The <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> (BLI) is designed for social enterprise leaders to learn and exchange ideas about issues critical to social enterprise growth and impact. In a two-day interactive workshop, participants will gather with faculty and facilitators for role play, simulations, discussions, case studies and more. By re-framing board effectiveness as a strategic imperative and focusing exclusively on C-suite executives and board members, BLI aims to strengthen the leadership and governance of social enterprises.

Our syllabus covers <strong>digital transformation</strong> and <strong>inclusive finance</strong>, but is grounded in <a href="/topics/governance"><strong>board effectiveness</strong></a>—a foundational issue applicable to all companies, no matter its industry or maturity. Board dynamics, risk management and basic governance are baked into the program. Following the workshop, we help you stay connected through a dedicated virtual portal, where you’ll join hundreds of social enterprise leaders in our global network.

Join us! Walk away with valuable connections and new perspectives you can use to drive your organization toward greater growth and impact.

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Board Leadership for Impact Program Overview

The <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> (BLI) gathers social enterprise leaders to learn and exchange ideas on board effectiveness and governance. After two days of facilitated discussion, case study and role play, we walked away with new perspectives on how important governance is for achieving growth and impact. Here’s what BLI participants from the <a href="/board-leadership-for-impact-program-launch-workshop">Nairobi 2019 Launch Workshop</a> shared with us about what governance and board effectiveness means to them.

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Understanding the Value of Board Effectiveness

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<p class="text-block__article sc-kjoXOD hLBZML">The <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> (BLI) is dedicated to empowering corporate leaders in the social enterprise sector to <strong>achieve business growth and social impact</strong>. By focusing exclusively on executive leadership and reframing board effectiveness as a strategic imperative, BLI strengthens leadership and management to ensure these companies sustain business growth and drive social impact.</p>

<h3 class="text-block__article sc-kjoXOD hLBZML">Join a select group of social enterprise leaders at the BLI Nairobi 2020 Workshop,  February 23-25, 2020, at the Fairview Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.</h3>
BLI is offered as a two-day interactive workshop where participants gather with faculty and facilitators for role play, simulations, discussions, and more. Workshops are augmented with a robust virtual portal where participants can access resources and videos, participate in discussions, and stay connected with hundreds of leaders in our global network. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with peers on issues critical to social enterprise growth and impact, including digital strategy and culture, data, partnerships and financial inclusion in the digital age.
<h3><strong>Pricing</strong></h3>
The BLI Nairobi 2020 Workshop tuition is <strong>$2,500 USD</strong>, excluding airfare and lodging. Discounts, group rates and partial scholarships are available:
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Early Bird Rate - $2,250 USD</strong> (10% discount). Available to all registrants through December 31, 2019.</li>
 	<li><strong>Group Registration Rate - $2,250 USD</strong> per person for groups of two or more (10% discount per person).</li>
 	<li><strong>Limited partial scholarships</strong> will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can request scholarship consideration during the registration process.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Registration is now closed.</h2>
<h3>Questions</h3>
Learn more about the <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> and <a href="mailto:gjaso@accion.org">contact us</a> if you have questions or need more information.

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Board Leadership for Impact Nairobi 2020 Workshop

We are convening a select group of social enterprise leaders at the <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> (BLI) inaugural workshop taking place October 27-29, 2019, at the Fairview Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

BLI is dedicated to empowering corporate leaders in the social enterprise sector to achieve business growth and social impact. By focusing exclusively on executive leadership and reframing board effectiveness as a strategic imperative, BLI strengthens leadership and management to ensure these companies sustain business growth and drive social impact.

BLI is offered as a two-day interactive workshop where participants gather with faculty and facilitators for role play, simulations, discussions, and more. Workshops are augmented with a robust virtual portal where participants can access resources and videos, participate in discussions, and stay connected with hundreds of leaders in our global network. At this inaugural workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with peers on issues critical to social enterprise growth and impact, including digital strategy and culture, data, partnerships and financial inclusion in the digital age.

