The Financial Inclusion Initiative aims to foster market development and innovation by strengthening the ability of microfinance institutions to serve the increasingly diverse financial needs of clients at the base of the pyramid through:* Enabling product and services development and innovation across sectors beyond traditional microfinance products* Developing strong industry partnerships and knowledge sharing* Effectively leveraging Credit Suisse’ skills, expertise, financial and social capital* Continuous measurement and optimization of impact

Grants fund the implementation of projects with global partners. Partners engage experts and develop new products and services across their global network, ensuring that knowledge and expertise built up in one microfinance institution (MFI) is replicated and adapted to be applied in other MFIs in different regions, thus building on the knowledge acquired and having even greater impact. Our partners also share their knowledge at industry conferences and events, as well as through publications.

All programs are focused on capacity building specifically – the Bank funds capacity building work with partner NGOs to be implemented at MFIs across the globe. Our Global Citizens Program allows employees to participate in this capacity building by spending several weeks or months on the ground working directly with our partners. Our Virtual Volunteering program allows employees to share their knowledge through collaboration projects specifically designed to function remotely.

The Financial Inclusion Initiative is a global initiative led by the Head of the Financial Inclusion Initiative, who is part of the Credit Suisse' Corporate Citizenship team based in Zurich. The initiative combines grant funding from the Credit Suisse Foundation, which are used to fund three-year partnerships with best-in-class partners leading in the global financial inclusion space. In addition to providing funding to its partners, Credit Suisse also provides banking expertise through a number of expertise-sharing programs that enable its employees to support partners virtually or through 1 week to 3 month assignments in the field. The initiative also seeks to connect its partners to the Bank’s philanthropy and impact investing teams focused on private and investment banking clients and products so as to attract further private capital in the long term. Impact is evaluated through regular reporting and monitoring/evaluation of product implementation status and impact with end beneficiaries in the field.

Accion International, Credit Suisse AG, CGAP, Opportunity International, Swisscontact, Women’s World Banking