Over one billion people, about 15 percent of the world's population, have some form of disability according to the World Health Organization. Over 80 percent of these people live in developing countries. Yet, according to a 2005 study by Handicap International, fewer than 1 percent of the clients of microfinance institutions, dedicated to serving the world’s financially excluded people, were persons with disabilities (PWDs). A vision of full financial inclusion challenges the financial services industry to address the financial needs of the world’s poor who have disabilities. A great human rights struggle is starting to penetrate the world of low-income finance.
The Center for Financial Inclusion aims for persons with disabilities to enjoy equal and fair access to quality financial products and services. The moral and legal case for taking action are already well established. The Center believes that progress can be made without providing specialized products or services. A study by Handicap International in 2005, suggests that much of the participation in financial services by PWDs is subsidized. The goal of the Center is to build a strong business case for providing non-subsidized financial services to persons with disabilities.
In 2010, the CFI launched this program with a concept note, “New Financial Access Frontier: People with Disabilities” (also available in Spanish) and a roundtable hosted by the World Bank. The Center is building a body of “how to” knowledge that can be disseminated to financial service providers and networks around the world through advocacy and trainings. Ongoing activities at the Center include:
- A disability inclusion demonstration project with the microfinance institution Fundación Paraguaya
- Advocacy via the Center’s blog, newsletter, messaging outlets, conferences, and engagement with key decision-makers
- Collaboration with the Smart Campaign to develop practices and tools to implement the newly proposed client protection principle on non-discrimination
Accion partner Vindhya is a very different company – 80 percent of its staff are people with disabilities. Learn more about how this innovative Indian company brings together business and a social mission for the greater good:.
Vindhya: A Business with a Social Mission from Accion on Vimeo.
A New Financial Access Frontier: A Framework for Disability Inclusion
(January 2014): The Smart Campaign has joined forces with the Persons with Disability Program of the Center for Financial Inclusion and Fundación Paraguaya to create a set of how-to trainings and tools that will help MFIs become disability friendly and inclusive. Includes a framework document, staff training materials, and reports and background materials. Click here to learn more and download the tools.
Speeches by Joshua Goldstein, Vice President for Economic Citizenship & Disability Inclusion
Keynote Address: PAN-African PCAF Psychotrauma Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, July 13-16, 2015
Keynote Address: Inclusive Microfinance Conference, Kampala, Uganda, November 11, 2014
Remarks: The United Nations Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New York City, USA, July 17-19, 2013
Keynote Address: Binational Forum about Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico, September 19-21, 2012
The CFI in partnership with v-shesh, Annapurna, ESAF, and Equitas was awarded for our disability inclusion efforts among MFIs in India at the 5th NCPEDP MPHASIS Universal Design Awards, held August 14 in New Delhi. The Universal Design Awards acknowledge persons with disabilities, working professionals, and organizations whose innovative initiatives have created an impact in the area of accessibility.
More information on the 2014 Universal Design Awards
The Center thanks Credit Suisse, and Calmeadow, Oikocredit, and Santa Maria Foundation, Inc. for their role as financial supporters of this program.
