Discussing Financial Inclusion in Post-COVID Southeast Asia: Accelerating Impact Beyond Access
The Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), a non-profit established by Temasek Trust, in partnership with Helicap and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), has developed “Financial Inclusion in Post-COVID Southeast Asia: Accelerating Impact Beyond Access”, the first-ever impact-focused financial inclusion report in the region. This study aims to build on existing research to understand the impact of different types of Financial Services Providers (FSPs), including traditional non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and FinTechs, who are working to expand access to financial services, specifically credit, in Southeast Asia.
Together with Incofin, a Belgium-based impact fund manager, the CIIP and Helicap will discuss the data-driven findings of the report through a presentation and discussion about why access to financial services might not be sufficient to boost financial inclusion in the region as well as how digital financial services are prioritizing and adopting impact practices in their business models. The discussion will also analyze how inclusive financial services can help individuals navigate new challenges and how innovation could lead to more inclusion rather than exclusion.