Major Focus Areas

The Center for Financial Inclusion has identified three interrelated focus areas that will be supported by an integrated publications and outreach team.


Double Bottom Line. As microfinance widens to become inclusive finance, the importance of maintaining an emphasis on the social bottom line becomes central to the industry’s success. Double bottom line initiatives will address consumer protection, impact studies, and social performance monitoring so that the social mission of microfinance is kept front and center as it expands its reach. Learn more about Double Bottom Line >


Investing in Inclusive Finance. The Center is committed to ensuring that MFIs have the capital they need to reach scale and sustainability. The Center conducts assessments and training related to the transformation of NGOs into regulated financial institutions and the preparation needed by MFIs in order to accept debt and equity. For investors, the Center acts as a secretariat for the Council of Microfinance Equity Funds, a professional resource for managers of microfinance investment funds. Learn more about Investing in Inclusive Finance >


Client-Product Connection. The Center advances innovations in products and business processes that lower costs and bring new value to poor clients. It operates a small grant program to support cutting edge experiments and pursue its own projects in selected areas. Energy Links, a project in this area, is piloting a solar-powered lighting system that will be marketed as a "business in a bag" for microentrepreneurs in Africa, thereby spreading clean energy while creating self-sustaining income. Learn more about Client-Product Connection >


Publications and Outreach. The Center operates print and Web-based publications and dissemination activities in support of each program area. It also continues the highly successful HBS-ACCION Program on Strategic Leadership in Microfinance. With the help of a designated Faculty Advisory Council, the Center develops additional links to business and other professional degree programs.