Global Alliance for Financial Inclusion (GAFI)

Overview:

The Global Alliance for Financial Inclusion (GAFI) is a global network representing national and regional microfinance associations. It evolved from the South Asia Microfinance Network (SAMN), which has been fostering dialogue among financial inclusion stakeholders in South Asia since 2008. Originally established with the support of ACTED and other global partners, SAMN aimed to enhance financial services for low-income populations. Building on this foundation, GAFI is expanding to facilitate cross-border collaboration in financial inclusion.

GAFI’s membership consists of leading national microfinance apex institutions across five South Asian countries. These institutions govern GAFI’s activities, ensuring collective ownership toward shared goals. The network is committed to bringing more national and regional microfinance networks into its fold.

Current GAFI Members (Board Representation):

• Afghanistan: Afghanistan Microfinance Association (AMA)
• Bangladesh: Credit Development Forum (CDF)
• India: Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN)
• Pakistan: Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN)
• Sri Lanka: Lanka Microfinance Practitioner’s Association (LMFPA)

Vision

To promote financial inclusion for the marginalized, fostering global inclusive growth and reducing poverty.

Mission

Foster cross-border collaboration to enhance financial inclusion, climate resilience, and digital pathways through responsible finance practices. Our goal is to drive inclusive socio-economic growth with focus on marginalized communities, particularly in the developing nations, to build an equitable society.

Objectives:

1. Foster Cross-Border Collaboration: Build and enhance global partnerships to address common challenges, drive innovation, and create scalable solutions in key areas such as financial inclusion, climate resilience, and impact investment.
2. Serve as a Global Data Hub: Establish a central repository for financial, social, and environmental data, enabling inter-country and global comparisons, and providing insights into the progress and context of digital inclusion.
3. Empower Local Networks: Strengthen local networks to become key hubs for attracting impact investment and fostering sustainable development.
4. Promote Responsible Finance: Advocate for finance models that prioritize ethical responsibility, long-term sustainability, and socio-economic improvements for vulnerable populations.
5. Enhance Global Network Value: Position the entity as a sustainable organization, promoting the value of networks by engaging with global players, including knowledge and funding institutions.

GAFI aspires to be:

• A global hub for best practices, sector data, regulatory benchmarks, investment deals, and industry insights.
• A trusted platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in financial inclusion.

Core Focus Areas:

GAFI develops expertise and drives impact in the following key areas: