (MFPN) is an alliance of institutions committed to supporting disadvantaged people in the Pacific to improve their quality of life, through the provision of inclusive and sustainable financial services such as savings, credit, remittance and payment services and insurance.

MFPN is the emergent microfinance and financial inclusion sector development network in the Pacific. It is registered as a charitable trust in Vanuatu, with the secretariat hosted by The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC). The Network was formally launched in June 2006 in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Current membership of the Network comprises key microfinance and financial stakeholders from across the Pacific including national level policy institutions, NGOs, MFIs, regulated financial institutions, support organisations, donors and international agencies from Australia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Erica Lee
Communications Associate
Phone: +679 3227538 Email: erica.lee@undp.org
Website: https://www.pfip.org