In 2024, the European Microfinance Award has focused on how the financial inclusion sector helps forcibly displaced people build resilience, restore livelihoods, and live with dignity in their host communities.

The aim of this session is to gather professionals with interest in this space to embark on a journey through this complex and multi-faceted topic, so that together as a sector we explore and align on solutions and ways forward to advance financial inclusion of FDPs.

Led by Yousra Hamed (ILO), attendees willl start hearing from experts, including a refugee-led organization, working in Uganda, one of the most conducive contexts for FDPs’ financial inclusion. They’ll share about their projects, challenges and lessons learned with the aim that these experiences and learnings can help players in the sector working in other contexts.

Yousra will then move on to a discussion where key sector stakeholders will share their approach to and work in refugee finance. If something has come up during the EMA process is that this is not only about FSPs, a conducive ecosystem of committed actors is needed to ensure financial needs of FDPs are met and to meaningfully contribute to improving their livelihoods. Attendees will hear from an investor, a donor, a TA provider and a consultant involved in research and policy projects.

The session will close with a provocative debate on the role of guarantees moderated by Reza Fazel (Open Capital). This de-risking instrument is perceived by many as a requirement to serve FDPs, while others believe that FDPs are not a riskier target population and that guarantees can be unhelpful. In a role-play set up, the audience will be exposed to different arguments in favour and against the use of this financial instrument. You’ll need to make up your mind and select a winner!