Board Leadership for Impact Program Launch Workshop

<strong>WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2019</strong> – The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion (CFI) has launched an executive education program for financial service providers serving low-income communities in emerging markets. Through peer learning and exchange, the <a href="/about/what-we-do/board-leadership-for-impact-program">Board Leadership for Impact Program</a> will empower executives and board members to foster client centricity, lead digital transformation, sustain business growth and drive social impact. In partnership with the <a href="https://www.citigroup.com/citi/foundation/">Citi Foundation</a> and <a href="https://www.fmo.nl/">FMO</a>, the Dutch development bank, supporting program implementation and participant scholarships, the Board Leadership for Impact Program will offer multiple in-person workshops per year coupled with a robust virtual portal.

Derived from CFI’s five-year <a href="https://content.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/about/what-we-do/africa-board-fellowship-program/">Africa Board Fellowship Program</a>, which fostered the growth and development of more than 300 executives and board members of financial service providers serving more than 10 million clients in Africa, the Board Leadership for Impact Program will now expand to include early stage to mature companies offering financial services to underserved customers that operate in emerging markets around the world.

“Our experience with leadership development through peer exchange will inform our efforts through this new program to cultivate a community of leaders who have the skills and the network to help their organizations thrive,“ said <a href="/bio/deborah-drake">Deborah Drake</a>, Vice President, Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion. “Tackling challenges like achieving sustainable growth or pursuing digital transformation, particularly as a mission-driven organization, takes strategic leadership at the board level.”

Through role play, simulations and facilitated discussion, participants will gain new perspectives, skills, and knowledge on topics critical to social enterprise growth and impact, including risk management, board dynamics, digital transformation and inclusive digital finance. They will join an active community of alumni of the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion’s <a href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/get-involved#fellow-exec-ed">executive education programs</a>.

“By developing and strengthening leadership skills that drive business growth and social impact, our partnership with the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion will help accelerate financial inclusion and economic progress around the world,” said Florencia Spangaro, Director of Programs, Citi Foundation.

“FMO is a proud partner of Accion for over a decade and we realize that creating a lasting impact starts in the board room. Strengthening the management of financial service providers and enterprises will help ensure business longevity and commitment to underserved customers,” said Gerbrich Salverda, Capacity Development Officer at FMO.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>###</strong></p>
<strong>About the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</strong>

The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion (CFI) is an action-oriented think tank that engages and challenges the industry to better serve, protect, and empower clients. We develop insights, advocate on behalf of clients, and collaborate with stakeholders to achieve a comprehensive vision for financial inclusion. We are dedicated to enabling 3 billion people who are left out of – or poorly served by – the financial sector to improve their lives.
<a href="http://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/">www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/CFI_Accion">@CFI_Accion</a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>###</strong></p>
MEDIA CONTACT

Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion
<a href="/bio/virginia-moore">Virginia Moore</a>
<a href="mailto:vmoore@accion.org">vmoore@accion.org</a>
+1 202.393.5113

The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion Launches Executive Education Program for Financial Service Providers to Enable Business Growth and Social Impact

David Cracknell

Director, First Principles Consulting Limited

Deborah Drake

Consultant

Ezra Anyango

Senior Program Officer, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Geraldine O'Keeffe

Chief Innovations Officer, Software Group

Lesley-Ann Vaughan

Director, MiLA Consulting

Kenya

Sub-Saharan Africa

Governance

Risk Management

Agricultural and Rural Finance

Banks

Consumer Credit

Credit

Customer Centricity

Delivery Channels

Digital Credit

Digital Financial Services

Education Finance

Energy Finance

Financial Service Providers

Fintechs

Housing Finance

Informal Credit

Insurance Companies

Microfinance

Microfinance Institutions

Neobanks

Partnerships

Underserved Groups

Video

Event

Press Release

Board Leadership for Impact Program

The majority of Kenyans have mobile money accounts; their activity demonstrates digital financial services’ potential. Accion helps Kenyan innovators harness emerging technologies to create new financial services.