MICROFINANCE EVENT: Investor Forum: “Responsible Finance for Digital Inclusion: Investing for Impact;” April 3 - 4, 2019; Washington DC, USA

This forum is intended to bring together a wide range of investors to share insights on “social performance and impact management,” particularly as related to digital financial services (DFS). This will include discussions of the Guidelines for Investing in Responsible Digital Financial Services, which were established in 2018. These 10 guidelines cover issues such as promoting transparent dealings with low-income borrowers and encouraging interoperability among various DFS systems.

Background on organizers: The event is organized by the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC).

SPTF is a US-based nonprofit organization representing 3,000 stakeholders in inclusive finance worldwide. Its goal is to set standards and promote good practices relating to social performance management, which the organization defines as “the systems that organizations use to achieve their stated social goals and put customers at the center of strategy and operations.” The organization generated gross income of USD 2.6 million during 2017.

IFC offers loans, equity investments, advisory services and technical assistance to private companies with the intent of alleviating poverty and promoting open and competitive markets in developing countries. As of 2018, IFC reports total assets of USD 94.2 billion.

The World Bank Group is a multilateral organization whose goal is “to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in a sustainable way.” As of 2018, it has 189 member nations. The group encompasses: (1) the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, which make up the World Bank; (2) IFC; (3) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; and (4) the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. During the 12 months ending June 2018, the World Bank Group disbursed funds totalling USD 46 billion.

Cost: The general admission fee is USD 300, but SPTF members receive a discount of USD 100.

Event website: https://responsiblefinanceforum.org/event/responsible-finance-digital-inclusion-investing-impact-2/

For additional information, you may contact Katie Hoffmann at katiehoffmann[at]sptf.info or Kira Krown from IFC at kkrown[at]ifc.org or +1 202 473 1000.

By Shuyang Sun, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources

Event webpage
https://responsiblefinanceforum.org/event/responsible-finance-digital-inclusion-investing-impact-2/

Draft event agenda
https://sptf.info/images/Investor_Forum_-_Draft_Agenda_20190219.pdf

Guidelines for Investing in Responsible Digital Financial Services
https://responsiblefinanceforum.org/investor-guidelines/

SPTF homepage
https://sptf.info/

US Internal Revenue Service data on NGOs
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf

IFC homepage
https://www.ifc.org

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